Seven mean Jeep concepts revealed

The septuplet has been created for the 49th annual Easter Jeep Safari on the trails of Moab, Utah, attended by thousands of off-road and Jeep enthusiasts.

Each of the concept vehicles built for Moab this year were created by a small team of engineers, designers and fabricators that has been customising production vehicles since 2002, and has introduced more than 50 concept vehicles for the safari.

Jeep Chief (above)

A badass tribute to the classic 1970s full-size Jeep Cherokee, the Wrangler-based Chief is said to “evoke the west coast surfer lifestyle of sun and fun with a nod to nostalgic beach rides”.

Custom exterior design cues include vintage Ocean Blue paint with a white French Bread roof; custom modified razor grille like the original Wagoneer; halogen headlamps; removable sides; chrome front and rear bumpers and classic 17-inch slotted mag wheels.

There’s also a Hawaiian-themed interior complete with Jeep-designed “Surfer” pink, blue and white flowered cloth and leather-trimmed seats; vintage-style surf stickers on the center console and door handles; a Rosewood front-passenger grab handle and tiki-style shifter handle; and a Uconnect 8.4-inch touchscreen.

The doors and windshield were chopped two inches. Finally, there’s a selection of Jeep Performance Parts that include a two-inch lift kit with Fox shocks and front and rear Dana 44 axles with lockers, cold air intake and modified Rubicon rock rails.

The Chief is powered by the company’s familiar 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine matched to a six-speed manual gearbox.

Jeep Staff Car (above)

The Jeep Staff Car was built as a “salute to Jeep military service vehicles”.  The open-air Wrangler-based concept looks historic, but is in actuality all new.

The function over form of the original Jeep military service vehicles is evident in the basic steel wheels, minimalist fender flares, “hungry horse” stretched canvas roof and bench seats.

The exterior features a Sandstorm exterior colour scheme that is carried throughout the vehicle including the wheels, frame and axles. The Jeep Staff Car has no B-pillar and no doors. Jeep designers incorporated military-style round headlamps, Jeep J8 front and rear bumpers, fender-mounted blackout lamp with guards and a rear-mount spare tyre and vintage military gas can.

The Jeep Staff Car sits on 16-inch wheels with 35-inch Firestone NDT military tires.

The minimalist interior features low-backed bench seats in the first and second row, an integrated roll cage and a painted steel floor in place of carpet. A built-in cooler draws its inspiration from an old artillery box and accommodates 85 cans.

The Jeep Staff Car is powered by the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine matched to a six-speed manual 'box. It also has a Jeep Performance Parts two-inch lift kit with Fox shocks and front and rear Dana 44 axles.

Jeep Wrangler Africa (above)

The Africa is billed as the “ultimate Jeep Wrangler for back-country and overland expeditions”, with room for extra gear and auxiliary fuel tanks.

The Wrangler-based vehicle sports Desert Tan exterior paint, high-clearance steel front bumper with winch, power step rock rails, power dome vented hood and an extended rear body and high-top roof.

Powered this time by a 2.8-litre diesel engine matched to an automatic transmission, the Wrangler Africa also features fender-mounted auxiliary fuel cans. The Africa has 17-inch body colour steel wheels with 35-inch BF Goodrich Mud Terrain tyres.

The Jeep Wrangler Africa is outfitted with a two-inch lift kit with Fox shocks, sway bar links and front and rear Dana 44 axles from Jeep Performance Parts. The spare tyre is underbody-mounted and the cargo area, inner roof and floor are finished in a durable spray-in truck bed coating.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Overlander (above)

The Grand Cherokee-based Overlander concept “represents the rough-and-tumble side of Grand Cherokee”.

The Overlander sports Sage Green paint. Custom features include a one-off front fascia, integrated front winch, tow hooks, larger wheel flares, SRT tail lights and bonnet, off-road rock rails, front and rear skid plates and 18-inch milled wheels with BF Goodrich All-terrain T/A tyres.

The powertrain is the 3.0-litre diesel V6 engine matched to an eight-speed auto.

To top it off, the Grand Cherokee Overlander has a durable spray-in truck bed coating on the roof and a two-person hard-shell rooftop tent.

Jeep Renegade Desert Hawk (above)

The newest addition to the Jeep line-up, the Renegade, is the basis for the Desert Hawk concept, and is equipped with a selection of Mopar and Jeep Performance Parts.

The Desert Tan exterior features a Jeep Performance Parts body decal, a topographical hood decal that depicts the Fins and Things Moab trail, off-road rock rails and a skid plate kit. Also featured are Mopar’s trailer hitch receiver and roof rack. 

On the interior, the Renegade Desert Hawk has been outfitted with Mopar Katzkin seat covers, body colour bezel accents and Mopar all-weather floor mats.

The Renegade Desert Hawk is powered by the 2.4-litre Tigershark engine with MultiAir2 matched to a nine-speed automatic transmission with Jeep Active Drive Low.

Jeep Cherokee Canyon Trail (above)

The Canyon Trail concept vehicle is developed from the Cherokee, building on the car’s claimed “best-in-segment capability” with Mopar and Jeep Performance Parts.

The Cherokee Canyon Trail’s Desert Tan exterior paint is accented with a Satin Black bonnet that includes a topographical decal showcasing Hell's Revenge, an off-road trail in Moab. The exterior also displays Jeep Performance Parts body decal and Satin Black roof accent colours.

The Canyon Trail interior features Mopar Katzkin leather seat covers and accent stitching, a Jeep Performance Parts embroidered logo on the headrests, body colour bezel accents, a cargo tray mat, Jeep Cargo Management System, Moab off-road bag and all-weather floor mats.

Off-road capability is turned up with the addition of JPP off-road rock rails, a two-piece fuel tank skid plate, two-piece underbody skid plate, oil pan and front suspension skid plates, as well as concept 17-inch painted wheels with BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A tyres, which provide an additional one-half inch of lift.

The Jeep Cherokee Canyon Trail is powered by the 2.4-liter Tigershark MultiAir2 four-cylinder engine matched to a nine-speed automatic transmission with Jeep Active Drive Lock, which includes low range and a locking rear differential.

Jeep Wrangler Red Rock Responder (above)

Based on the Jeep Wrangler, the Red Rock Responder is a support vehicle purpose-built to traverse the harshest terrain to respond to any vehicle emergency with spare parts and tools, stored in the built-in drawers and compartments of the cargo box.

With a Vibrance Responder Red exterior paint, Jeep Performance Parts body decal, 10th Anniversary bonnet with hydraulic props, high-top fender flares and 17-inch beadlock wheels with body color beadlock ring, the Red Rock Responder stands out. In addition, the vehicle sports LED headlamps and foglights, an LED A-pillar and off-road lamps.

Functional capability is increased with the addition of 37-inch BF Goodrich Mud Terrain T/A KM2 tyres, four inches of JPP lift, Fox shocks, and front and rear Dana 60 axles with 5.38 gearing from Jeep Performance Parts.

The vehicle also sports a cold-air intake, prototype off-road rock rails and a Warn winch. The Red Rock Responder is also armed with Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary Edition steel front and rear bumpers and high-top fenders that were previously concept parts but quickly became a production part due to popular demand.

Side cargo boxes on each side of the vehicle hold a hi-lift jack and accessories, fire extinguisher, roadside accessory kit, first aid kit, Snap-on tool soft bags and recovery kit. It also stores an air hose and accessories, a dual compressor and air reservoir and has room for a cooler or a case of water.

The interior stands out along with the exterior with embroidered black and red Mopar Katzkin leather seats, Jeep Performance Parts logo embroidered on the headrests, red accent bezels, grab handles and all-weather floor mats.

The Jeep Wrangler Red Rock Responder is powered by the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine matched to an automatic transmission.

“Jeep is proud to be taking seven new eye-catching and extremely capable vehicles to the Easter Jeep Safari, where we expect to delight our most loyal enthusiasts,” said Jeep president and CEO Mike Manley.

“We go to this legendary event each year to showcase our latest Jeep production vehicles, as well as a variety of new ideas in our concept vehicles. In doing so, we receive a tremendous amount of valuable feedback, while interacting with our customers in the Jeep brand’s natural environment.

“We’re especially looking forward to this year’s Jeep Safari, as Renegade makes its official public debut on Moab’s demanding trails.”

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