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03 Apr 2020

Jeep® 4x4 Day is ‘Trail Rated’

The 4th day of the 4th month is now an annual celebration of the iconic American brand and off-road driving.

Jeep® 4x4 Day is ‘Trail Rated’

 

  • The 4th day of the 4th month is now an annual celebration of the iconic American brand and off-road driving.
  • 2020 event focuses on ‘Trail Rated’ – the brand’s certification scheme that marks out the most highly capable off-roading vehicles in its model line-up.
  • Every Jeep Trail Rated model must meet or exceed five stringent criteria – Traction, Water fording, Maneuverability, Articulation and Ground clearance – before earning its Trail Rated badge.
  • This year, the brand will celebrate 4x4 Day staying home through the Jeep social media channels, with the hashtags #4x4Day and #stayofftheroad.

 

Tomorrow is Jeep® 4x4 Day, the annual celebration of the iconic brand and the mental and physical freedom of off-road driving.
Now in its fifth year, Jeep 4x4 Day is held on the fourth day of the fourth month and is enjoyed by Jeep owners and enthusiasts worldwide.

 

It recognises Jeep’s invention of the SUV and the 80 years of evolution and innovation that have followed, during which the brand has become synonymous with off-roading adventures and has come to embody the very essence of freedom, the spirit of adventure and the ability to overcome any obstacle.

 

This year, Jeep 4x4 Day focuses on the ‘Go anywhere, Do anything’ attitude behind the brand’s ‘Trail Rated’ badge – a mark reserved for only the most off-road capable models in the Jeep line-up.
And before earning a Trail Rated’ badge each Jeep model is pushed to the limits to test its performance in five key areas – Traction, Water fording, Maneuverability, Articulation and Ground clearance.
Only when a Jeep model has passed all tests with flying colours can it claim to be among the most capable production off-road models on the market.

 

Even if our desire of adventure is limited by the difficult situation we are living, the brand celebrates 4x4 Day as the occasion to tighten its relationship with its community and share a positive mindset with users. On its social media channels, the Jeep brand will give Jeepers the opportunity to take on a series of virtual challenges indoor, in pure Jeep style. It is possible to discover them on Jeep Europe’s Facebook and Instagram pages – available at the links: https://www.facebook.com/JeepOlllllllOpeople/ and https://www.instagram.com/jeepeurope/ under the hashtags #4x4Day and #stayofftheroad.

 

What is “Trail Rated”? From Argentina to Zambia and everywhere in between, the Jeep brand's “Trail Rated” certification is so much more than just a badge. It is a methodology, a guarantee and a recognized standard for proven off-road capability. Trail Rated Jeep vehicles are put through a series of grueling tests designed to prove off-road performance on the world’s most demanding terrain.
The testing process begins in Jeep’s research and development departments, continues in the icy temperatures of North Michigan and finishes in the boulders of the Rubicon Trail – the toughest off-road testing ground in the world. The Trail Rated badge certifies that the vehicle has been designed to successfully pass Jeep’s five performance test categories to meet the most extensive level of off-road requirements in a production vehicle.
Trail Rated is an industry-leading methodology initially established by the Nevada Automotive Test Center (NATC) and the Jeep R&D Team to objectively measure the off-road performance of all Jeep vehicles. Through a combination of natural and controlled field tests, as well as computer-simulated evaluation tests, this methodology provides a repeatable, consistent and reliable measurement of off-road performance.

 

Today, the Jeep R&D Team continues to improve the features and performance of its four-wheel drive vehicles. The brand's experience, combined with technological innovation, is what makes Jeep Trail Rated vehicles a benchmark in terms of off-road performance. Even new Jeep models with plug-in hybrid electric technology – the soon-to-be-launched Renegade and Compass 4xe – have been developed in line with this methodology. As a result, from launch, both the First Edition’s Off-Road trim and the Trailhawk variants of both 4xe models will wear the prized Trail Rated badge.
New plug-in hybrid technology further enhances the off-road capability of Jeep  SUVs, courtesy of the greater torque offered by the combination of electric and combustion engine. Thanks to the new Jeep 4xe technology, traction to the rear axle is not provided by a prop shaft but through the dedicated electric motor. This allows the two axles to be separated and control the torque independently in a more effective way than a mechanical system.

 

Currently, Trailhawk versions of the Jeep Renegade, Compass, Cherokee and Grand Cherokee, as well as all Jeep Wrangler models, proudly sport the Trail Rated badge.

 

The Five Trail Rated Categories

TRACTION

Trail Rated Jeep 4x4s feature a variety of four-wheel-drive systems to suit all kinds of off-road challenges and driving conditions. Trail Rated traction helps maintain a controlled forward motion in snow, ice, sand and mud. Traction testing includes traction on untamed, slippery roads (wet, mud, snow) and on steep gradients. Crawl ratio is a key metric used to distinguish the traction and capability of Trail Rated Jeep 4x4s.

WATER FORDING

Trail Rated Jeep 4x4s feature additional electrical and body sealing along with a high air intake to help navigate streams and flooded underpasses that stop others cold.

MANEUVERABILITY

Trail Rated Jeep 4x4s have the capability to navigate narrow gaps, dodge emergency situations and avoid cosmetic damage thanks to precision steering and optimized wheelbases. The smaller the turn radius, the more capable the vehicle is at negotiating narrow gaps.

ARTICULATION

Keeping the rubber on the trail helps you stay moving. When one or more wheels are elevated, good articulation allows the other wheel(s) to maintain ground contact longer – allowing for maximum available traction at all times. Trail Rated suspensions enhance off-road performance by maximizing flexibility, axle articulation and wheel travel, to ensure the tires grip the ground, even on steep surfaces.

GROUND CLEARANCE

Jeep 4x4s are tested for their ability to drive over obstacles, and the criteria include ground clearance and approach, breakover and departure angles to ensure you can clear logs, rocks and uneven ground.

 

 

Turin, April 3, 2020

 

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