Jeep unveils 2018 Easter Safari concepts

Yep, it's that time of the year again, and would you just look at that Wagoneer?

What will you be doing at Easter? Stuffing your face with chocolate? One too many treats after forgoing them for Lent? Whatever it is, it's unlikely to be as interesting as the Jeep Easter Safari in Moab, Utah, taking place for the 52nd time next weekend.

And as is becoming tradition, Jeep is bringing along a collection of Easter Safari concepts to thank its fans and showcase its wares. As you'll see, some concepts are a little closer to their roadgoing brethren than others.

We'll begin with the Wagoneer Roadtrip, because heritage is very much in at the moment - just ask Land Rover. Using its original steel body but with updated mechanicals, the Bottle Green Wagoneer has a five-inch longer wheelbase, a wider track and flared arches. Power comes from a 5.7-litre V8, while off-road capability is taken care of by Dana 44 front and rear axles plus BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain tyres. Cool car, that.

But if you want to off-road properly, then you'll probably need something a little more agile. Enter the 4Speed (you can probably guess which one that is). Jeep has created lightweight Easter concepts before - including, most entertainingly, the Pork Chop of 2011 - and this one pushes the ethos further with a new four-cylinder engine. To improve off-road prowess the 4Speed is 22 inches shorter than a Wrangler with a two-inch increase in ride height. Again, Dana axles and BF Goodrich tyres feature.

The 4Speed is not the only Wrangler-based concept, either. The Sandstorm (the really yellow one) is said to be "all about blitzing long, sandy straightaways" while also being everyday usable. So obviously it uses a 6.4-litre V8 (with a manual), plus Baja-inspired upgrades like a roll cages, bespoke coilovers with huge wheel travel and those big front spotlights. Once more, chassis tweaks including repositioned axles and a longer wheelbase should help on the trail.

Not your thing? Try the Jeepster concept, evoking the look of the original. So it's red and white two-tone - just as in the 60s - but with some modern hardware to back it up: a lift kit, 8,000 lumen off-road lights, Beadlock-capable wheels and uprated dampers. The Jeep J-Wagon is a "premium styled vehicle equally at home on the trails and urban cityscapes" - so it's black, of course. Based on a Wrangler Sahara, it features LED lights "to deliver commercial and military grade illumination", wheels in the 'Brass Monkey' colour seen on the Hellcats and redesigned bonnet to work with the snorkel. If you fancy. The final Wrangler is the Nacho: yellow, turbocharged and with LEDs to communicate trail conditions to everybody else. Jeep says it's "offering a blueprint off-roaders can follow to create their own custom trail vehicle."

Lastly, Jeep has remembered that it makes other cars and created the Renegade-based B-ute. With a 2.4-litre engine and a nine-speed auto, the B-ute comes prepared for "the ultimate off-road adventure" with a 1.5-inch lift kit, rock rails, 'T/A Baja Champion' tyres from BF Goodrich and 17-inch wheels with a 30mm offset. Phew.

It's a wonder Jeep has this much time to create the concepts, but it goes to show just how important off-roading must be to Americans and the brand. Should you ever want to bring that Wagoneer here Jeep, we have one or two off-road adventures available in the UK...