Jump LinksThroughout the 2000s, automakers were busy creating outlandish concepts, and it seemed like virtually every legacy carmaker suddenly had a portfolio full of crazy one-off concepts, some of which were purely meant to show the world what they could do in terms of engineering. Regarding some of those out-of-this-world concepts, a few examples that come to mind are models like the Dodge Kahuna concept and Chevrolet's Borrego concept.On top of the Dodge Kahuna concept, another Chrysler subsidiary created a one-off concept the proportions and mechanical makeup of which were something few would ever think of, and even fewer would actually try to build. It was called the Jeep Hurricane concept, and it came with not one, but two Hemi V8s strapped to its frame, one for each axle. In addition, the Hurricane concept also boasted some more futuristic features that allowed it to stand out during those crazy times of concept cars. Dual-Engine, Four-Wheel-Steer Ingenuity Jeep Jeep Hurricane Concept Key Points Produced in 2005 Unveiled at the 2005 North American International Auto Show Utilized two Hemi V8s in its design Came equipped with full four-wheel steering Near the middle of the 2000s, Chrysler – Jeeps' parent company – was changing as a whole. Attempting to leave the sleepy 1990s and early 2000s behind, Chrysler was leading the charge in attempting to build futuristic cars for the American market. This sentiment was reflected in the sheer number of concept cars made during this time. The Jeep Hurricane concept was one such concept, and was meant to show the world just how extreme Chrysler, and Jeep, could get, should they be allowed. Not to mention, cool concepts act as great marketing tools for manufacturers.JeepUpon its debut at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show, the Jeep Hurricane concept surprised the motoring world with its unique powertrain. In essence, it consisted of two Hemi V8s, one above each axle, lashed together to create a horsepower figure that came close to 700, no small number, especially 20 years ago. However, even though two V8s is impressive, the Hurricane concept also debuted a four-wheel steering system that was so nimble, the Hurricane could execute zero-radius turns, also called "ZTR", or zero-turn radius.JeepThe Hurricane concept was quite successful in its purpose, which was to garner attention. It immediately began winning awards, such as a Popular Science "Best of What's New" award, Autoweek's "Editor's Choice" award, and the IDEA Silver Award, just to name a few. Unfortunately, there were never plans to bring the Hurricane concept to production, most likely due to the sheer cost of producing a twin-V8, four-wheel-steer off-roader. A Pair Of Fire-BreathersJeepThe pair of engines tasked with powering the Hurricane concept were standard versions of the 5.7-liter Hemi V8, which boasted Chrysler's cylinder deactivation tech. In order to make the unique configuration work, both engines had to be mounted very high to make room for the four-wheel steer system, and make enough room for the Hurricane concept's large ground clearance. Its transmission was pedestrian, as well, being just a normal Chrysler five-speed automatic. However, its transfer case was specially made for the Hurricane.JeepWhile the Hurricane concept was one of the first pedestrian concept vehicles to showcase a four-wheel steer ability, Chrysler themselves didn't actually build it, although they do hold the patent. Instead, the design and production of the system was farmed out to a company called MillenWorks. The system featured two modes, the first of which allowed all four wheels to turn sideways, resulting in a crab walk. The other model allowed both axles to be turned opposite each other, resulting in the aforementioned ZTR capability. Detailed Specs We'll break down the rest of the Jeep Hurricane concept's detailed engine and performance specs in the table below:Its off-road specs are extremely impressive, especially when you put them into perspective. For example, let's compare the Hurricane concept's off-road specs with figures from something like the standard Jeep Wrangler. According to Jeep, the 2005 Wrangler boasted approach, departure, and breakover angles measuring at 41.8, 31.3, and 22.3 degrees respectively. The Hurricane concept blows all of those numbers out of the water. Not to mention, the Hurricane also boasts a 5.7-inch increase in ground clearance over the standard '05 Wrangler. In short, the Hurricane concept would not be one to trifle with off-road. It's Not The Only Modern Jeep Wrangler With A V8 JeepWhile loads of Jeeps have featured V8 mills over the years, modern Jeep Wranglers have sorely lacked a production V8 model since the discontinuation of the classic CJ7 in 1986. The iconic Jeep, with its upright grille bars and circular headlights, was then without a V8 until 2021, when Stellantis unleashed the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392. Basically, the Rubicon 392's recipe was to shoehorn Chrysler's 6.4-liter Hemi underneath its hood.The result was a Jeep Wrangler with 470 horsepower and an identical amount of torque. It was a hit with the Jeep community, so when Stellantis announced they'd be discontinuing it following the 2024 model year, there was a huge amount of pushback. There was so much pushback, in fact, that Stellantis backed off axing the model, and extended the Wrangler Rubicon 392's life through the 2025 model year. Whether or not the Rubicon 392 continues further, only time will tell.Sources: Jeep
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