In keeping with a decade-long tradition, Chrysler's Jeep and Mopar divisions have joined forces to create a range of extreme concepts to showcase at the Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, where off-road enthusiasts will spend a week honing their skills on some of the country's most challenging trials. First up is the Trailhawk Concept based on the new 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel V6 that comes with 35-inch Mickey Thompson off-road tires on Wrangler Rubicon 17-inch alloys.
It also sports enlarged wheel openings with custom fender flares and skid plates, rear tow hooks and Mopar rock rails. Custom styling includes an SRT hood and fascias, a black front grille, custom roof rails, and a non-metallic blood-range paint job with matte black roof. The first of five Wrangles is the Mopar Recon, featuring a grey exterior and a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 cranked up to 470 horsepower mated to a five-speed automatic. Dana 60 axles are suspended by a 4.5-inch prototype long-arm lift kit and roll on eight-lug beadlock wheels wrapped in 39-inch offroad tires that will help it scramble over anything in its path.
Exterior Mopar mods include offroad "Stinger" bumpers, LED lamps, a canvas soft top, rock rails, and swing-away rear tire carrier, while the interior sports a trailside winch kit and custom seats. The Rubicon-based Wrangler Stitch is a follow-up the Pork Chop concept that's been stripped down to a 3,000lb curb weight. Inside the a/c, stereo and heating systems have been omitted, the front leather seats come from the SRT Viper and the rear seats have been removed. Sections of the body have gone, as have the doors, and the hood is replaced with a carbon-fiber version of the 10th Anniversary Rubicon edition.
A chrome moly unit replaces the roll cage, while offroad gear includes custom DynaTrac Pro Rock 44 axles with 4.88 gears and ARB lockers, King shocks and pneumatic bump stops. The Sand Trooper II builds on the first model that debuted at SEMA 2012. It comes with a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 rated at 375 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque, mated to a five-speed automatic that sends power top Mopar eight-lug Portal axles, forged beadlock wheels and 40-inch offroad tires. Exterior enhancements include a satin black grille, Trailside winch kit, "Shorty" bumpers and vented hood, while inside there's a rear back-up camera and leather seats.
The Wrangler Flattop combines upscale aesthetics with hardcore offroad kit. Finished in metallic sandstone, the Wrangler's top and windshield were chopped two inches and the b-pillar removed. It comes with customized bumpers, a Warn Zeon winch, TeraFlex spare tire carrier and 37" tires. Inside, dark Katzkin leather is complemented by copper accents. Bringing up the rear is the Jeep Wrangler Slim, which is coated in Rock Lobster red, powered by a 3.6-liter V6 and rolls on 17" beadlock wheels. It comes with a black grille, learther and decals, special bumpers, LED headlights and Mopar 2-inch lift kit.