Jeep Brand Unveils Four Concept Vehicles for 58th Annual Easter Jeep Safari

The Jeep brand of Stellantis in Auburn Hills unveiled four concept vehicles designed and engineered for 2024 Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah from March 23-31.
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Jeep Low Down concept
The Jeep Low Down concept is one of four vehicles the Jeep brand is bringing to the 2024 Jeep Safari event in Moab, Utah. // Photo courtesy of Jeep

The Jeep brand of Stellantis in Auburn Hills unveiled four concept vehicles designed and engineered for 2024 Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah from March 23-31.

“Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, is the perfect venue for new Jeep concepts, with more than 20,000 Jeep enthusiasts gathering each year to celebrate the most iconic 4×4 brand in the world,” says Bill Peffer, senior vice president and head of Jeep brand North America. “From 4xe electrification to unmatched 392 power, this year’s Jeep 4×4 concepts illustrate how the most capable Wrangler ever appeals to such a wide range of people.”

The four concept vehicles are equipped with an array of proven propulsion systems. The Jeep Wrangler Low Down concept features the 392 V-8 engine, says Peffer. The Jeep Wrangler 4xe Willys Dispatcher concept combines the advanced 4xe plug-in hybrid propulsion system with a throwback design theme that honors early post-war civilian Jeep SUVs.

“Our extended Jeep Performance Parts (JPP) from Mopar team can’t wait to get back to Moab for the 58th annual Easter Jeep Safari,” says Mike Koval Jr, North America senior vice president for parts and customer care at Mopar Service. “We look forward to unveiling a new set of concept vehicles that feature our latest custom and factory-tested and factory-backed production parts and accessories that allow us to tackle some of the toughest trails in the world.”

The Low Down concept vehicle builds on previous Safari history. About 15 years ago, the Jeep design team showed attendees at the 43rd annual Easter Jeep Safari a radically modified Jeep Wrangler Lower 40. Rolling at stock ride height to maintain its center of gravity, the two-door Lower 40 accommodated huge 40-inch mud-terrain tires while packing a 5.7-liter V-8 under hood for power.

The new Low Down concept pays homage to the Lower 40, in which by some creative clearance work, this new Jeep Wrangler concept squeezes massive 42-inch BFGoodrich Krawler 42×14.5R20 mud-terrain tires mounted on 20-inch beadlock wheels under its custom high-clearance carbon fender flares.

The stock Wrangler Rubicon 392 suspension remains intact, but Dana 60 axles with 5.38 gears replace the standard Dana 44 axles with 4:10 gears. Between the diameter of the tires and the shortening of the front and rear bumpers, the Low Down’s center of gravity remains low, while the ground clearance, breakover, and approach and departure angles all increase.

The Jeep Willys Dispatcher concept offers a mix of where the Jeep brand’s been and where it’s going, the Jeep Willys Dispatcher is a Wrangler 4xe-based concept that invokes the nostalgia of the early post-war civilian Jeep, with its rugged, utilitarian looks, juxtaposed with the electrified off-road capability of the modern, technologically advanced 4xe propulsion system.

On the exterior, the Willys Dispatcher concept gets a retro makeover from the ground up. Super Traxion 36-inch tires are wrapped around vintage-style 16-by-7-inch alloy “steelies.” A custom “old-school” front bumper houses a brand-new, classic-looking 8274 Warn winch, featuring a warn epic series winch hook and D rings.

On the exterior, the Willys Dispatcher concept gets a retro makeover. Super Traxion 36-inch tires are wrapped around vintage-style 16-by-7-inch alloy “steelies.” A custom old-school front bumper houses a brand-new, classic-looking 8274 Warn winch, featuring a warn epic series winch hook and D rings.

The two JPP concepts, the Jeep Gladiator-based High-Top concept and the Jeep Grand Wagoneer-based Vacationeer concept, feature six-cylinder power, a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 and a Hurricane Twin Turbo 510, respectively.

The Jeep Gladiator Rubicon High Top concept was designed to reflect the drive of the JPP design and engineering teams from Mopar as well as push the performance boundaries of the world’s most off-road capable midsize truck even further for the annual trek to Moab.

The Ginger Snap metallic exterior of the Gladiator Rubicon High Top with retro-inspired two-tone graphics is meant to be an attention-getter. The concept rides high on massive new 40×13.5R18 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 tires mounted on 18-by-9-inch Satin Black KMC Grenade Crawl beadlock wheels.

It has concept JPP flat fender flares at all four corners provide plenty of off-road ride clearance. Unstoppable Dana 60 front and rear axles with matching 5.38:1 gearing, and an AccuAir adjustable air suspension help with serious off-road driving.

The Jeep Vacationeer concept is designed to be a premium SUV that combines comfort and adventure with modern capability while honoring the heritage of the Jeep brand. And with a nostalgic nod, the JPP design team meticulously fitted the Vacationeer concept with unique bodyside woodgrain graphics that harken back to Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models that traversed both town and country from the late 1960s through the early 1990s.

Power in the Jeep Vacationeer concept comes from the 3.0-liter Hurricane Twin Turbo 510 engine, delivering 510 horsepower and 500 lb.-ft. of torque. The Hurricane engine provides premium performance while also delivering improved fuel economy versus many competitors’ naturally aspirated V-8 and boosted six-cylinder engines.