Jeep and Mopar once again teamed up to show a range of concept models at the annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah between April 8-16.
Now in its 51st year, the Easter Jeep Safari is attended by thousands of die-hard off-road enthusiasts looking to enjoy a week of serious off-roading on some of the country’s most well-known and challenging trails.
The 2017 Easter Jeep Safari concept vehicles included:
Jeep Grand One
A modernized spin on a classic 1993 ZJ, the 5.2 litre V8-engined Grand One concept features custom 18-inch lace-style wheels, high-clearance fender flares, extended wheelbase, trimmed fascias and a subtle wood grain treatment on the body.
Jeep Safari
This high-tech, Wrangler-based concept features a translucent hard-top roof panel, two-level aluminium cargo rack with incorporated drone, a raked windshield, boatsided rocker panels, LED headlamps, and custom LED tail lamps and parking/turn lamps.
Jeep Quicksand
The Jeep Quicksand is a loud, fast and fun hot rod powered by a Mopar 392 V8 crate engine mated to a six-speed Getrag manual transmission. A “peekaboo” cutout in the hood and gasser-style downturned open headers add to the vintage hot rod feel.
This Wrangler-based concept features a longer wheelbase, with trimmed front and rear body and a chopped hard top and windshield.
The Quicksand concept also features a Warn winch concealed in a front-mounted Moon tank. A recovery rope is located in the rear, replacing the traditional drag racer’s parachute.
Jeep Trailpass
Based on the all-new Jeep Compass, the Jeep Trailpass concept vehicle takes the Compass Trailhawk a step further for an extreme off-road adventure.
A 1.5-inch lift kit and 18-inch wheels with a unique pocket accent on Continental TerrainContact all-terrain tyres increase the off-road capabilities of the Jeep Trailpass concept. Jeep Performance Parts featured on the Trailpass include a Jeep roof basket, cross rails and rock rails.
Jeep Switchback
The Jeep Switchback concept vehicle is equipped with an assortment of Mopar and Jeep Performance Parts including front and rear Dana 44 axles, a 101mm (4-inch) lift with remote reservoir Fox shocks, heavy-duty cast differential covers, 10th Anniversary steel front and rear bumpers, Rubicon winch, grille, winch guard and cold air intake.
An axle-back exhaust, 17-inch concept wheels and 37-inch BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain KM2 tyres increase the off-road capabilities of the Jeep Switchback.
Jeep CJ66
Take a Jeep Wrangler TJ frame, hang a 1966 Jeep Wrangler CJ universal Tuxedo Park body on it, add in Wrangler JK elements, power it all with a 5.7-litre Mopar 345 Hemi crate engine and you have the Jeep CJ66.
The narrow-bodied Jeep CJ66 concept, which made its debut at the 2016 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas in November rides high on 35-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tyres wrapped around functional, Jeep Performance Parts 17-inch beadlock wheels and paired with a 50mm (2-inch) lift kit.
Jeep Luminator
The Jeep Luminator reigns supreme in off-road lighting performance, with a full arsenal of advanced lighting features designed to deliver superior visibility on the trail, jointly developed with the Automotive Lighting division of Magneti Marelli.
Other features include a roof-mounted solar panel, a drone landing pad with lighted drone and removable spare tyre storage case, and a capacitive touch interactive display on the driver’s side rear window linked to GPS and internet services.
Easter Jeep Safari
Easter Jeep Safari consists of trail rides, mostly day-long trips, departing from Moab, Utah, throughout the nine-day-long event. The Jeep Safari was started in 1967 by the Moab Chamber of Commerce as a one-day trail ride. Over the years, as participation grew, the Safari expanded until it finally reached the current nine-day event.
"Big Saturday" remains the culmination of the event on the Saturday of Easter weekend.
To read every story in the May 2017 issue of NZ4WD go to Zinio.com (April 21) or purchase your own hard copy at the Adrenalin store.
