Exclusive! Jeep Compass Trail Hawk spied

-    The test mule of the Jeep Compass Trail Hawk was spotted with camouflaged fascia. 

-    The Trail Hawk was showcased at a special event in March this year. 

-    Expected to be revealed either late this year or in early 2019.

Jeep India will be introducing a more potent version of the Compass in the country. Called the Trail Hawk, this special version of the SUV comes with a better off-road package compared to the regular model. CarWale reader Yogesh Arora spotted the Compass Trail Hawk being tested near Tribune Chowk in Chandigarh. 

The American carmaker is famous for its off-roading credentials across its model range. To take it a step further, Jeep has built a Trail Rated (or Trail Hawk) version of the SUVs with added hardware to make it perform better in difficult off-road conditions. They usually get 4x4 as standard with a raised ride height and a low-range gearbox. 

The Trail Hawk was supposed to be launched in India by mid-2018 but Jeep decided to delay it in order to conform with BS-VI emission norms. Jeep will retain the 2.0-litre diesel in the Compass Trail Hawk which produces 171bhp and 350Nm but it will be mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. And it will differentiate itself from the standard car with a four-wheel drive with low range gearbox and added off-road drive modes. Moreover, the Compass Trail Hawk will have a increased elevation of above 20mm compared to the standard car as can be seen in the picture. Also, both the front and rear bumpers will be tweaked to improve approach and departure angles. 

The test mule spotted was wearing a camouflage on its fascia and hidden badges on the rear. The rear bumper sported a sticker which hid the added reflective element on the bumpers. Also included in the package will be a newly designed set of alloy wheels, a black bonnet decal and Trail Hawk badging. There might be a revised cabin as well, with added features such as an adjustable driver’s seat, sunroof and larger infotainment screen but nothing has been confirmed at the moment. 

The Trail Hawk version of the Compass is expected to demand a premium of around Rs 2-3 lakhs over the top-spec diesel Compass. This means the Compass Trail Hawk might have a price tag of Rs 25 lakhs when it is officially launched in India. The launch is expected to happen either late this year or in early 2019.