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Jeep is back in its favorite place to test out four new Jeep Performance Parts (JPP) by Mopar concepts. It is time for the 58th Annual Easter Jeep Safari and this year’s concepts combine retro looks with new 4x4 capability. This year’s Easter Jeep Safari runs March 23-31, 2024, in Moab, Utah. Once upon a time Jeep only highlighted its traditional Wranglers but over the years, the Safari has grown to include the Grand Cherokees, the Grand Wagoneers, the Gladiators, EV concepts and 4xe versions of several vehicles. All of the Jeeps demonstrate the legendary Jeep off-road 4x4 capabilities.
“Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, is the perfect venue for new Jeep concepts, with more than 20,000 Jeep enthusiasts gathering each year to celebrate the most iconic 4x4 brand in the world,” said Bill Peffer, senior vice president and head of Jeep brand North America. “From 4xe electrification to unmatched 392 power, this year’s Jeep 4x4 concepts illustrate how the most capable Wrangler ever appeals to such a wide range of people.”
Real World 4x4 Testing
Jeep has been using the Easter Jeep Safari outside Moab, Utah as a test lab of sorts for more than five decades. Jeep shows off the concepts that have been carefully planned by designers and off-road enthusiasts. Jeep sees how the concepts perform and are received by the fans and then some of the concepts or performance packages make it into the Jeep lineup. The gathering is hosted by Moab’s Red Rock 4-Wheelers club. It is one of the largest off-roading events in the world.
Four distinctive Jeep brand and Jeep Performance Parts (JPP) concept vehicles are making their debuts at this year’s event.
- The Jeep Wrangler Low Down concept, a tip of the hat to the Lower 40 concept from 2009, features the 392 V-8 engine
- The Jeep Wrangler 4xe Willys Dispatcher concept marries the advanced 4xe plug-in hybrid propulsion system with a throwback design theme that honors early post-war civilian Jeep SUVs
- The Jeep Gladiator-based High Top concept features a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 along with retro styling
- The Jeep Grand Wagoneer-based Vacationeer concept looks like a camper van and has the powerful Hurricane Twin Turbo 510
“Our extended Jeep Performance Parts from Mopar team can’t wait to get back to Moab for the 58th annual Easter Jeep Safari,” said Mike Koval Jr, North America senior vice president, Mopar service, parts and customer care. “We look forward to unveiling a new set of concept vehicles that feature our latest custom and factory-tested and factory-backed production parts and accessories that allow us to tackle some of the toughest trails in the world.”
A Deeper Dive into the 2024 Easter Jeep Safari Concept Vehicles
Jeep Vacationeer Concept
Perhaps the most unusual concept running the trails in Moab this year is the mint-colored Jeep Vacationeer. It is based on the Grand Wagoneer but filled with nostalgia. The Vacationeer has unique bodyside woodgrain graphics that may remind you of the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models that were popular from the late 1960s through the early 1990s. However, the Vacationeer carries the latest in off-roading equipment.
The tricked-out Grand Wagoneer Vacationeer has 35-inch BFGoodrich mud-terrain tires, wrapped around 18-by-9-inch bead grip 701 Method racing wheels which provide a natural 1.5-inch lift for superior off-road performance. Larger wheel openings and custom bodyside flare extensions add to the aggressive look.
Front and rear skid plates provide underbody protection while a front-mounted Warn winch addresses difficult off-road situations.
On the roof of the Vacationeer concept is a custom, carbon-fiber RedTail Overland Skyloft – a climate-controlled oasis with sleeping space for two people and windows to soak in the panoramic views.
The second- and third-row seats have been removed to accommodate integration of the Skyloft. A custom weatherproof, pass-thru entrance allows easy access from the interior floor to the Skyloft. A fore/aft sliding door and a small step, which also doubles as a table, makes it easier to enter and exit the Skyloft.
The Jeep Vacationeer concept is powered by the 3.0-liter Hurricane Twin Turbo 510 engine, delivering 510 horsepower and 500 lb.-ft. of torque. The powerful Hurricane engine provides premium performance while also delivering improved fuel economy versus many competitors’ naturally aspirated V-8 and boosted six-cylinder engines.
Jeep Low Down Concept
The new Low Down concept pays homage to the Lower 40 concept that debuted 15 years ago. This new Jeep Wrangler concept uses massive 42-inch BFGoodrich Krawler 42x14.5R20 mud-terrain tires mounted on 20-inch beadlock wheels under its custom high-clearance carbon fender flares. The stock Wrangler Rubicon 392 suspension remains intact, but Dana 60 axles with 5.38 gears replace the standard Dana 44 axles with 4:10 gears. Between the diameter of the tires and the shortening of the front and rear bumpers, the Low Down’s center of gravity remains low, while the ground clearance, breakover, and approach and departure angles all get dramatic increases.
Jeep Willys Dispatcher Concept
A mix of where the Jeep brand’s been and where it’s going, the Jeep Willys Dispatcher is a Wrangler 4xe-based concept that invokes the nostalgia of the early post-war civilian Jeep, with its rugged, utilitarian looks, juxtaposed with the electrified off-road capability of the modern, technologically advanced 4xe propulsion system.
The Willys Dispatcher is powered by the award-winning 2.0-liter plug-in hybrid 4xe propulsion system that delivers 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque through an eight-speed automatic. Dana 50 Advantech front and rear axles with 4.70 gears effortlessly transfer all the power and torque to the Super Traxion tires.
Jeep Gladiator Rubicon High Top Concept
The Jeep Gladiator Rubicon High Top concept reflects the drive of the JPP design and engineering teams from Mopar to push the performance boundaries of the world’s most off-road capable midsize truck even further for the annual trek to Moab.
The Ginger Snap metallic exterior with retro-inspired two-tone graphics is designed to grab attention. The Gladiator Rubicon High Top concept rides high on massive new 40x13.5R18 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 tires mounted on 18-by-9-inch Satin Black KMC Grenade Crawl beadlock wheels.
We’ll take a deeper look at the four Easter Jeep Safari concepts tomorrow.
Jeep Photos
Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.
Follow Mary Conway at @MaryConwayMedia and send her car news tips for future stories.
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