Jeep has revealed six new concept cars and an all-electric variant of the Wrangler ahead of the 2022 Easter Jeep Safari. Jeep holds the annual event in Moab, Utah. The ongoing event began on April 9 and will end on April 17, on Easter Sunday. The 9-day event consists of trail rides and day-long trips. The Red Rock 4-Wheelers Inc, one of Moab’s local four-wheel-drive clubs, is hosting the official event. Jeep says five one-of-a-kind concept vehicles will take four-wheeling to the next level and prove why there’s nothing like the brand’s legendary 4×4 capability.
The Jeep ’41 Concept pays homage to the brand’s longstanding military heritage. The ’41 concept also pays tribute to Jeep vehicles from the past, particularly the original Willys MB. It features an olive green colour in a matte finish called D.R.A.B. The colour also extends to the wheel flares and mirror caps. The steel bumpers are powder-coated in black and include a winch, tan-coloured soft-top roof, custom decals on the side and accent-coloured two hooks.
Power comes from a 2-litre 4-cylinder engine with turbocharging, two electric motors, and an eight-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission. The new 4xe powertrain underpins the ’41 concept. The plug-in hybrid gets up to 21 kmpl and has an electric-only range of 34 km.
For the interiors, it gets a customised retro shifter cap from the Jeep Graphic Studio. The other features include canvas-coloured seats, digital camo inserts, a Rhino-lined floor, matte green instrument panel inserts and a custom Willys retro graphic on the cluster.
The vehicle rides on a 2-inch lift kit with 35-inch tyres and 17-inch wheels in D.R.A.B. matte green colour.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk concept pairs the 4×4 capability of a Jeep with electrified freedom to deliver better fuel efficiency. A new Grand Cherokee 4xe will also go on sale this year. The concept gets an Industrial Blue colour with a glare-proof black-and-blue matte Trailhawk hood decal, a custom roof rack with integrated tie-downs, a black Rhino Liner roof, and custom fog light bezels and quad-LED projector foglights.
Powering the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk is the same 2.0-litre 4xe powertrain as the ’41 concept. To improve ride quality, Jeep offers the brand’s Quadra-Lift air suspension. A sway-bar disconnect feature also allows improved wheel articulation when going over rocks and rough terrain.
The vehicle comes with custom 20-inch Neutral Gray metallic matte wheels and 33-inch tires. Trimmed wheel wells with custom widened flares complement the larger tyres and wheels for more presence.
The concept is based on a 2003 two-door version of the model and celebrates 20 years of the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. The vehicle gets a matte Granite Crystal colour, hooks and badges with gold accents and a 20th Anniversary hood decal.
The engine is a 6.4-litre V8 from the most powerful Wrangler, Rubicon 392. The engine makes 443 HP and 607 Nm of torque. It also comes with an active dual-mode performance exhaust system.
The concept also gets a performance hood with a centre scoop, custom-built half doors and a one-touch electric roof. It gets a 2-inch lift kit by JPP and rides on 17-inch Mopar wheels and 37-inch mud-terrain tyres for additional off-road capability.
Based on the Wrangler, it gets a “wide-open-air extreme 4×4 machine” design. The concept features an Eagle Brown colour with Granite Crystal and Surf Blue accents. The interiors get a Tobacco Leaf and Cocoa Brown leather upholstery that features distinctive seat inserts and Surf Blue accent stitching. The accent stitching extends onto the instrument panel, steering wheel, shifter boot and the emergency-parking brake handle.
The Birdcage also gets underbody rock lights on all four corners for better visibility at night. There are no windows or windscreen to keep you protected from the night breeze. However, the manufacturer provides enough protection from dirt and debris.
The off-road capability enhancing features include a rock-slider skid plate, a winch and two hooks. It also rides on what the company claims to be an industry-first JPP 2-inch lift kit and FOX shocks specifically engineered and tuned for the PHEV Wrangler 4xe. The Birdcage rides on 17×8.5-inch rims and 37-inch tyres.
According to the company, the Bob concept tries to blur the lines between the Wrangler and the Gladiator. The name derives from the popular trend of “bobbing”, in which pickup truck bed owners shorten the long overhangs.
Based on the Gladiator Rubicon, with a new steel front and rear bumpers to improve approach and departure angles. The company says the most noticeable traits of this truck are not what’s on it but rather what is missing. To begin with, it is “bobbed” by an entire foot in length, and all four doors and B-pillars are absent for an “ultimate open-air freedom”.
Powering the Bob Concept is an award-winning, 3.0-litre Eco-Diesel turbocharged V6 engine. The motor connects to a TorqueFlite 8HP75 eight-speed automatic transmission to handle greater torque loads, which gets new calibration for low RPM shifts. It also utilises a Mopar cold-air intake to boost torque and improve fuel economy. Also, it gets Dynatrac Pro-Rock 60 axles, King coils and Bypass shocks. Combined with substantial 40-inch tyres and 20-inch wheels, it gives it more off-road performance.
The D-Coder, according to Jeep, is “a rolling catalogue of factory-tested and factory-backed items” that are available to purchase. The gloss black Jeep Gladiator D-Coder carries more than 35 Mopar and JPP accessories. These accessories come in a contrasting Maraschino Red and have QR codes. The interiors also get a Maraschino Red Katzskin leather seat upholstery, also with QR codes linking directly to the Katzskin website.
Each scannable QR code links to the Mopar eStore website for specific part numbers, specifications and pricing information. Enhanced QR codes on the bedside and hood link to the current JPP catalogue.
At the front, a JPP snorkel helps in the water wading while safely allowing the Mopar cold-air intake system. It uses a 3.6-litre Pentastar engine with a free-flow Mopar cat-back dual exhaust system at the other end.
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