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The 2023 Easter Jeep Safari will kick off in Moab, Utah this weekend, with seven unique concepts designed specifically for the event.
Now in its 57th year, the nine-day Easter Jeep Safari event is hosted by Moab’s Red Rock 4-Wheelers 4x4 club, with factory-backed support from the American brand.
While the show cars are largely developed as a bit of fun for Jeep’s design team, it can also provide a glimpse at future products – including an all-electric Wrangler, and upcoming off-road accessories set to be offered by Jeep Performance Parts.
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JUMP AHEAD
- 1978 Jeep Cherokee 4xe Concept
- Jeep Gladiator Sideburn Concept
- Jeep Grand Wagoneer Overland Concept
- Jeep Scrambler 392 Concept
- All-electric Jeep Wrangler Magneto 3.0 Concept
- Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe Concept
- Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe Departure Concept
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1978 Jeep® Cherokee 4xe Concept
1978 Jeep Cherokee 4xe Concept
Jeep has travelled down memory lane with a resto-mod to the Jeep Cherokee SJ – a two-door version of the Wagoneer introduced in 1974.
The modernised concept – built from a run-down 1978 example purchased on Craigslist – was gutted to cater for the addition of the plug-in hybrid powertrain from a brand-new Wrangler 4xe.
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1978 Jeep® Cherokee 4xe Concept
With inspiration from cars of the 1970s, the Cherokee 4xe features a multi-colour paint finish, 17-inch ‘slotted mag’ wheels, chunky 37-inch tyres, a four-point safety cage to replace the rear bench seat, and leather-trimmed bucket seats.
Under the bonnet, the Cherokee’s American Motors (AMC)-sourced engine is replaced by a modern 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, matched to an electric motor and an eight-speed automatic transmission – but Jeep has added a fuel cap from the AMC parts bin to acknowledge its past ownership by the now-defunct brand.
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Jeep® Gladiator Rubicon Sideburn Concept
Jeep Gladiator Sideburn Concept
The Gladiator Sideburn Concept gains a Jeep Performance Parts (JPP) 2-inch lift kit and Bilstein-sourced shock absorbers with remote reservoir shocks.
Finished in ‘solar flash yellow’, it also features black HRE 17-inch FT1 six-spoke wheels and 37-inch BF Goodrich off-road tyres, while the front grille is taken from the related Wrangler 20th Anniversary Edition.
In addition, Jeep’s engineers have fitted a custom-designed tubular grille guard, a modified Rubicon bumper with a Warn winch, removable LED roof lights, and a concept sport bar made from carbon fibre and steel.
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Jeep® Gladiator Rubicon Sideburn Concept
JPP, a Mopar sub-brand, also developed a custom limb-riser that “uses heavy-duty cables attached from the top of the [bonnet] latch to the back of the windshield header, directing loose branches and brush up and over the roofline, preventing potential damage to the [bonnet] and windshield.”
Inside, it gains a red-brown ‘vienesse relicate’ Nappa leather upholstery, a custom instrument cluster panel with a 3D topographical map of Moab, and a concept JPP heavy-duty vinyl floor system with integrated floor drains for interior hose-outs.
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Grand Wagoneer Overland Concept
Jeep Grand Wagoneer Overland Concept
It’s not just Wranglers and Gladiators that get all the attention for the Easter Jeep Safari, with a camp-focus for a new Grand Wagoneer concept.
Based on the short-wheelbase Grand Wagoneer, the Overland Concept – powered by Stellantis’ new 380kW/678Nm 3.0-litre twin-turbo ‘Hurricane’ inline-six petrol engine – receives a custom-designed roof-mounted camper top by Redtail Overland.
The unit, known as the Skyloft, is constructed from lightweight carbon fibre to unfold in “around 10 seconds from the inside by simply pushing up with one arm.”
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Grand Wagoneer Overland Concept
To install the pop-top camper, Jeep has removed the second- and third-row of seating – reducing the Grand Wagoneer from eight seats to just two – and created a weatherproof entrance to the upper level through the rear-most sunroof.
Inside, the Grand Wagoneer Overland Concept is fitted with two beanbags, a plush throw rug, pillows, and custom ambient interior lighting.
More than just the addition of a luxurious camper, the focus on off-road ability brings custom wheel arches a front winch, custom laser lights and unique bumpers, while the 18-inch alloy wheels and 35-inch tyres allow for a 38mm lift for increased ground clearance.
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Jeep® Scrambler 392 Concept
Jeep Scrambler 392 Concept
Inspired by the CJ-8 Jeep Scrambler convertible truck, the Scrambler 392 Concept blends the V8-powered Wrangler 392 – an LHD-only model – with the rear section from the Gladiator dual-cab ute.
While it has two doors, the Scrambler 392 is based on the four-door Wrangler Rubicon’s wheelbase – with the addition of carbon-fibre body panels, a lowered roof, wider rear arches, and lighter front and rear bumpers.
Under the skin, the Scrambler 392 concept is fitted with an AccuAir air suspension kit developed for the Wrangler and Gladiator, allowing for an on-the-fly lift ranging from 38mm to 140mm, controllable via the built-in controller or “through long-range Bluetooth on a wireless device.”
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Jeep® Scrambler 392 Concept
In addition, it sports 40-inch tyres, custom 20-inch alloy wheels, a sublime green exterior, and new seats with plaid blue inserts and green stitching in the cabin.
As mentioned, it is powered by the 6.4-litre Hemi V8 producing 350kW and 639Nm, as found in the North America-only Wrangler V8.
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Jeep® Wrangler Magneto 3.0 Concept
Jeep Wrangler Magneto 3.0 Concept
The latest all-electric Wrangler Magneto 3.0 Concept builds on the previous two examples unveiled in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Unlike other electric vehicles, the modified Wrangler retains its six-speed manual transmission – a beefed-up version of the unit found in the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat – and low-range gearbox.
Building upon the previous show cars, the latest Magneto concept has two power settings, with a whopping 485kW and 1224Nm in a 10-second burst, or 213kW and 371Nm in standard mode – in line with the naturally-aspirated 3.6-litre V6 petrol.
A two-stage power regeneration mode has been added, with a hill descent mode available in low range for a ‘one-pedal’ rock-crawling experience.
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Jeep® Wrangler Magneto 3.0 Concept
Compared to the previous editions, the latest Magneto has a modified door opening, a new B-pillar, a custom anti-roll bar, and a raked-back windscreen “to give the side view a ‘chopped’ roof feel without shortening the front glass.”
It also features 20-inch off-road beadlock alloy wheels, 40-inch mud-terrain tyres, a custom 3-inch lift, and off-road front and rear axles supplied by Dynatrac.
Jeep has introduced red exterior accents for the 2023 iteration, while the front seats have been re-trimmed in blue leather, and a Rhino-lined blue protective finish for the flooring.
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Jeep® Wrangler Rubicon 4xe Concept
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe Concept
This concept could preview a future paint finish for the Wrangler, with inspiration from the limited-run Tuscadero colour available in 2021.
Jeep said it initially forecasted 3000 orders for the finish, but overwhelming demand led to production being extended for a month – and something similar is likely to return.
Enter the latest pink hue from Jeep’s design headquarters, which is said to switch from a purple-like finish in darker environments to a magenta-like look under the direct sun.
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It also gains the front grille from the Wrangler 20th Anniversary Edition, and custom leather seats inside with magenta accents.
As with the Scrambler concept, there’s also an AccuAir air suspension kit, while it receives 17-inch gloss-black wheels from American Expedition Vehicles, which also supplied the front and rear bumpers, differential covers and a winch.
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Jeep® Wrangler Rubicon 4xe Departure Concept
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe Departure Concept
Based on a stock Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid, the Departure Concept is fitted with a slew of parts from the Jeep Performance Parts division.
This includes; 17-inch Vintage Bronze KMC Impact OL wheels, 37-inch BFGoodrich tyres, a 2-inch lift kit, Bilstein-sourced performance shock absorbers with remote reservoirs, and the 20th Anniversary front grille.
Other additions comprise a custom-designed tubular grille, wider flares, removable daytime running light covers, windshield-mounted rectangular LED lights, rock rails with mounted slider tubes, sports bar-attached storage panels, and a unique spare-wheel mount to provide more space – or to improve rear overhang when turned toward the cabin.
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Jeep® Wrangler Rubicon 4xe Departure Concept
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