Jeep's Easter Safari Builds Go All Retro For 2024Stellantis
With the 58th annual Easter Jeep Safari well underway in Moab, Utah, Stellantis has pulled the cover off of four brand-new off-road concepts. The lineup includes two highly-modified Wranglers, a big-tired Gladiator pickup, and a seriously retro take on the Grand Wagoneer, all of which take a look back at some of the Jeep’s greatest work for inspiration. Here’s what you need to know about these factory-modified wheelers.
Stellantis
Wrangler Low Down Concept
Jeep has built more than 100 of these custom 4x4s since 2008, but only a select few have managed to stick in the minds of the Jeep faithful. The new Rubicon 392-based Wrangler Low Down concept pays homage to one of the most famous Easter Jeep Safari builds, the Lower 40 concept from 2009. That early build featured a V-8 engine swap under the hood, and made use of gigantic 40-inch rubber despite a stock ride height. The new truck is a bit more extreme, trading that old-school 5.7-liter V-8 for the potent 6.4-liter engine provided by the Rubicon 392. The new build also retains the stock suspension package from the Rubicon 392 model, but swaps out the stock Dana 44 axle for more robust Dana 60s with 5.38 gears. Those beefier axles help support the truck’s massive 42-inch BFGoodrich Krawler mud-terrain tires, which come installed on a set of 20-inch beadlock wheels. The stock fenders have been replaced with a set of flared carbon units, which help give the truck a purposeful stance. A Poison Apple Red paint job and a red-tinted swimsuit top are a nice nod to the original concept as well.
Stellantis
Wrangler 4xe Willys Dispatcher Concept
The second Wrangler build looks even further back in brand history, paying respects to the early civilian model Jeep from the post-war era. Based on the 4xe hybrid model, this Willys Dispatcher Concept gets some old-school appearance tweaks, including custom steel bumpers at both ends. The hood also features stamped “Willys” branding, which it shares with the original seven-barred product. Upgraded Dana 50 axles with 4.70 gears help increase capability, as do the Super Traxion 36-inch tires. That rubber comes wrapped around retro-style steel wheels, which are finished in a cream hue. The SUV itself is finished in a bespoke shade of Element 115 Green paint, which is accented nicely by the blacked out windshield banner. The best looking part of this custom SUV is the interior, complete with distressed saddle leather and houndstooth inserts throughout. The headrests have been pulled from the seats to improve that retro appearance. It’s the sort of thing we’d love to see make its way to the production models, however unlikely. The throwback style Warn Winch is another nice touch and helps to round out the package.
Stellantis
Gladiator High Top Concept
The Gladiator High Top Concept is a bit less of an involved build, borrowing mostly from the Jeep Performance Parts catalog. Upgrades include items like an AccuAir air suspension system, which work with Dana 60 axles at both ends to support 4x4 endeavors. The suspension system is put to the ground via a gigantic set of 40-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3s, which come wrapped around a set of 18-inch KMC Grenade Crawl beadlock wheels. A set of flat fender flares and AEV bumpers ensure that the large rubber is covered and ready for road-use, while giving the pickup some additional flair. Out back you’ll find a truck bed storage system by Decked, which brings a bit of overlanding capability to the build. A Warn Winch and some rock slider steps have also been added should any off-roading adventures take a turn for the worse.
Stellantis
Vacationeer Concept
Rounding out the 2024 Easter Jeep Safari lineup is the Grand Wagoneer-based Vacationeer Concept. The design is a clear nod to the original Wagoneer models, complete with the oh-so lovely wood grain graphics missing from the current production model. The woody look pairs very nicely with the Spearmint paint, which has slightly more white in the mix than the aforementioned Element 115 color. The wheel openings have also been massaged to make room for the larger 35-inch tires, which come wrapped around 18-inch Method Race wheels. A 1.5-inch suspension lift adds a bit of aggression to the stance, while bringing a bit more off-road capability to the table. The rear rows of seats have been removed in favor of a carbon-fiber RedTail Overland Skyloft, which serves as a passthrough rooftop tent for ideal camping conditions. Under the hood sits a high output variant of the Hurricane inline-six engine, which provides 510 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque. That said, the real highlight of this build is found on the interior, where Jeep enlisted the assistance of fashion designer Kiel James Patrick. The custom flannel seats feature famous Jeep models from years gone by, and fit with the theme perfectly. This is exactly how the Grand Wagoneer should have looked in production form, but we’ll settle for a concept like this one.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Easter Jeep Safari runs through March 31st, 2024 in Moab, Utah. If you’re a diehard Jeeper, it might be worth the trek to lay eyes on these unique concept vehicles.
With so many models and options on the market, choosing the right car for your money isn't easy. The wrong choice leaves you trapped in a money pit, draining your finances with repair costs, poor gas...
If you're planning to retire this year or within the next five years, chances are you'll be reviewing whether you should keep your current vehicle or invest in a new car. The car you buy needs to be...
Given the turbulent economy over the past five years, finding a car that lasts longer than 200,000 miles isn't a matter of pride -- it's a financial planning near-necessity. Thankfully, cars last much...
A legal high-speed run on a closed public road in Sun Valley, Idaho ended in a horrific crash over the weekend. Multiple videos show the moment when a Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet veered off the road near the finish line of the no speed limit run during the annual Sun Valley Tour de Force charity gathering on July 20. A cop causes a crazy four-car accident. That sanctioned run allows participants to drive as fast as they want on a 3.2-mile stretch of Idaho Highway 75 in the Sawtooth National Recr
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — A St. Petersburg man was seriously injured after crashing his car on I-275 Wednesday afternoon. The Florida Highway Patrol said at about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, a Tesla sedan was driving at a high speed toward the Sunshine Skyway Bridge when the driver lost control. The Tesla left the roadway, hit […]
Investors are punishing automakers' stocks this week after second-quarter earnings reports exposed industrywide issues of slowing sales and high prices, just as the companies are having to spend huge sums to make new electric and gas vehicles. Ford Motor Co., which reported a drop in second-quarter earnings due electric-vehicle losses and persistently high warranty costs, led the declines. Carlos Tavares, CEO of Jeep and Ram maker Stellantis, said a significant auto-industry storm he's been warning about for several years has arrived.
There are many approaches to buying a new -- or new to you -- car. Some people prefer to plan carefully, researching makes and models well in advance, giving heavy credence to reviews. Others? Well,...
New cars are great, but they also cost a ton of money, so for a lot of Americans, buying used is the only option. Thankfully, modern cars are much more reliable than they used to be, so if you buy a five-year-old car, you still get most of the modern features you probably want without breaking the bank or having to worry as much about depreciation.
Ford loses nearly $50,000 (£38,700) on every electric car it sells, results from the company show, as traditional manufacturers struggle with the switch away from petrol.
MADERA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Lanes continue to be closed going northbound on Highway 99 in Madera County on Thursday following a fatal traffic crash, according to the California Highway Patrol. CHP says the fatal traffic crash happened shortly after noon on northbound Highway 99, between Avenue 9 and Avenue 12. According to CHP, officers and […]