Words by Budd Stanley, photos courtesy of Jeep
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Jeep
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Jeep
After a long hard winter, we can finally see the light of spring. The days are getting longer, the sun is coming out and the ground is slowly turning from an icy white to a warm green. However, a sure sign that it is Spring is the annual Easter Jeep Safari based in Moab, UT.
The iconic annual event is the Mecca of all things Jeep, with pilgrims travelling from far and wide to take over the small desert town. As in years past, loyal Jeep enthusiasts can be happy that their favourite brand also recognizes the love, and brings a celebration of off-road inspired modified concepts to show off. It’s a not only a salute to the Jeep faithful, but also a chance to take the leashes off the designers and engineers to build a selection of vehicles that are both unique and showcase the myriad of directions one can take with a standard Jeep product.
With that we present to you a selection of Easter Jeep Safari Jeep concept vehicles for 2018.
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A stripped down JL is the base for this carbon fibre lightweight beauty.
Jeep® 4SPEED Concept
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FCA US LLC © 2018 FCA US LLC
A stripped down JL is the base for this carbon fibre lightweight beauty.
Jeep® 4SPEED Concept
Jeep 4SPEED
We start things off with the Jeep 4SPEED concept, the latest in a line of lightweight Easter Jeep Safari concepts. The 4SPEED follows the popular Pork Chop concept in 2011 and Stitch concept in 2013, bolsters Wrangler’s off-road capability and performance through extensive weight savings, and showcases the all-new 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 engine.
Besides the obvious stripped black exterior, the Jeep 4SPEED features a lightweight hood and high-clearance fender flares molded in carbon fibre. The rear tub also features perforated aluminum panels. We particularly love the fact that a welding curtain has been repurposed as a bikini top.
The combined weight savings increases the ride height two inches higher than a stock Wrangler. Overall length has been shortened by 22 inches while leaving the wheelbase at its stock length, resulting in increased approach and departure angles. Matched to Dana 44 front and rear axles with a 4.10 gear ratio and 18-inch lightweight monoblock wheels wrapped in 35-inch BF Goodrich Mud Terrain tires.
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This is not the upcoming Wrangler pickup, rather a desert-racing concept ready for fun in the desert.
Jeep® Sandstorm (formerly Desert Hawk) concept
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This is not the upcoming Wrangler pickup, rather a desert-racing concept ready for fun in the desert.
Jeep® Sandstorm (formerly Desert Hawk) Concept
Jeep Sandstorm
Inspired by Baja desert racers, the Jeep Sandstorm concept has been built to tear across the desert, while still being capable of handling the daily driving duties.
To fit the Baja look, the exterior features custom styling cues including a vented carbon fiber hood, vented high clearance front and rear fender flares and a cage that includes a rear mounted lay down style spare tire carrier. The exterior handles and swing gate have been removed while the rear doors have been chopped for a cleaner look.
Other custom touches include high clearance front and rear tube bumpers, modified rock rails, an integrated on-board air compressor, race-style fuel filler, KC Carbon series front auxiliary lights and a chase light.
The front axle has been moved forward four inches and utilizes a heavy-duty long-arm four-link suspension and track bar. The rear axle has been moved back two inches and utilizes a triangulated trailing arm four-link suspension. Custom King coilovers and bypass shocks allow up to 14 inches of travel on the front wheels with 18 inches in the rear.
The Sandstorm includes a 6.4L V-8 sending its fury to heavy-duty front and rear Dynatrac 60 axles with a 5.68 gear ratio, 17-inch beadlock wheels and 39.5-inch BF Goodrich Krawler tires.
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Want to see how far you can go with the Jeep Performance Part catalog, take a look here.
Nacho Jeep® Concept
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FCA US LLC © 2018 FCA US LLC
Want to see how far you can go with the Jeep Performance Part catalog, take a look here.
Nacho Jeep® Concept
Nacho Jeep
Want to see how far you can take the new Wrangler JL with Mopar brand’s Jeep Performance Parts (JPP) menu? The Nacho Jeep serves as a rolling catalog.
Jeep Performance Parts featured on the Nacho concept include a brawny hood that is accented with the standard black hood graphic featuring the all-new JPP badge, which is engineered to accommodate a cold-air intake that feeds the 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 engine. The satin black Mopar grille adds contrast to the Nacho exterior, and the sturdy steel Rubicon bumper offers off-road protection and functionality, and includes a Warn Winch kit.
Superior trail visibility, inspired by the Jeep Luminator concept vehicle shown at Moab in 2017, is delivered by A-pillar and brush guard-mounted LED lights from the Automotive Lighting division of Magneti Marelli, that mount via JPP brackets. Automotive Lighting LED header lights seal to the windshield for extra forward illumination, and a rear off-road scouting light uses four-colour LEDs to communicate trail conditions: stop (red), 1-3 miles per hour (amber), 3-25 mph (green) and a rear flood light (white).
A 2-inch lift kit elevates the Nacho concept for increased off-road clearance and includes new 2.5-inch diameter aluminum body shocks. Oversized 37-inch tires wrap around 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels.
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Some custom bodywork gives this JL a Jeepster look.
Jeep® Jeepster Concept
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FCA US LLC © 2018 FCA US LLC
Some custom bodywork gives this JL a Jeepster look.
Jeep® Jeepster Concept
Jeep Jeepster
Designed to pay homage to the Jeepster of 1966, the Jeep Jeepster concept harkens back to the original’s classic two-tone graphic theme. The hardtop has been chopped by two inches and the custom windshield is raked back 2.5 degrees to create a cropped, compact appearance.
A rash of LED lights adorn the exterior along with a range of presently available Jeep Performance Parts, including a JPP hood. A 2-inch lift kit and 2.5-inch diameter aluminum body shocks work with oversized, 37-inch BF Goodrich KO2 tires to raise the Jeepster above off-road obstacles.
Inside the Jeepster, a concept tubular roll cage replaces the sport bar and an additional 38-inch tire is secured with a custom in-cabin spare tire carrier.
Relocation of the spare tire to the cabin provides an opportunity for another custom touch: concept storage packs mounted to the tailgate for transport of gear and supplies such as food, water and tools. The packs feature a split design to accommodate the rearview camera. A concept rock step — a unique combination of a rock rail/side step — completes the Jeepster.
Jeep
A nice clean JL build, this is what we can expect to see on the trail very soon.
Jeep® J-Wagon Concept
Jeep J-Wagon
The Jeep J-Wagon concept is a good view of what you will soon see on the trail near you. No wild body modifications here, just some good basic off-road performance enhancements that will further the JL’s already stout all-terrain capabilities.
This concept started life as a Wrangler Sahara. The J-Wagon features a version of the JPP hood designed with a cutout kit to work with the available snorkel. 5-inch LED lights mount with JPP brackets on the lower windshield and the whole body includes a fair amount of “Brass Monkey” trim colouring. A black Mopar grille was pulled from a Wrangler Rubicon, which then received a body-colour matching bezel trim. The J-Wagon gets 35” BFG KM3 tires wrapped around 17-inch slot-design wheels in matching brass monkey trim colour.
Black metal concept rock sliders, a black JPP fuel door, and Orange Crush accents on the Jeep badge and tow hooks finish the exterior.
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A restored and enhanced trail worthy piece of nostalgia
Jeep® Wagoneer Roadtrip Concept
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A restored and enhanced trail worthy piece of nostalgia
Jeep® Wagoneer Roadtrip Concept
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FCA US LLC © 2018 FCA US LLC
A restored and enhanced trail worthy piece of nostalgia
Jeep® Wagoneer Roadtrip Concept
Jeep Wagoneer Roadtrip
If nostalgia were measured in raindrops it would be pouring around this 1965 Jeep Wagoneer. A 5.7L V8 delivers power via a 4-speed automatic transmission, in this version of what could be considered the first SUV. This isn’t just a restoration though, the wheelbase has been stretched five inches and the body altered to accept the extra length, wider track and custom fender flares.
Adding to the off-road cred (and durability), Jeep has boxed and re-enforced the frame, added Dana 44 and front and rear axles with lockers, four-link suspension with coilover springs, and 17-inch steel wheels wrapped in 33-inch BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain tires.
The exterior received some other minor styling changes. We like the fact they but they kept the original front and rear bench seats, door panels and front and rear kick panels.
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Off-road ready? Where’s the trail-rated badge?
Jeep® B-ute Concept
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Off-road ready? Where’s the trail-rated badge?
Jeep® B-ute Concept
Renegade B-Ute
Small can be beautiful, and often overlooked, like the much younger sibling who can’t match the prowess of the older, and continually lives in their shadow, but enough about me. It looks a little different because it has wider flares, unique fascia’s front and back, a distinct upper grille, and the hood received heat extractors. The roof rack and rock rails are a nice touch as are the 1.5 in lift and BFG T/A Champion tires on 17” wheels.
Like the Limited and Trailhawk, the 2.4L TigerShark Inline Four-Cylinder (I4) engine powers this little B-Ute.