Four New Concepts Unveiled for 58th Annual Easter Jeep Safari

The 58th annual Easter Jeep Safari is in full swing, bringing more than 20,000 Jeep and off-roading enthusiasts to Moab, Utah, for a week of excitement. And with each year’s outing, the Jeep crew, including Jeep Performance Parts, brings out a number of new and conceptual vehicles for the public to see; the latter of which are often fully customized and kitted out for whatever dusty trails lay ahead.

This year, the public can check out four all-new concept vehicles built for the event. If you have a chance to make it out there for the event, running between now and March 31, perhaps consider bookmarking this article for now so as to not spoil the surprise. But for those unable to make the journey, this one’s for you.

Jeep Low Down Concept

Those who have been around the block may recall the Wrangler Lower 40 concept, first debuted at the 43rd Easter Jeep Safari. It managed to fit 40-inch mud-terrain tires between it and the ground, and a 5.7-liter V8 under the hood, all while maintaining the two-door Wrangler’s stock ride height.

This year’s Low Down concept is a nod to the Lower 40, now outfitting larger 42-inch mud-terrain tires on 20-inch beadlock wheels. Those BF Goodrich Krawler tires are spun by the Rubicon 392’s 475-horsepower engine, a 6.4-liter V8, paired up to an eight-speed automatic. The stock Rubicon 392 suspension, keeping with tradition, has been untouched, though Jeep has outfitted the Low Down with Dana 60 axles and 5.38 gears. According to the designers, the center of gravity remains low, while all the important angles and ground clearance has increased.

You can spot this one from its Poison Apple Red paint, contrasted by a black interior covered by a red-tinted bikini top. Other exterior modifications include a carbon fiber hood with a transparent power dome and a race-style fuel filler door.

Jeep Willys Dispatcher Concept

Talk about retro– we won’t bore you with yet another recounting of the Willys origin, but what we will say is that the Dispatcher Concept takes an alternative approach to the Wrangler’s (and ultimately Jeep’s) history. Here, it’s paying homage to post-war civilian Jeeps, bringing in some old-school style and some new-age tech.

The first retro cue is the mounted set of 16×7 alloy wheels, cream-colored “steelies” wrapped by 36-inch Super Traxion tires. They’re joined by a custom fabricated bumper, designed with a throwback aesthetic and paired up to an old-looking but new-operating 8274 Warn winch. The Willys name is embossed into the sides of the hood, reminiscent of the old flat-fender Jeeps. You can find the Dispatcher in a crowd thanks to a coat of Element 115 Green, met with a black windshield header and saddle leather/ houndstooth cloth interior.

The seat headrests have been removed for a vintage style. A bikini top protects the interior from up top, while vinyl flooring protects down below. The JPP onboard air compressor is a nice touch for avid off-roaders; and regardless of the terrain, the hybrid 4xe powertrain, delivering 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, should suffice for your average Wrangler duties, while the Dana 50 Advantech front and rear axles with 4.70 gears should take things a healthy step forward.

Jeep Gladiator High Top Concept

We thought all of Jeep’s Easter concepts pushed the envelope of what this legendary brand can do, but the 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…”

That’s a bold claim, but one look at it and you’ll start to see why. Yes, the Ginger Snap metallic paint and two-tone graphics are attention grabbing; but we’re talking about the hardware, and that starts with some series combat boots: 40-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A K03 tires, wrapping satin black 18×9-inch  “Grenade Crawl” beadlock wheels. Sheathing them are concept JPP flat fender flares for extra side clearance, joined by a modified front bumper from American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) and rock rails. A Warn winch is, naturally, situated up front, and underneath are Dana 60 axles with 5.38:1 gearing, as is an AccuAir adjustable air suspension setup. Under the hood is the tried and true Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 engine, paired up with an eight-speed automatic.

The bed is outfitted with a DECKED storage system with lockable cargo space, while the interior is wrapped in custom quilted and perforated tan and black Alea leather, complimented by a JPP pedal kit, all-weather floor mats, and door sill guards, all headlined by a JPP sun bonnet.

Jeep Vacationeer Concept

And of all the roles Jeep products can play, how about a getaway machine into the wilderness, up to the mountains or down to the beach? The Jeep Vacationeer Concept takes that idea to the next level.

Getting to these locales means some bolstered hardware, which here consists of 35-inch BFGoodrich mud-terrain rubber on 18-inch Method racing wheels, giving an extra 1.5-inch lift. The wheel openings have been enlarged and the bodyside flaring has been extended to add a more aggressive appearance. The front and rear skid plates look tough and allow drivers to play rough, and the Warn winch can pull them out of a pinch. Forward visibility is improved by three 11-inch TYRI LED lights. And under the hood is a 3.0-liter twin-turbo Hurricane inline-six, making 510 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque.

This may sound like an off-roader with a serious attitude, which it is, but the outward appearance may not immediately scream so. A little bit of retro flair is added with custom wood grain side body graphics, politely clashing with the Spearmint paint and white roof. Above that is a custom carbon fiber RedTail Overland Skyloft, providing a climate-controlled pad for panoramic nature viewings.

The two rearmost rows have been cut to provide space for Skyloft access, accommodated by a custom weatherproof pass-thru. All that space in the rear is guarded by a bed-lined cargo floor, great for extra materials and muddy boots alike. Renowned fashion designer and Wagoneer enthusiast Kiel James Patrick designed the Tupelo leather seats, featuring custom fabric interest with classic Jeep vehicles embedded within.

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