Jeep Is Close To Perfecting Autonomous Off-Roading

Off-road lovers enjoy conquering harsh terrain by maximizing their vehicle's capability and driving skills.

In the near future, the vehicle will do all the hard work, as Jeep recently teased autonomous off-roading technology. The futuristic tech is currently in the development stage, installed in two plug-in hybrid 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe models. The Grand Cherokee uses a turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor to deliver 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. That's more than the V8 engine, but we still think the old-school engine is better.

This first-look video is brief (just 38 seconds), but it shows the Grand Cherokee 4xe tackling some of the most challenging trails in Moab, Utah, without a driver behind the wheel. The team currently testing the technology is led by Neda Cvijetic, head of AI and autonomous driving at Stellantis.

Both Grand Cherokee models look close to production vehicles except for "Off-Road Autonomous Drive" decals and an array of roof-mounted cameras and sensors that will likely be more integrated when this technology reaches production.

In the video, we see Cvijetic tackle the trail from behind the wheel and from outside the vehicle using a tablet (likely for safety). It's unclear at this stage if the autonomous off-road system work without a driver in the car, but that would be an excellent feature for cautious owners or beginners who are afraid to attempt a particular obstacle.

"In the same way that our 4xe electrification takes Jeep brand's off-road capability to new heights, these advanced off-road driving systems will help more customers in more countries around the world join and enjoy the adventure," said Christian Meunier, Jeep brand CEO. "These features and technology will have real-life applications on and off the trail in a wide range of driving conditions."