Friday 20th March 2015

49th Annual Easter Jeep Safari concepts

Seven very cool Jeeps created for a week of off-roading in Moab. Wrangler Red Rock Responder anyone?

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Sometimes it's easy to forget how serious off-roading is taken in America. Ignorant Europeans probably think immediately of quarter-mile drags and canyon blasts in the US before considering the 4x4 craze. It takes something like Jeep producing seven (!) new concepts for a off-road rally to jog the memory.

Based on a Wrangler!

The 49th Easter Jeep Safari takes place on the Moab trails from March 28-April 5, where thousands of die-hard off-roadists will rock across to Utah for nine days of Jeep appreciation. Concept cars have been part of the event since 2002, with over 50 shown since then.

The seven cars for the 2015 event are built using a combination of production and prototype Jeep Performance parts meaning, in theory, similar cars could be built up by willing customers. There isn't space to go through all seven here (and the Renegade isn't that interesting) but a few of the concepts certainly merit attention.

Jeep Chief is a good name for a car. It's the blue thing here, based on a Wrangler but intended to evoke the 70s Cherokee. There are mag wheels, chrome bumpers and a 'French Bread' white roof. The beach is calling...

Well if you want to do retro off-roader...

The Wrangler predictably forms the basis for many of the Jeep concepts. The Staff Car is another retro themed offering, built 'as a salute to legendary Jeep military service vehicles.' So there are no doors, no B-pillars, military style headlamps and a built-in cooler capable of holding 85 cans. Of what isn't disclosed... It's not all style without substance either, the Staff Car riding on 35-inch Firestone military tyres (with a spare), a Jeep lift kit and new Fox dampers.

Need more luxury? Try the Wrangler Africa. With four doors and painted in 'Desert Tan', the Africa is designed for 'overland expeditions'. Auxiliary fuel cans on the wings, 35-inch mud terrain tyres and new axles should ensure you get a long way!

But all those are made to look rather tame compared to the Wrangler Red Rock Responder. Not coming to a superhero film near you soon. It's designed as a support vehicle, that rear cargo box carrying spares and tools for a vehicle emergency. It has the full roster of off-road extras, from 37-inch mud terrain tyres to new Dana axles, a winch and a fire extinguisher. Stuck off-roading? Red Responder to the rescue!

Can we have one for Le Mans?

There are Cherokee-based Easter Safari concepts too, with the Overlander probably the best of them. Why? It's got a tent on it! According to Jeep it represents the 'rough-and-tumble side' of the Jeep Cherokee, designed for those enthusiasts who travel and camp out of their vehicle on expeditions.

So it promises to be an entertaining nine days for Jeep and its fans over Easter. How on earth do you top the Red Rock Responder for the 50th Safari?

 

[IrishAsal]

That red one reminds me of an LM002.

[mrpushrod]

I'm loving the Chief, Staff Car, Red Rock Responder and Africa although nothing has topped last year's Mighty FC concept;



Disappointing they didn't do more with the Renegade, there's something strangely appealing about it.

[unsprung]

mrpushrod said:

I'm loving the Chief, Staff Car, Red Rock Responder and Africa although nothing has topped last year's Mighty FC concept;



Disappointing they didn't do more with the Renegade, there's something strangely appealing about it.

Fun. The stamped-metal toy you had as a child... brought to life in real-world form.

Next time the local roads are washed out in a storm: "Honey, I'm heading into town for a curry. Won't be a minute."

[jamespink]

V8 Chief in baby blue and white please...

[Clivey]

Some nice ideas. - The Wrangler Africa should go into production IMO. I'd have one!

[Harry Flashman]

V8 Chief is awesome, as are Staff Car and Red Responder! good work Jeep.

[alpha channel]

Is it just me or does the Africa have a certain LWB Defender-ishness to it (don't get me wrong I like it), especially in that colour. The Red Responder though is definitely my favourite out of the six.

[irocfan]

liking this - I'll agree though that last year's blue giant thingie is just "totes awesome"

[unsprung]

jamespink said:

V8 Chief in baby blue and white please...

I think that's the one to have. Delicious 70s design language with all of today's mod cons. Also has slated-wood accents on the floor in back.

If anybody's interested, here are videos and lots more photos of these cars.

See the hill climb video at the end!

[Matt UK]

jamespink said:

V8 Chief in baby blue and white please...

Jeep Chief in those colours please!

Mag wheels, chrome bumpers, white roof... throw in a bit of sharknose grill and a dirty V8... Want.

[ivantate]

Makes my conventional wrangler look a bit puny.

[oldtimer2]

The USA is blessed with a seemingly endless supply of off road trails and mountain passes - unlike the UK where off roading and green laning is under serious threat. A benefit of lots of wild space. A good promotional event for Jeep and MOPAR suppliers, even though most of these concepts are never built by the factory.

[Bencolem]

That Jeep Chief definitely does it for me. Want.

Love how last year's Jeep FC is a doff to the Land Rover 101 FC in a sweet riposte to the original Land Rover being a UK version of the Jeep.

[Jader1973]

Bencolem said:

That Jeep Chief definitely does it for me. Want.

Love how last year's Jeep FC is a doff to the Land Rover 101 FC in a sweet riposte to the original Land Rover being a UK version of the Jeep.

Actually......

Jeep launched this in 1956


And Landrover copied it with this in 1962

[unsprung]

oldtimer2 said:

The USA is blessed with a seemingly endless supply of off road trails and mountain passes - unlike the UK where off roading and green laning is under serious threat. A benefit of lots of wild space. A good promotional event for Jeep and MOPAR suppliers, even though most of these concepts are never built by the factory.

The development of these concepts is an event in its own right, isn't it. An annual rite of passage.

Among the messages conveyed is the idea that each owner crafts his/her own point of view on the Jeep universe -- even if this point of view is simply a modest lift kit and a couple of off-road accessories.

"This one is mine" and "No two are alike" etc., etc. Reminds me a bit of the campaign by Android.

[hondansx]

Fantastic!

I bet if they sold the Cherokee in that spec they'd sell loads.