Jeep has always put a lot of effort into the annual Easter Safari event in Moab. Every year, new prototypes and concepts are shown off here and 2022 is no different. Over the past couple of months, Jeep has been teasing us with numerous glimpses of the various vehicles it will be showing off for this year's event. These started in February with more following over the course of March and another arriving at the start of April. But now the time for teasers has come to an end and the American automaker is showing us just what it has been working on.
The first vehicle is the Jeep Wrangler Magneto 2.0 Concept and it comes with a custom axial flux electric motor, a six-speed manual(!) transmission, and four lithium-ion battery packs with a combined power of 70 kilowatt-hours and 800-volt technology. Peak amperage has been more than doubled over last year's Magneto concept to 600 amps, which allows the unique Wrangler to deliver 625 horsepower and up to 850 lb-ft of torque to the wheels. Interestingly, this setup can maintain peak amperage for up to 10 seconds, which allows 0-60 mph to take place in just two seconds flat.
Naturally, the added power requires some supporting upgrades, so to accommodate the new powertrain, 12 inches were added to the wheelbase, a three-inch lift kit was installed, and 40-inch tires are fitted to 20-inch wheels. Dynatrac suspension, lightweight bumpers, carbon fiber fender flare, a carbon hood, a custom bikini top, and Surf Blue paint further enhance this concept's appeal.
Next is the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk PHEV Concept which whets our appetite for the Grand Cherokee 4xe that will be launched in the spring. Like the 4xe, the Trailhawk PHEV Concept makes use of two electric motors, a 400V battery pack, a 2.0-liter turbo four-pot, and a TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission. Additionally, the concept boasts Quadra-Lift air suspension, sway-bar disconnect, 20-inch painted Neutral Grey metallic matte wheels wrapped in 33-inch BFG mud-terrain tires, and widened flares.
The exterior is finished in a custom Industrial Blue hue with 4xe Lagoon Blue tow hooks. A custom roof rack has also been added, while the Rhino Liner roof promises durability. Custom fog light bezels and unique vinyl decals are joined by Mopar rock rails while the cabin displays saddle-colored seats with "Rodney" houndstooth inserts, the 4xe Trailhawk badge, and Surf Blue stitching.
Kicking it old school, the Jeep '41 Concept pays homage to the Willys Jeep that was originally conceived as a military vehicle. The concept is dressed in an olive D.R.A.B. '41 matte green finish and black powder-coated steel bumpers, but its Warn winch and JPP bumper hoop tease capability. A tan soft top adds to the retro look, while JPP half doors give off a utilitarian feel that is complemented by a custom graphics package and accented tow hooks. Inside, a retro shifter with a customized cap is joined by canvas seat upholstery detailed with digital camouflage inserts and Serafil 1043 stitching. A Rhino-lined heavy texture floor means you won't mind wetting the cabin while a two-inch lift and 35-inch mud tires wrapped around 17-inch Fifteen52 wheels encourage you to explore. But not everything can be old-school, so this concept is powered by the Wrangler 4xe's powertrain.
Jeep is also using this opportunity to celebrate two decades of a special trim with the Rubicon 20th Anniversary Concept. When the Rubicon first arrived on the scene in 2002, it boasted a plethora of off-road-focused upgrades and Jeep hasn't forgotten what the name has come to stand for, saying that the "Wrangler Rubicon continues to be a 'proof of concept' for the Jeep brand, where lessons learned in off-road meccas like Moab and feedback gleaned from enthusiasts and Jeep brand loyalists continue to push the brand and entire Jeep lineup forward."
The concept you see here is based on the quickest and most powerful Wrangler yet, the 6.4-liter V8-powered Rubicon 392. It adds an active dual-mode performance exhaust, a performance hood with a scoop, custom half doors, and a power top with removable side panels. This concept is finished in a Granite Crystal vinyl wrap accentuated with gold tow hooks and badges, but what matters is its capability. A Mopar swing gate air compressor, a JPP two-inch lift kit, 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels wrapped in 37-inch mud-terrain tires, and a Warn winch are complemented by a steel belly pan and steel bumpers.
The Jeep Bob Concept is "designed to blur the lines between two mighty off-roaders, the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator." Based on a Jeep Gladiator Rubicon, the spartan vehicle has no doors or even B-pillars while the customized hardtop has been perforated with a canvas top stretched atop that. This allows for protection from the elements while still maximizing the spread of natural light. The bed of the truck has also been "bobbed" by a foot while custom steel bumpers, a three-inch lift, and high clearance flares expand the off-road limits of the truck. Also contributing to this enhanced aptitude for climbing rocks is the addition of Dynatrac Pro-Rock 60 axles, King coils and bypass shocks, 40-inch tires wrapped around huge 20-inch beadlock wheels, and a vented hood.
For added flair, the color scheme is a crazy mix of ideas while the cabin boasts bright bed-lined floors with custom trimming for the seats.
The penultimate concept is the D-Coder Concept by JPP, which "carries more than 35 JPP and Mopar accessories, each painted in contrasting Maraschino Red and labeled with QR (quick response) codes." This will help those who see the concept find the parts for their own Jeeps. Additionally, the bedside and hood also boast QR codes linking the current JPP catalog. Among these upgrades are a Warn winch, a three-piece modular bumper with a single-hoop tubular grille and winch guard, and a pair of TYRI seven-inch LED off-road lights. A two-inch lift kit is almost obligatory, while Fox shocks help fit 17-inch five-spoke beadlock wheels wrapped in 37-inch tires. A JPP snorkel is joined by the brand's Gorilla Glass windshield which is up to three times stronger than a standard windshield.
Heavy-duty rock rails, tube doors, and a Katzkin leather cabin finished in Maraschino Red help complete the attention-grabbing look. Again, QR codes litter the interior so you can spec your own leather colors and options while Mopar provides the spray-in bed liner, stainless-steel pedal covers, and all-weather floor mats.
Finally, we have the Jeep Birdcage Concept by JPP, boasting a JPP two-inch lift with Fox shocks specially developed for the Wrangler 4xe's hybrid powertrain. Finished in Eagle Brown, the body is highlighted by Granite Crystal metallic and Jeep 4xe Surf Blue accents, but the bigger changes that really matter include a custom rock-slider skidplate connecting two rounded two-inch steel support bars. This frames the custom seven-slot grille and protects a recessed Warn winch while low-mount Surf Blue closed-tow hoops are attached behind the skid plate. 17-inch JPP five-spoke beadlock wheels bite on 37-inch tires and are housed in custom flat-fender flares with integral removable daytime running lights. Jeep boasts that "this concept is the first 50-state legal fender flare with OEM DRL and meets 50-state tire coverage requirements." To achieve this, taillight spacers were created to meet federal lighting requirements and better protect the lights themselves. Speaking of lighting and off-roading requirements, the Birdcage Concept gets underbody rock lights at each corner, custom rock rails with additional slider tubes, and 14-inch JPP TYRI off-road LEDs.
The windshield is missing, but you get a roll cage with a 600-pound capacity Rhino-Rack, Tobacco Leaf and Cocoa Brown leather seats with Surf Blue stitching, and custom covers for the cowl and windshield-wiper filler panels. A concept decklid panel called Add-A-Trunk, which uses gas-assisted shocks to lift the decklid panel out of the way for easy access when the swing gate is open.
Jeep is certainly going all out and will even be bringing three additional concepts by JPP as debuted at the 2021 SEMA show. These include the Wrangler 4xe concept and the Wrangler Overlook concept that stretched a four-door Wrangler Sahara into a three-row off-roader with luxury touches. The last concept is the Kaiser Jeep M725, which transformed a vintage 1967 Kaiser military ambulance into "an ultimate off-road support machine and rolling mascot for JPP."
The nine-day Easter Jeep Safari event kicks off in Moab, Utah from 9-17 April. If these concepts are anything to go by, the future of off-roading capability is in good hands, even if it is electrified.