By SEMA Editors
The Jeep and MOPAR brands have once again teamed up to develop a variety of vehicles that will debut at the annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, April 8–16. Now in its 51st year, the Easter Jeep Safari is attended by thousands of off-road enthusiasts looking to enjoy a week of off-roading on some of the country’s most well-known and challenging trails.
An array of production and prototype Jeep Performance Parts were used on this year’s collection of concept vehicles. The MOPAR brand is responsible for developing, building and ensuring that all Jeep Performance Parts meet rigorous specifications with 4x4 capabilities in mind, enabling Jeep owners to further enhance their stock vehicles.
“Jeep and MOPAR have teamed up over 15 years to create unique, fun and highly capable concept vehicles for the popular Easter Jeep Safari in Moab,” said Pietro Gorlier, head of parts and service (MOPAR), FCA – Global. “These concept vehicles are a perfect example of how off-road enthusiasts can use Jeep Performance Parts to personalize and enhance the already outstanding Jeep capability, allowing them to face the toughest trails in the world.”
The 2017 Easter Jeep Safari concept vehicles include:
 Jeep Grand One |
Jeep Grand One
The Jeep Grand One celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Grand Cherokee with a modernized spin on a classic ’93 ZJ.
On the exterior, the Grand One concept features custom 18-in. lace-style wheels, high-clearance fender flares, an extended wheelbase, trimmed fascias and a subtle wood grain treatment on the body.
The Jeep Grand One concept includes 33-in. BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain KM2 tires, front and rear axles equipped with selectable locking differentials and a 2-in. suspension lift.
Inside, the interior continues the celebration of the original Grand Cherokee with ’90s-inspired materials and touches, a durable bedliner applied to replace the carpet and accessorized with an old-school car phone.
The Grand One is powered by a 5.2L V8 engine, mated to a four-speed automatic transmission.
 Jeep Safari |
Jeep Safari
The family-focused Jeep Safari concept is all about bringing the outdoors in while keeping the doors and roof on, with a special emphasis on giving the backseat passengers a great view.
This high-tech, Wrangler-based concept features a translucent hard-top roof panel, two-level aluminum cargo rack with incorporated drone, a raked windshield, boatsided rocker panels, LED headlamps, and custom LED taillamps and parking/turn lamps.
The Safari’s “windoors,” made of lightweight aluminum and clear vinyl, are hinged so that they open like a cabinet, making the entrance to the vehicle particularly unique. The doors feature zipper openings to let in fresh air.
Inside, the two rear bucket seats are rotated outboard, making it easier for rear-seat occupants to view out the side of the Safari. The custom interior includes an instrument panel-mounted iPad, adding to the high-tech vibe.
Jeep Performance Parts featured on the Safari include a front and rear Dana 44 axle equipped with selectable differential lockers and 2-in. lift. Overall body length has been reduced to make the Safari more nimble on the trails.
The Jeep Safari also includes 35-in. BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain KM2 tires on custom 18-in. wheels, custom full-length skid plates, steel front and rear bumpers, an integrated on-board air system, upgraded brakes and a cold-air intake.
The Jeep Safari is powered by the 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine and is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission.
 Jeep Quicksand |
Jeep Quicksand
Created for enthusiasts who love the sand life, the Jeep Quicksand concept is powered by a MOPAR 392 Crate Hemi engine with eight-stack injection, 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. An open top and open windows allow for full enjoyment of Quicksand’s sound.
Inside, the minimalist interior features red accents, two front low-back bucket seats, flat aluminum door panels, tilt-out windshield glass and a chrome roll bar.
While the Quicksand was made for wheeling in sand, its off-road credentials ensure that it is fully capable in any terrain. Its staggered tire setup (a trait never before included on any Jeep concept) features 32-in. BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain KM2 tires in the front and 37-in. BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain KM2 tires in the rear, and coilover shocks, all on 18-in. vintage “kidney-bean” alloy wheels.
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 |
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-in. lift kit and 18-in. wheels with a pocket accent on Continental TerrainContact all-terrain tires 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.
The Trailpass exterior features gloss-black side mirror caps, a custom hood graphic, side stripes, tinted headlamps and taillamps, and a MOPAR/Thule roof basket with roof bag and traction mats.
Inside, the Jeep Trailpass includes custom Katzkin leather seats and armrest, body-color bezel accents and Jeep Performance Parts all-weather floor mats.
The Jeep Trailpass is powered by the 2.4L Tigershark engine and mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission.
 Jeep Switchback |
Jeep Switchback
The Jeep Switchback concept vehicle is equipped with an assortment of MOPAR and Jeep Performance Parts for the ultimate in off-road performance.
Jeep Performance Parts featured on the Switchback include a front and rear Dana 44 axle, a 4-in. lift with Remote Reservoir Fox shocks, heavy-duty cast differential covers, 10th Anniversary steel front and rear bumpers, a Rubicon winch, a grille, a winch guard and a cold-air intake.
An axle-back exhaust, 17-in. concept wheels and 37-in. BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain KM2 tires increase the off-road capabilities of the Jeep Switchback.
The Switchback exterior features a concept hood and half doors, topped off with a concept “Safari” hard top and roof rack system. The Switchback’s exterior also includes Jeep Performance Parts high-top fender flares, Mopar black fuel door and taillamp guards, and Jeep Performance Parts swing-gate hinge reinforcement and oversized spare tire carrier.
The Switchback’s advanced lighting systems ensure visibility in any trail conditions, with a concept LED off-road windshield light bar, concept LED off-road A-pillar lamps, LED taillamps, and Jeep Performance Parts LED headlamps and fog lamps.
The Jeep Switchback’s interior features Katzkin leather seats, body-color bezel accents, concept sport bar grab handles, spray-in bedliner on the floor and MOPAR all-weather mats. The cargo area also features a MOPAR swing gate storage rack with first aid and roadside safety kits.
The Jeep Switchback is powered by the 3.6L Pentastar V6 and mated to a five-speed automatic transmission.
 Jeep CJ66 |
Jeep CJ66
Take a Jeep Wrangler TJ frame, hang a ’66 Jeep Wrangler CJ universal Tuxedo Park body on it, add in Wrangler JK elements, power it all with a Mopar 345 Crate Hemi Engine Kit-enabled 5.7L Hemi and you have the Jeep CJ66.
The narrow-bodied Jeep CJ66 concept, which made its debut at the 2016 SEMA Show in Las Vegas last November, harnesses the 383 hp of the 5.7L Hemi engine with a six-speed manual transmission. A MOPAR 345 Crate Hemi engine cover shelters the powerplant and a MOPAR cold-air intake and MOPAR cat-back exhaust bump up its off-road performance a notch or two. Front and rear MOPAR Dana 44 Crate axles help the Wrangler crawl over rocks and boulders.
The Copper Canyon-colored body rides on 35-in. BFGoodrich all-terrain tires wrapped around functional, Jeep Performance Parts 17-in. beadlock wheels and paired with a 2-in. lift kit. A concept two-way air system lets off-roaders quickly air up or air down tires to the desired pressure. Oversized, concept fender flares offer defense against trail obstacles at the front and rear, with added protection delivered by MOPAR 10th Anniversary Wrangler JK Rubicon Bumper Kits, Jeep Performance Parts skid and front bumper plates and concept Jeep Performance Parts rock rails.
The Copper Canyon skin is highlighted on both sides with a custom matte-black CJ66 graphic stripe that runs along the side of the hood. The concept hood, bezel and latch also are matte black, along with the seven-slot Jeep grille and bezels of the Wrangler JK headlamps. MOPAR LED amber fog lamps and a MOPAR Warn winch augment the CJ66’s off-road capabilities. The custom, race-car-inspired fuel filler cap is shifted to the inside fender wheelwell.
Looking out from the cropped windshield, the driver and passenger are perched in custom Dodge Viper seats featuring concept seat risers. The cockpit is surrounded by a custom-built roll cage, while bikini-top netting offers shade and cover from the elements. A Wrangler JK center console and shifter, MOPAR instrument panel gauges and Mopar all-weather mats complete the interior.
 Jeep Luminator |
Jeep Luminator
The Jeep Luminator features a full arsenal of advanced lighting features designed to deliver visibility on the trail, jointly developed with the automotive lighting division of Magneti Marelli.
This Wrangler-based concept features magnetic underbody rock lights, 7-in. LED projector bi-function headlamps, LED taillamps, A-pillar-mounted high-powered LED spot lights, upper bumper LED auxiliary lighting with cornering fog lamps controlled by the steering angle and low-profile integrated overhead LED auxiliary spot lights protected behind the windshield. The Jeep Luminator also includes LED versions of the standard 100-mm fog lamp and grille-mounted turn signals unique to the Wrangler.
On the Luminator’s hood is a scanning LED light bar module with active spot and dynamic following technology, which delivers spot lighting to avoid wildlife or hazards on the trail ahead. On the rear, the center high-mount stop light acts as a scouting/trail lamp with four-color LEDs for trail rides, indicating stop (red), 1–3 mph (amber), 3–25 mph (green) or providing rear flood lighting (white).
Other features include a roof-mounted solar panel, a drone landing pad with lighted drone and removable spare tire storage case, and a capacitive touch interactive display on the driver’s-side rear window linked to GPS and internet services.