Four New Concept Vehicles Debut At Easter Jeep Safari In Moab

Today, Jeep debuted four new concept cars at the 58th annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. In collaboration with Jeep Performance Parts (JPP), these concepts give a nod to the brand’s heritage while also looking toward the future.

They feature the latest engines, from the Wrangler 4xe with its plug-in hybrid to the Wrangler 392 with its V8. There’s also the Pentastar V6 in the Gladiator and the 510-horsepower Hurricane Twin Turbo 510 in the Grand Wagoneer.

Low Down Concept

At the 43rd Annual Easter Jeep Safari, the design team revealed the Jeep Wrangler Lower 40. It had a stock ride height to keep a low center of gravity combined with 40-inch mud-terrain tires and a 5.7-liter V8 engine. This year, Jeep pays homage to that fan favorite with the new Low Down.

This Wrangler goes even bigger with 42-inch BFGoodrich Krawler 42×14.5R20 mud-terrain tires on 20-inch beadlock wheels. There are custom carbon fender flares while the Wrangler Rubicon 392 suspension is unchanged. Dana 60 axles with 5.38 gears replace the standard axles and help increase approach and departure angles.

The Low Down gets a dramatic Poison Apple Red paint job and loses its rear door handles. A custom carbon fiber hood with a see-through power dome covers the 475-horsepower 6.4-liter 392 V8 engine and there’s a race-style fuel filler in the driver’s side rear quarter panel.

Inside, there are black leather seats with cloth inserts and Rhino-lined floors ready for mud and muck. The unique dashboard features a bold 392 graphic with a radio-delete instrument panel. Overhead, a red-tinted bikini top casts a moody glow.

Willys Dispatcher Concept

The Willys Dispatcher Concept harkens back to post-war era civilian Jeeps. It gets SuperTraxion 36-inch tires and vintage-style 16×7-inch alloy steelies. There’s a throwback front bumper that houses a new 8274 Warn winch with classic styling. “Willys” lettering is embossed on both sides of the hood and the windshield header gets a gloss black accent. The exterior is painted in custom Element 115 Green with cream steelies.

On the inside, the story is still retro, with distressed saddle leather, striking houndstooth cloth inserts, and no headrests to create that vintage look. Overhead, a JPP bikini top keeps the elements out, while a JPP vinyl floor covering offers protection from dirty boots. An onboard JPP air compressor helps keep tires properly inflated.

Power for the Willy’s Dispatcher comes from a 2.0-liter plug-in hybrid 4xe engine with 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Dana 50 Advantech front and rear axles with 4.70 gears help manage all that torque.

Gladiator Rubicon High Top Concept

The Gladiator Rubicon High Top Concept sports Ginger Snap metallic paint with retro-style graphics. It rolls on 40×13.5R18 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 tires on 18×9-inch Satin Black KMC Grenade Crawl beadlock wheels. Custom JPP fender flares provide ample clearance off-road with Dana 60 front and rear axles and AccuAir adjustable air suspension to handle challenging terrain.

There’s an American Expedition Vehicles modified front bumper and a Warn winch with power for this concept coming from a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Rock Slide Engineering rock rail power steps offer protection and an easier step into the Gladiator, while a Decked bed storage system offers plenty of options with lockable sliding drawers.

The seats feature custom quilted and perforated tan and black Alea leather with the JPP logo embossed on the headrests. More JPP parts come in the form of an overhead sun bonnet and pedal kit, along with all-weather floor mats and door sill guards.

Jeep Vacationeer Concept

The last vehicle on the list is the Jeep Vacationeer Concept, which is based on the luxurious Jeep Grand Wagoneer – the six-figure luxury SUV Jeep is having no problems finding buyers for. This throwback has a Spearminted exterior with a detail that many a Jeep fan remembers from the days of the original Grand Wagoneer – wood paneling. The JPP design team added a thin bodyside wood graphic that, although not quite as bold as what the original featured, is still a nice acknowledgment of the past.

The Vacationeer is ready for adventure with 35-inch BFGoodrich mud-terrain tires and 18×9-inch bead grip 701 Method racing wheels. This gives the vehicle a 1.5-inch lift. There are also larger wheel openings and bodyside flare extensions that give this family vehicle extra presence. Under the hood is a 3.0-liter Hurricane Twin Turbo 510 engine.

Front and rear skid plates provide plenty of protection with a Warn winch to get out of tricky spots. The white, Rhino-lined roof features three 11-inch Tyri LED lights up front to light up the night. Both the second and third rows have been removed to accommodate a carbon-fiber RedTail Overland Skyloft. This climate-controlled space sleeps two and even has windows, so you can watch the sunrise. Access to the Skyloft is easy through a pass-through from the interior floor or a fore/aft sliding door that doubles as a table.

The interior of the Vacationeer is the work of fashion designer Kiel James Patrick, a Wagoneer owner and enthusiast. It features Tupelo leather seats and custom fabric seat inserts adorned with classic Jeeps in a pattern inspired by his New England roots.