Each year thousands of off-road fans trek to Moab, Utah for the annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari. The event gives the brand a chance to get feedback about their products and tease what the next Jeep could look like with a slew of concepts.
For the 56th annual meetup, Jeep isn’t disappointing with 10 concepts aimed at pushing the imagination as well as the capability of the brand so closely associated with off-roading.
“Easter Jeep Safari is the perfect opportunity for the Jeep brand to push the limits of four-wheel-drive development and, most importantly, to stay connected with our customers,” said Jim Morrison, senior vice president and head of Jeep brand North America.
Hippity hoppity Easter’s on its way
Jeep and Mopar developed concepts for this event that cater to everyone, ranging from electric powertrains to looks reminiscent of the past, including a couple of previous shown concepts that have been tweaked a bit.
“Moab is a rite of passage for many Jeep owners, and to own a Jeep is to truly understand the lifestyle — it’s what the Jeep brand is all about,” Morrison said.
“Whether it’s a Jeep concept or the latest Jeep production vehicle, our customers have the chance to get up close and personal with our passion projects during this event. From a fully capable BEV off-roader to rugged and powerful terrain tacklers, every concept is a true reflection of what our customers tell us they want and give a taste of where the future of the Jeep brand and off-roading can go.”
The Electrics
Jeep’s brought something new and something old for this grouping. The new is first-ever Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe. Following in the footsteps of the Wrangler 4xe, this trail-rated sport ute delivers 56 MPGe and 25 miles of all-electric range. This means 25 miles of rolling over rocks, creeping across dirt, mud or sand with only the sounds of nature as your soundtrack.
The most 4×4-capable and sustainable Grand Cherokee ever, the new Trailhawk 4xe, has conquered the Rubicon Trail in full-electric operation, and now it’s ready to tackle all that Moab has to offer. It features a new class-exclusive sway-bar disconnect, allowing for improved articulation and traction over rocks and rough terrain. Plus you can simply plug it in to go another 25 miles.
Like the new production Grand Cherokee 4xe, the Trailhawk PHEV concept is powered by two electric motors, a 400-volt battery pack, 2.0-liter turbocharged, 4-cylinder engine and TorqueFlite 8-speed automatic transmission. It’s also equipped with the “class-exclusive” Jeep Quadra-Lift air suspension to optimize ride performance, while the class-exclusive sway-bar disconnect delivers improved articulation and traction over rocks and rough terrain.
Also new while sporting a “classic” look is the Jeep Birdcage Cage. This concept is a design exercise by Jeep Performance Products. It takes the Wrangler 4xe and gives it an open-air feel with supreme off-road capability.
Riding on an industry-first JPP 2-inch lift kit with Fox shocks, specifically engineered and tuned for the plug-in hybrid electric Wrangler 4xe, the vibrant Eagle Brown off-roader features Granite Crystal metallic and various signature Jeep 4xe Surf Blue accents.
Improving the front approach angle on the Wrangler 4xe Birdcage concept is a custom rock-slider skid plate that connects two rounded 2-inch steel support bars, integral to the custom seven-slot grille. The slider plate protects the recessed Warn winch, optimally placed for improved rock-crawling performance. Two low-mount, Surf Blue closed-tow hoops are securely attached behind the skid plate to the side of the frame for improved tow performance.
JPP five-spoke beadlock wheels measure 17 by 8.5 inches and are mounted with BFGoodrich KM3 37-inch tires. New custom flat-fender flares and wheel liners, designed specifically for larger wheel/tire combinations provide additional clearance.
On the interior, Tobacco Leaf and Cocoa Brown leather seats feature distinctive seat inserts and Surf Blue accent stitching, which is also found on the instrument panel, steering wheel, shifter boot and emergency-brake handle.
Those in the front seats get access to a custom JPP instrument-panel accessory rail that holds various mobile devices securely in place. Meanwhile Armorlite vinyl floor throughout the cabin provides a durable and easy-to-maintain surface with drain plugs for rinsing.
On the “old” side is the Magneto 2.0. The concept is based on a two-door 2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. It uses a custom-built axial flux electric motor that operates up to 5,250 rpm, which is connected to a 6-speed manual transmission, which is similar to its predecessor.
However, it uses four lithium-ion battery packs set up across the chassis for better weight balance and boast 70 kWh of juice and uses an 800-volt system — charging fast to get back to the trail is definitely doable.
The Magneto 2.0 team wanted a little more … pep, or as Jeep claims, the team targeted the “strap in and hold on with both hands” end of the performance spectrum.
Peak amperage in the propulsion system is more than doubled to 600 amps, which enables the Magneto 2.0 to instantly deliver up to 850 pound-feet of peak torque to the wheels — more than triple the torque output of last year’s concept — and 625 horsepower for serious rock-climbing challenges. Last year the motor delivered 285 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque.
The Classics
Sometimes you want your Jeep concept to, well, look like a Jeep and the teams brought that this year too, starting with the Jeep Rubicon 20th Anniversary Concept. Named after California’s Rubicon Trail — another haven for the off-roading crowd — this concept takes its inspiration from the 2003 two-door Wrangler and applies it to the Wrangler Rubicon 392.
The modified four-door Wrangler Rubicon 392 features an active dual-mode performance exhaust that switches between wild and outrageous, a performance hood with center scoop, custom-built half doors and Sky One-touch power top with removable side panels for open-air freedom.
The concept’s matte Granite Crystal exterior vinyl wrap is accentuated with gold tow hooks and badging, a Rubicon 20th anniversary hood decal, American flag fender decal and Mopar swing gate air compressor.
For additional capability, a JPP 2-inch lift kit, 17-inch Mopar beadlock-capable wheels with 37-inch mud-terrain tires, steel bumpers and hoop with Warn winch and steel belly pan were added to help navigate treacherous terrain and challenging off-road conditions.
The company grabbed Sherman and Peabody’s Way Back machine and conjured up the Jeep ’41 Concept. This borrows from Willys military legacy, making note of the ties with the “Since 1941” badge. However, this nod to the brand’s long history comes with a pleasant modern twist: the 4xe plug-in hybrid powertrain.
The concept’s exterior color, including wheel flares and mirror caps, is honorably decorated in an olive D.R.A.B. ‘41 matte green finish, with black powder-coated steel bumpers, Warn winch and JPP bumper hoop. The retro trim cap accentuates a tan soft-top, while JPP half doors offer an enhanced open-air experience to let even more of the outside in. A custom stenciled graphics package from the Jeep Graphic Studio and accent-colored tow hooks are the finishing touches fit for a five-star general.
Inside the ’41 concept is a retro shifter with a customized shifter cap from the Jeep Graphic Studio, along with canvas-covered seats that feature digital camo inserts and Serafil 1043 stitching. A Rhino-lined heavy texture floor in D.R.A.B. ‘41 matte green adds durability. The concept’s instrument panel inserts are also painted D.R.A.B. ‘41 matte green and the cluster features a custom Willys retro graphic.
The ’41 concept sits on a JPP 2-inch lift kit and 35-inch mud-terrain tires with 17-inch Fifteen52 wheels painted in D.R.A.B. ‘41 matte green.
The Fun Bunch
These concepts are more about what could be than worrying about being beholden to a specific look. The Jeep Bob concept aims to “blur the lines” between the Wrangler and Gladiator. It plays on the trend of “bobbing” the long overhangs of truck beds to improve its off-road capabilities.
Based on a Jeep Gladiator Rubicon, the team removed all four doors and B-pillars have been eliminated for the ultimate open-air freedom. Additionally, a customized hardtop has been perforated and a canvas top has been stretched over top to provide shelter from the elements while allowing natural light through.
Of course, they “bobbed” the bed a full foot and added steel front and rear bumpers improve the vehicle’s approach and departure angles. Inspired by the off-road performance world, high clearance flares make room for the larger rolling stock.
It also gets a 3-inch lift with custom off-road suspension components, Dynatrac Pro-Rock 60 axles supported by a mix of King Coils and Bypass shocks, plus massive 40-inch tires are mounted to 20-inch beadlock wheels that, all combined, provide ultimate four-wheeling confidence.
It’s powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter Eco-Diesel V-6 engine mated to a TorqueFlite 8HP75 8-speed automatic transmission, calibrated for low RPM shifts and to easily maneuver rigorous ground. It’s also equipped with a Mopar cold-air intake to further boost torque and improve fuel economy.
The Jeep D-Coder concept is another Jeep Performance Parts by Mopar creation using more than 35 accessories to give this Gladiator a unique look with all the performance needed for Moab. Plus, it got QR codes all over it to allow those getting a look to see how they can add those parts to their Gladiator.
On the front of the truck is a Rubicon three-piece modular bumper carrying a single-hoop tubular grille and winch guard with a pair of TYRI 7-inch LED off-road lights just above a Rubicon Warn winch. A JPP 2-inch lift kit with Fox shocks helps provide ample room for the JPP 17-by-8.5-inch five-spoke beadlock wheels riding on BFGoodrich KM3 37-inch tires.
On the front-passenger side, a JPP snorkel keeps water out of the 3.6-liter Pentastar engine when fording through high water depths while safely allowing air into the Mopar cold-air intake system under the hood. Completing the powertrain upgrade is a free-flowing Mopar cat-back dual-exhaust system.
A JPP Gorilla Glass windshield offers up to three times the strength of a standard windshield. A pair of TYRI 5-inch LED lights mount securely in JPP A-pillar mounting brackets on each side of the cowl area.
Heavy-gauge steel JPP rock rails provide protection for the lower body panels and sit just below the JPP tube doors, fitted with JPP tube-door mirrors on both sides. Additional rock rails protect the truck bed behind the rear wheels and feature a replaceable nylon rock-rail trim cover.
Inside the truck bed, which is protected by a spray-in textured Mopar bedliner, a set of mounted Mopar bed rails carry a THULE low-profile cargo basket for additional storage space.
SEMA Concepts
Jeep’s also bringing out three concepts from the 2021 SEMA show including the Jeep Wrangler Overlook, the Kaiser Jeep M725 as well as the Wrangler 4xe concept laden with JPP accessories. The company will be out in Utah April 9-17.
“Teaming up with the Jeep brand, there is no better place than the annual Easter Jeep Safari to show off our latest production and custom innovations to true off-road enthusiasts,” said Mark Bosanac, North America vice president, Mopar service, parts & customer care.
“Unlike any other aftermarket offerings, our factory-tested and factory-backed Jeep Performance Parts are specifically designed and engineered to face the toughest trails in the world.”
