As the global automotive industry grows more connected, international car shows have increasingly become important to multi-national automakers looking to debut new models. Because the Fiat based Renegade is FCA’s entry into a hot global segment, Jeep chose The 2015 Geneva Auto show as the venue to debut a cool styling exercise dubbed the 2015 Hard Steel concept.
Jeep says its latest show car offers customization options for the Renegade as well as accessories from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles aftermarket arm Mopar.
Based on the burliest Renegade available, the Trailhawk, the Hard Steel Concept sports a brushed steel exterior with matte black accents on the grille, roof bars, and mirror covers as well as 16–inch wheels, slightly lifted suspension, and knobby BFGoodrich All Terrain tires.
Inside, the metallic theme continues with distressed, graphite leather with gray stitching on the seats, door panels, and Trailhawk logo embroidered on the headrests.
The most obvious addition is the matching trailer. Not really a conventional teardrop but more of a rolling boom-box/entertainment center, it sports a large touchscreen display that controls a number of the Renegade’s infotainment functions and a set of speakers.
It’s been said that the youth segment that the Renegade is targeting doesn’t much aspire to car ownership. What better way to lure this demographic into a dealership than by allowing them to accessorize this little Jeep like they add a skin to their smartphone? This probably sounds like the end of the world for hardcore off-road fans, but get used to this kind of cross pollination in vehicle marketing.