Brian Joss – The JeepR Gladiator will reign supreme at this year’s Easter Jeep Safari as the Jeep and Mopar brands have once again joined forces to create six new, custom-built concept vehicles for the annual event that takes place in Moab, Utah, from April 13to April 21.
For the 53rd year, thousands of off-road enthusiasts will head to Moab for the annual event to take part in a week of technical off-roading on some of the most challenging and scenic terrain in the country.
“The Moab Easter Jeep Safari provides the venue to interact with our most loyal customers – the diehard off-road enthusiasts who attend the event each year,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of Jeep Brand – North America. “This year’s Safari will mark the debut of the highly anticipated all-new Jeep Gladiator on Moab’s scenic and demanding trails. To celebrate, we are showcasing six fun and ultra-capable new truck-based Jeep concept vehicles that are certain to turn heads and delight the crowd.”
A vast selection of production and prototype Jeep Performance Parts are among the highlights on this year’s collection of Jeep concept vehicles. The Mopar brand develops all Jeep Performance Parts with rigorous specifications and legendary 4×4 capability in mind. This allows Jeep owners to further enhance their stock vehicles with confidence.
“Customization is one of the highest priorities for Jeep brand enthusiasts.
This is why we have proactively developed a portfolio of more than 200 exclusive parts and accessories for the all-new Jeep Gladiator,” said Steve Beahm, Head of Parts and Service (Mopar) and Passenger Car Brands, FCA – North America. “This portfolio is backed by a factory warranty and has been put through tens of thousands of hours of development, testing and validation, providing our customers a great array of products and peace of mind. At the 2019 Easter Jeep Safari, we will be inspiring our customers by showcasing just a fraction of what is currently available in our catalog and also some conceptual accessories that might make it into production in the near future.”
The Jeep Wayout concept is a true overlanding vehicle that takes advantage of the all-new Gladiator’s class-leading payload to allow adventure seekers to go far off the beaten path. The Jeep Wayout is a functional concept that showcases a full roof-top tent and custom, large sprawling canopy.
For additional capability, a Jeep Performance Parts 2-inch lift kit increases ground clearance on top of 17-inch steel wheels that are hugged by 37-inch mud-terrain tires, providing a distinct retro feeling harking back the original Willys pickups that paved the way for modern Jeep trucks.
Furthermore, a 12,000-lb. Warn winch and Jeep Performance Parts snorkel help overcome multiple obstacles – both wet and dry.
The Jeep Wayout is powered by the award-winning 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine and mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Jeep Flatbill has been designed with with the desert lifestyle in mind, the concept is another fun look at the all-new Gladiator, mixed with the extreme thrills of the Motocross world – resulting in an unmistakable, loud and rowdy appearance that serves as the ultimate hauler for an array of toys.
It is a truck dedicated to dirt bike riding through-and-through and is fully equipped to handle transport of dirt bikes for any off-road adventure. This is demonstrated by the Flatbill concept’s truck bed which features a pair of dirt bikes ready for action. With the removal of the tailgate, dedicated wheel ramps have been installed that slide out for easy access and loading.
Custom body work on the bed lowers, plus the addition of a tube rear bumper, increases the vehicle’s departure angle for added capability.
Inside, bright bed-lined floors plus custom-trimmed seats create a fun and sporty environment.
The Jeep Flatbill is powered by the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine with a cold-air Mopar intake and mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Jeep M-715 Five-Quarter Continuing the Easter Jeep Safari tradition of “Resto-Mods” comes the Jeep
M-715 Five-Quarter that is a seamless blend of vintage and modern components. The term “Five-Quarter” is a historical nod to Jeep trucks of the past that were one and one-quarter tons – or “five quarters.”
Starting with a 1968 M-715, this Gladiator-based military vehicle was re-imagined with design and functional improvements to its chassis, drivetrain and cargo configurations, resulting in a truly capable showpiece.
On the exterior, the original front sheet metal was removed and a full carbon-fiber front end takes its place. Also, an all-new, bobbed 6-foot custom-fabricated aluminum bed was installed that has been perforated and re-imaged using a mix of water jet cut panels and wood slats. Additional body modifications include a 3.5-inch drop to its convertible soft-top, further enhancing its factory monster truck silhouette.
The M-715 Five-Quarter’s off-road capability has been enhanced by reinforcing the original frame and replacing the leaf springs with a heavy-duty link/coil suspension system.
Inside ,the new Jeep Wrangler seats free of headrests have been installed for a sleek, low-back visual. Additionally, water-jetted aluminum components make up a new lightweight and premium instrument panel as well as door panels. A repurposed vintage 8-71 supercharger now serves duty to encase the transmission and transfer case shifters, and the floors have been bed-lined for enhanced durability.
Power is provided to the Jeep M-715 Five-Quarter by a 6.2-liter supercharged “Hellcrate” HEMI V-8 engine which produces more than 700 horsepower (more than 520 kW).
The Jeep J6 concept is all truck, all the time, mixing the classic Jeep truck styling of the late 1970s with prototype and production Jeep Performance Parts from Mopar.
The Jeep J6 is a Rubicon customized in a two-door configuration, maximizing cargo space with a large, six-foot functional bed “box” area that is 12 inches longer than the standard Jeep Gladiator bed. Mopar and the Jeep Design team reached back in time for the custom Metallic Brilliant Blue paint, a homage to the exterior look of the 1978 Jeep Honcho. The overall length of the J6 is 201 inches, while the wheelbase clocks in at 118.4
inches, matching the wheelbase of the current-generation Jeep Wrangler 4-door.
The Jeep JT Scrambler concept is a heritage-inspired remix, carrying the throwback color palette and graphics of the iconic CJ Scrambler crossed with a combination of available Jeep Performance Parts and conceptual touches.
The look of the early 1980s-era CJ8 Scrambler is recreated with prototype Punk’N Metallic Orange and Nacho body-side stripes running from the front panels to the bed, and a matching hood graphic. The white exterior is crowned with a freedom top painted in vintage amber, continuing the retro feel.
The bed area is customized with a spray-in bedliner and a 2-inch steel, prototype tube sport/roll bar painted body-color white. This version of the sport/roll bar anchors to the bed and also extends the length of the bed rails on each side, offering a total of eight tie-down points to lock down cargo. Diffused LED task lights mounted to the sport/roll bar are directed to the rear bed, providing illumination in the cargo area.
Based on the Jeep Gladiator Rubicon, the Scrambler pulls liberally from the Mopar brand’s Jeep Performance Parts line, including a set of four, 5-inch LED lights stationed atop the sport/roll bar, and two stationed on the vehicle’s A-pillars. Facing forward on the brush guard up front are a pair of Jeep Performance Parts 7-inch LED lights, pointing the way at 8,000 lumens each.
The Jeep Performance Parts 17-inch slot wheels are customized in a concept bronze to tie in with the exterior color theme. A 2-inch Jeep Performance Parts lift kit helps accommodate large, 37-inch tires and tough Jeep The rock climber-themed Jeep Gladiator Gravity concept is elevated with a full complement of Jeep Performance Parts from Mopar to help equip those who have a desire to reach greater heights.
The Jeep Gladiator Rubicon, colored in attention-grabbing Punk’N Metallic Orange, is a ready-to-order expression of how Jeep Performance Parts can help enhance the all-new pickup’s capability and versatility. In the bed area, mounted Mopar cross rails work in concert with a cargo carrier basket to deliver storage space for rock-climbing gear such as ropes, carabiners, helmets and shoes. A unique Mopar/Decked truck bed storage system offers additional lockable cargo space through dual sliding drawers, while still allowing for storage on top in the bed area.
The vehicle is upgraded with a cold-air intake and cat-back exhaust system to enhance engine output. Inside, the interior is dressed up with Katzkin leather seats featuring the Jeep grille logo embroidered in Tungsten stitching. Additional Mopar accessories include grab handles stamped with the Jeep grille logo, MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) bags for storage and all-weather floor mats with a unique “plug” system that allows for direct draining of water and debris.
CAPTION: Wayout: The JeepR Gladiator Wayout is the star of the show. Picture: Quickpic
