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Chris Collard
2014 Moab Easter Jeep® Safari - Group shot
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Chris Collard
2014 Moab Easter Jeep® Safari - Group shot
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Chris Collard
2014 Moab Easter Jeep® Safari - Jeep Cherokee Adventurer
Well, it has a cool colour.
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Chris Collard
2014 Moab Easter Jeep® Safari - Jeep Cherokee Dakar
Now this is what a Cherokee is supposed to be.
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Chris Collard
2014 Moab Easter Jeep® Safari - Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel
We’re not sure about being a trail warrior, but as a luxury overlander, this works well.
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Chris Collard
2014 Moab Easter Jeep® Safari - Jeep Wrangler MOJO
Jeep says the “O” and “J” stand for “Orange Jeep.” Not sure what the “M” and “O” are for.
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Chris Collard
2014 Moab Easter Jeep® Safari - Jeep Wrangler Level Red
Prototype fiberglass fender flares cover 37-in wheels. Make them plastic and put them on sale Mopar.
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Jeep Wrangler Level Red is one of the six concept vehicles devel
How do you know Jeep relates to their fans? They reward them for taking their products on the toughest trails on the continent.
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Chris Collard
2014 Moab Easter Jeep® Safari - Jeep Wrangler Max Performance
The biggest and baddest was the Max Performance. Although, no super cool one-offs like the Nukizer were in attendance.
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Chris Collard
2014 Moab Easter Jeep® Safari - Jeep Wrangler Max Performance
Every concept was wrapped with BFG’s, however only the hardcore got beadlocks.
Words by Budd Stanley, photos courtesy of Jeep
If there is one thing I look forward to each year during the EJS (Easter Jeep Safari) in Moab, Utah, it’s Mopar’s annual salute to Jeep loyalists and all things off-road. To celebrate along side their faithful followers, Mopar and Jeep have rolled out over twenty specialty off-road concept vehicles at the EJS since 2002. It allows Jeep and Mopar to give back to loyal Jeepsters, test out new products with the brands core demographic, and get to know the modern Jeep owner on a more personal level. It’s too bad more carmakers don’t get up close and personal like this with their biggest fans.
While previous years have seen wildly creative custom one-off rigs like Mighty FC and Nukizer, this year seemed a little weak as the big builds were absent. Like it or not, Jeep and Mopar chose to put the spotlight on production vehicles that feature production and prototype dealer installed parts. The flash of true concepts was gone, but those in attendance did get a good dose of what could be coming to a parts catalog in the near future. Here’s a brief rundown of what you may have missed at this years EJS.
Jeep Cherokee Adventurer
Lets start with the baby of the group, the Jeep Cherokee Adventurer. There may not be a whole lot to say about this concept, as it is a fairly tame expression of what Mopar think an overland version of the Cherokee might look like. The Adventurer starts with a Trailhawk edition of the Cherokee and adds extra cargo carrying capability using a prototype Mopar roof basket with a bungee net.
More importantly, it is upgraded with a 48:1 crawl ratio as well as aggressive BFGoodrich All-Terrain tires mounted on prototype 17-in wheels. Jeep Performance Parts rock rails provide rocker panel defense, and further protection is added courtesy of a two-piece underbody skid plate, a front suspension skid plate, an oil tank skid plate and a two-piece fuel tank skid plate. Along with all the concepts, the Adventurer receives a multitude of exterior and interior dress-up appointments and graphics to play the part, but we need not bore you with the obvious.
Jeep Cherokee Dakar
Now it starts to get a little more interesting with the Jeep Cherokee Dakar concept. I must admit the bolt-on flare trend that is rocking both the JDM and 4WD world is working well on the Cherokee, opening up the wheel wells to accommodate the 33-in BFGoodrich Mud Terrain tires Mopar threw under it and the wider track width. Like the Adventurer, the Dakar is based off the Trailhawk Cherokee and receives the same 48:1 crawl ratio and underbody protection.
Custom fortified bodywork front and rear has increased approach and departure angles to 32- and 39-degrees respectively, giving it the obstacle attacking abilities I think the Cherokee rightfully deserves. This is backed up by a prototype Jeep Performance Parts lift kit, and additional suspension modifications, along with all the interior and exterior visual enhancements.
Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel Trail Warrior
Moving on to the Cherokee’s more mature brother, Jeep unveiled the Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel Trail Warrior. I knew from the start that a diesel powered Grand Cherokee would make an ideal overlander, and it seems Jeep and Mopar were thinking along the same lines. Much like the Adventurer, the Trail Warrior may not be the most aggressive of the bunch, but is outfitted nicely for some multi-day, long distance adventures.
The BFGoodrich treatment is again applied to the Trail Warrior, this time with All-Terrain tires fitted to a set of prototype 20-in wheels. Like the Adventurer, a tan paint job is topped off with a prototype Mopar roof basket mounted on the production cross rails. Other than other esthetic details, the Trail Warrior is left to defend itself with production bumpers and Quadra-lift air suspension. I’d like to see a little more help in these two key areas, even though the big Grand Cherokee is already fairly astute.
Jeep Wrangler MOJO
Now we start getting into the good stuff with the first of three Wranglers, starting with the Jeep Wrangler MOJO. A Jeep Performance Parts 2-in lift provides the clearance to traverse obstacles, with locking Dana 44 front and rear axles, a 4:1 Rock-Trac transfer case with a crawl ratio of 59:1, compliments the Wrangler MOJO’s rock-climbing capabilities. Helping the MOJO along are 37-in BFGoodrich Mud Terrain tires wrapped around prototype beadlock wheels, all being pushed by 4.88 gearing. As such, the Pentastar V-6 gets a modest performance boost with a cold air intake and exhaust system.
The MOJO is defended by prototype Jeep Performance Parts “Shorty” bumpers, an under-bumper skid plate, rock rails and prototype flat-top fenders. Additional trail enhancements include a prototype Jeep Performance Parts winch, prototype LED headlamps and fog lamps and a Mopar “Rubicon X” hood.
Jeep Wrangler Level Red
One more step up the ladder sits the Wrangler Level Red, which refers to the highest level of difficulty an off-road trail can be designated. As such, the Level Red comes well equipped to handle challenging off-road terrain, riding on a Jeep Performance Parts 2-in lift kit. Jeep Performance Parts Dana 44 crate axles on the front and rear feature a 4:10 ratio. The Jeep Performance Parts Rock-Trac transfer case provides a 4:1 low range and a crawl ratio of 73:1.
The Level Red gets “Rubicon 10th Anniversary” bumpers front and rear, with prototype black “Aero” bumper ends and an under-bumper skid plate providing more protection. Prototype 17 x 8-in beadlock-capable wheels carry aggressive 35-in BFGoodrich Mud Terrain tires, available through the Mopar Tireworks program.
The Jeep Wrangler Level Red is modified with additional exterior upgrades including a prototype Jeep Performance Parts tire carrier, Mopar half-door kit and Jeep Performance Parts rock rails. It also sports badges for each of the five trails in Moab recognized by the Jeep brand as “Badge of Honor” trails. Through the Jeep brand’s Badge of Honor program, Jeep vehicle owners can earn special vehicle badges once they conquer any of more than 30 approved, high-profile trails across the United States.
Jeep Wrangler Maximum Performance
Finally, we come to the Jeep Wrangler Maximum Performance, the hard-core machine built to spend every spare minute on the trail. The Wrangler Maximum Performance is armed with new Jeep Performance Parts-exclusive push-button electric-locking Dana 60 axles at the front and rear, as well as 4.88 gearing. A 4:1 Rock-Trac transfer case boasting a 70:1 crawl ratio compliments the axles with a prototype Jeep Performance Parts 4-in lift kit to better hurdle any trail impediments.
The exterior features a prototype Jeep Performance Parts “Stinger” front bumper paired with a front bumper skid plate, Jeep Performance Parts Rubicon rock rails and a prototype flattop fender kit. A Mopar black grille dresses up the front, which also is modified with a prototype Jeep Performance Parts winch, and prototype LED lights mounted to the top of the vehicle to shine bright during nighttime off-road maneuvers.
Where the rubber meets the slick rock sits prototype eight-lug beadlock wheels wrapped with 37-in BFGoodrich Mud Terrain tires. The rear of the vehicle receives a prototype tire carrier and a 37-in spare tire cover featuring the Jeep Performance Parts logo. Wrangler Maximum Performance also sports the five Moab “Badge of Honor” badges.
While the extreme one-offs failed to make an appearance this year, the EJS Mopar class of 2014 proved impressive nonetheless. It’s good to see the EcoDiesel get some attention and obviously, the Wranglers got the most of the bunch. However, I thought we might find a diesel powered Wrangler hidden in amongst the trio. Not to be, perhaps next year.