I don't know who else has seen this, but if you go to the new test website under the Patriot, you can see two new video of the Patriot driving on a dirt road.

ALSO, here is quote from the website....I'll underline something I hadn't read before:

Off-Road 4WD mode activates hill descent control, off-road anti-lock disc brakes, traction control and optimized throttle for rock crawling. Other unique features include: hill descent control, brake lock differentials, 19:1 overall crawl ratio, one-inch higher ground clearance...etc.etc.

So is this the same thing as the "brake traction control" or have they added a new feature? Further, how can you lock differentials with a brake?

how do you get to that? i cant find it?

1.) Go to:
Link (http://test-5.jeep.com/vehsuite/ModelSelector.jsp)

2.) Select "Jeep" in the upper left hand corner of the page.

3.) Now select "Patriot". This should bring you to a new patriot page with new pictures and the ability to select: Overview, Features - Exterior, Interior, Capability, Saftey -, Photos...etc.

4.) Select Capability.

5.) Select Drive System. It will be along the top of the screen on the far left. A windo will fall down with Freedom Drive 1, and Freedom Drive 2.

6.) Select FDII and there will be a picture with "Click to play video" under it.

7.) Watch:D

sorry I started to post before you submitted your second post... I see the error of my ways. I had clicked on the "preview image" at the bottom of the page!

Thanks for the link. Nice video. The Patriot looks better than I had imagined.

It definitely states "brake lock differentials" ...I am curious to read/hear more about this.

Here, I'll make it easy....I should have done this first, but I'm too damn lazy sometimes.

Direct link (http://test-5.jeep.com/en/patriot/features/capability.html)

From here just select the Drive System...then go to FD2. Also, select handling to see two videos: Suspensions, and ESP.

Thanks for the link. Nice video. The Patriot looks better than I had imagined.

It definitely states "brake lock differentials" ...I am curious to read/hear more about this.

I'm glad they started posting some videos, but I hope the Patriot has more potential than what we've seen so far.

I agree though, it does look pretty nice. I guess we'll have to wait a bit longer for a real test of its capability.

Jim

I thought that the "brake lock differentials" might have been a typo at first but its in the video too. I have no idea what that could be.

I thought that the "brake lock differentials" might have been a typo at first but its in the video too. I have no idea what that could be.

I'd love to think they added something last minute....but my guess is they are re-wording things to make it more marketable. What was once "brake assist traction control", has now become "brake lock differentials". Sounds tougher, same thing.

I hope I'm wrong.

I found this in an article about the new wrangler:

Brake Lock Differentials (BLDs), which are incorporated into the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) algorithm. BLDs apply braking force to an axle's spinning wheel in order to provide an equal amount of torque to each wheel and deliver greater traction for rock-crawling over severe off-road terrain. A separate set of BLD calibrations is designed for off-road operation and automatically activates when driving in 4 Low

I gues in theory that should work similar to a locking rear differential

I love being about to view the source files:

Video on how CVT works (http://test-5.jeep.com/flash/content/vehicles/patriot/capability/cont_trans.swf) (only a couple seconds)

I love being about to view the source files:

Video on how CVT works (http://test-5.jeep.com/flash/content/vehicles/patriot/capability/cont_trans.swf) (only a couple seconds)

very hypnotic. It works well under load o snowmobiles so why not while offroading?!?! I can't wait to try it out.

At the right angle it definitely has the look of a Commander...

please provide the full URL link to the video clip.

I found this in an article about the new wrangler:

Brake Lock Differentials (BLDs), which are incorporated into the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) algorithm. BLDs apply braking force to an axle's spinning wheel in order to provide an equal amount of torque to each wheel and deliver greater traction for rock-crawling over severe off-road terrain. A separate set of BLD calibrations is designed for off-road operation and automatically activates when driving in 4 Low

This sounds similar to a trick I used to use to get my '84 Camaro free when I would get stuck in snow or on ice. It was an automatic with a 305 V8 with a non-locking differential. If one of the drive wheels had low traction, that wheel would spin and I'd be stuck. To counter this, I would lightly apply the emergency brake to get that wheel to stop spinning, and the wheel that had traction could move the car.

Of course, this would work better if you could control the brakes of either side individually, which is how I would suspect this system to work.

That's pretty pathetic if that's all the Off Road group is capable of. The video just shows a Patriot going really fast on a dirt road. Not even a 4wd road! Any passenger car could handle that.

I'm sure that isn't the extent of the capability. We'll see more at some point. The Patriot in that video was going at least 35 mph. The low gear won't work above 10 mph, so I'm inclined to believe they didn't show us capability...just a little flashy driving. The center differential probably wasn't even locked for that vid.....I'm sure they just left it in standard AWD.

I would expect that after the press event in AZ, we will see what the Patriot is capable of. As someone else who posted here mentioned, they had the opportunity to take it out in the AZ desert and beat one up, and it did pretty darn well. Ya gotta remember, the Patriot is not in the same league as the Wangler, nor is it meant to be. It is geared towards folks who want to own a Jeep, but have some decent gas economy, be able to do some offroading, and have room to haul some stuff. I think it will fit that bill pretty well. If you want a serious offroad rig, buy a TJ or JK.

For me... and maybe some others... is what is the real definition of off-roading in the eyes of the Patriot?

I am not interested in trying to enter the Patriot into the Tough Truck Challenge or anything like that, on the other hand, I do want to be able to do more than an ungraded gravel road.

From one of the Jeep press releases:

"The Trail Rated Jeep Patriot sits 1 inch higher than non-Trail Rated
versions and meets Jeep off-road capability requirements for traction,
water fording, articulation, maneuverability and ground clearance,
including 9 inches of ground clearance, a 29.6-degree approach angle, a
34.2-degree departure angle and a 23.3-degree breakover angle. This version
of the Patriot also has additional body sealing and high-mounted drivetrain
vents to support 19-inch water fording capability. In fact, the body and
chassis of the Jeep Patriot with the Freedom Drive II Off-road Group were
developed and tested over numerous rugged off-road terrains to meet the
requirements of the enthusiast Jeep customer."

I have no doubt the Patriot will be able to handle something more than a gravel road. It wouldn't have the Trail Rated rating if it couldn't. I am really anxious to see and hear what they do with it at the press gig.

I believe the breakover angle on the TR version of the Patriot is better than on the Wrangler Unlimited X version. While it won't have the capabilities of the XJ, I think we will be pleasantly surprised to see its capabilities. I really think it will slam dunk any Subaru on the streets, as far as its capibilities. That is saying a lot, because the Subie is a good vehicle.