Ahhh, April. Fool’s jokes, chocolate, the beginning of spring, NHL playoffs, ta—never mind on that one — and more Jeep concepts than most normal Canadians can fit on their block, let alone in their garage. In short, April means it’s time for the annual Easter Jeep Safari in Utah’s Moab region.
Now in its 59th year, the Jeep Safari – an event created by Jeep owners for Jeep owners – sees thousands of Jeepists descend into the desert for a week of rollicking, rip-roarin’ off-road fun.
Naturally, Jeep the brand would never let this momentous occasion pass without putting their own mark on the proceedings.
Every year, the brand brings a brace of concepts to the event; some are just current Jeep Wrangler models gussied up with Mopar parts (as well as other factory-approved aftermarket items), while others are thoroughly reworked Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators, many of which recall models from Jeeps’ halcyon years as an AMC subdivision. Here are this years entrants, a mix of seven vehicles that demonstrate just how far Jeep can take the Wrangler platform, and how much a few choice aftermarket bits can have transformative effect on your Wrangler.
Jeep Convoy Concept
Today, the Jeep Wrangler is best known as a great off-road adventure partner as well as a top-down boulevard and beach cruiser. That’s all well and good but amid all of that flash, it can be easy to forget that today’s Wrangler traces its roots all the way back to the Willys JP army vehicle, a no-nonsense yet modular platform that could be configured any number of ways to help get the job done.
Jeep aims to remind us of all that with the Convoy, a heavily reworked gladiator that gets the forward-leaning grille of older Jeep models as well as military-grade wheels and tires, a winch, canvas roof and doors, and natural earthtone paintjob.
Jeep Bug Out 4xe Concept
If you thought the plug-in hybrid 4xe version of the Wrangler wasn’t gong to get the Moab treatment, we bring you the Bug Out, a two-door Wrangler with what looks like the wheelbase of a four-door model. It also gets many of its bits crafted from carbon fibre, ostensibly lightening the vehicle so as to make it better equipped to accommodate the additional weight of overlanding gear without pushing the Bug Out into the 3-tonne territory. It also gets a pickup bed and no rear seat, allowing enough space to hang a hammock in the cargo area.
Jeep Rewind Concept
Remember when we said that today’s Wranglers are known more for beachcombing than battlefield utility? Well, Jeep aims to capitalize on that with the Rewind Concept, a very purple two-door Wrangler with rad-era turquoise and pink graphics on the hood and a purple/pink interior treatment including one of the louder seat fabrics we’ve ever seen. The five-hole silver-copper alloys are cool but the real kicker is the ‘80s style carphone and ’90s style — wait for it — Discman mounted to the centre console.
Jeep Wrangler 4xe Blueprint Concept
This one falls squarely in the “check what our factory-backed accessories can do” camp as it features over 40 aftermarket parts available for purchase from Jeep dealers. We suppose that’s why it’s called what it is – how a base Wrangler can form a great “Blueprint” for the off-roader of your dreams. Aftermarket parts included are the tube doors, lift kit, 37-inch tires and a whole lot more. Each part found on the Blueprint, meanwhile, is labelled with a QR code so you can see what it takes to get the part, and for how much.
Jeep Wrangler 4xe Sunchaser Concept
Of all the seven concepts, this one is probably the most “normal” looking. Like the Blueprint, the Sunchaser was conceived as a showcase for the many available Jeep aftermarket parts and so we find the lift kit, special tires, large roof rack and Land Rover Defender-style side-mounted gear pods. And how can you not love the school bus yellow with black accents paintjob?
Jeep Gladiator High Top Honcho Concept
“High Top Honcho”?!?! They better build this Gladiator-based concept, if for nothing more than to offer a model in their line-up called “High Top Honcho”. I mean, if they allow that, why not Big Rig Rider or Beachside Bomber? In fact, Jeep did at one time offer something called “Honcho” but it was little more than a graphics package for the J10 pickup in the ‘70s and ‘80s. The transition to “High Top” provides special white steelie wheels wrapped in fat 40” rubber, a headache bar in back and black perforated leather inside.
Jeep J6 Honcho Concept
Who wants more Honcho? We do! We Do! We kid (a little), but what’s really interesting on this particular concept is that it displays what the Gladiator could look like if offered as a two-door model. That is a spec that many Jeep and pickup people alike are looking for, perhaps as a way to bridge the gap between now and whenever Jeep’s Ram cousin finally delivers a mid-size pickup to compete with the Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon twins and the Ford Ranger. For now, this retro-coloured, bronze-wheeled, fat tired and lifted concept will have to do.