Spring is in the air – the sun is staying out longer and the snow should be starting to melt off of your favorite trails. It’s also time for Jeep to unveil their concept vehicles ahead of Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, April 9-17.
This year’s event boasts 10 of Jeep’s highly-capable offroad vehicles featuring parts and accessories by Jeep Performance Parts by Mopar (JPP.) And as we move toward more electrified vehicles, Jeep is answering the call with electric concepts like the Jeep Wrangler Magneto 2.0 and the Jeep 4xe vehicles.
“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. “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. 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.”
Let’s dive in and take a look at these Jeep concepts:
Easter Jeep Safari Concepts 2022
Jeep Wrangler Magneto 2.0 Concept
Jeep is dedicated to “Zero Emissions Freedom” and nothing shows that dedication like the Jeep Wrangler Magneto 2.0. The powertrain on the Magneto 2.0 includes a custom-built axial flux electric motor that operates up to 5,250 rpm, a six-speed manual transmission, and four lithium-ion battery packs, distributed throughout the chassis for weight balance – with a combined power of 70 kW/h, running an 800-volt system.
If you remember the first iteration of the Jeep Magneto from Easter Jeep 2021, that concept was rated at 285 horsepower and 273 foot-pounds of torque. The 2.0 iteration of the Magneto doubled peak amperage to 600 amps and that enables the Magneto 2.0 to deliver a whopping 850 pound-feet of torque – and 625-horsepower for serious rock-climbing. The Magneto 2.0 can bolt from 0-60 mph in two second. Yes, two.
All that torque requires a few upgrades. Jeep added 12-inches to the wheelbase of the two-door Wrangler body style – creating some extra room for powertrain components and gives the Magneto 2.0 proportions similar to the “LJ” Wrangler Unlimited from 2004-06. Augmenting that stretch are a custom 3-inch lift kit and 40-inch off-road tires mounted on 20-inch wheels.
The stout, off-road specific chassis setup includes a Dynatrac 60 Pro-Rock front axle and a massive Pro-Rock Dynatrac 80 rear axle with a 5.38 ratio and lockers for both axles, custom driveshaft and an off-road suspension.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe Concept
This spring, the Jeep brand is launching the first-ever electrified Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe (pronounced four by e), which will deliver 56 MPGe and 25 miles of all-electric range. Easter Jeep Safari gives the Jeep brand and Jeep design team the opportunity to take production vehicles like the Grand Cherokee 4xe to the next level.
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.
Like the new production Grand Cherokee 4xe, the Grand Cherokee 4xe Trailhawk concept is powered by two electric motors, a 400-volt battery pack, 2.0-liter turbocharged, four-cylinder engine and TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission for maximum efficiency and capability. It’s also equipped with Jeep’s 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.
Jeep ’41 Concept
This retro Willys concept heading to Easter Jeep Safari this year blends military grit and determination with the Wrangler 4xe’s electric-vehicle technology. The concept’s 4xe plug-in hybrid powertrain is capable of an estimated 49 MPGe and delivers up to 21 miles of nearly silent, zero-emission, electric-only propulsion, making it the most capable, technically advanced and eco-friendly Wrangler ever.
The Wrangler 4xe’s advanced powertrain provides a unique on- and off-road experience through the combination of two electric motors, a high-voltage battery pack, a high-tech 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 engine and robust TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission.
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.
Read More: Mopar Announces SEMA 2021 Concepts
Jeep Rubicon 20th Anniversary Concept
The Rubicon 20th Anniversary concept, based on the quickest, most powerful Wrangler yet – the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 – continues the legacy established two decades ago by setting the benchmark for performance and capability with its 6.4-liter V-8 engine, customized exterior and stunning interior.
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 powertop with removable side panels for open-air freedom.
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.
Jeep Bob Concept
The Jeep Bob blurs the lines between the Jeep Wrangler and the Jeep Gladiator. The engineers at Jeep literally “bobbed” the long overhang of the pickup bed in order to gain more departure angle and tackle even more difficult terrain.
The most noticeable traits of the Jeep Bob are not what’s on it, but rather what’s missing. All four doors and B-pillars have been removed for the ultimate open-air freedom. Additionally, a customized hardtop has been perforated and a canvas top has been stretched over top in order to provide shelter from the elements while allowing natural light through.
The Gladiator bed has been “bobbed” a full foot of length. Custom steel front and rear bumpers improve the vehicle’s approach and departure angles, and are built to withstand all the rigors of off-road use, while maintaining a stylish and sophisticated appearance. Inspired by the off-road performance world, high clearance flares make room for the larger rolling stock.
Off-road capability is further amplified by a 3-inch lift with custom off-road suspension components, Dynatrac Pro-Rock 60 axles that are supported by a mix of King Coils and Bypass shocks, plus massive 40-inch tires that are mounted to 20-inch beadlock wheels that, all combined, provide ultimate four-wheeling confidence.
The Jeep Bob is powered by Jeep’s 3.0-liter Eco-Diesel V-6 engine.
Jeep D-Coder Concept by JPP
The gloss black Jeep Gladiator D-Coder concept carries more than 35 JPP and Mopar accessories, each painted in contrasting Maraschino Red and labeled with QR (quick response) codes, making this high-performance off-roader a rolling catalog of factory-tested and factory-backed items available for customer purchase.
The Gladiator D-Coder concept sports a 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.
Jeep Birdcage Concept by JPP
Designed as a wide-open-air extreme 4×4 machine, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe Birdcage concept showcases a variety of custom accessory innovations from JPP and Mopar, while also proving its industry-best capability, as well as its class-exclusive, off-road 4xe plug-in hybrid powertrain.
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. For a unique appearance, 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.
