We simply went off-roading in Jeep’s newest idea autos in Moab. Pinch us, because it looks like a dream to really get behind the wheel of such iconic next-generation hand-built {custom} autos on the world’s most well-known Jeep gathering, Easter Jeep Safari.
Whereas Jeep didn’t go as wild with its Easter Jeep Safari (EJS) ideas because it has in years previous, it did give attention to merchandise and model instructions which might be really coming to market very quickly. You will note an all-electric Jeep Wrangler at a dealership within the subsequent few years, you’ll see a Twentieth-anniversary special-edition Wrangler subsequent yr, and also you’ll see some actually trick new elements obtainable via Jeep Efficiency Components (JPP) later this yr.
“Easter Jeep Safari is the proper alternative for the Jeep model to push the bounds of four-wheel-drive growth and, most significantly, to remain linked with our clients,” stated Jim Morrison, Senior Vice President and Head of Jeep Model North America.
Mark Allen, Jeep’s head of design, informed us that not solely are the EJS Safari Ideas nice advertising and marketing instruments, but additionally that bringing them to Moab annually permits him to show his designers easy methods to drive off-road correctly.
This enables him to development spot and instantly hear from Jeep customers — one thing he calls “stay analysis” — and get trustworthy reactions to idea elements and designs which may make it into future merchandise.
2022 EJS Jeep Ideas Pushed
Jeep confirmed off seven all-new idea builds at EJS this yr, and allow us to climb behind the wheel of every of them on path in Moab. Positive the terrain was fairly delicate, however we guarantee you that all of those idea autos is totally succesful off highway and was pushed with out situation by a variety of journalists.
Large shoutout to Jeep for persevering with to maintain its eyes and ears on its fanatic clients and bringing to market the merchandise we would like.
Listed below are our hands-on ideas in regards to the 2022 EJS Jeep idea autos after an important expertise in Moab driving each one in every of them.
Most Anticipated: Magneto 2 Idea
- Powertrain: Axial Flux electrical motor with 70 kW/h battery pack (4 lithium-ion packs)
- Efficiency: 625 hp, 850 lb.-ft. of torque, 0-60 in 2 seconds
- Elevate/wheels/tires: 3-in. carry, 20-in. wheels, 40-in. tires
- Key options: 6-speed handbook modified Hellcat T6060 Tranzilla transmission, 12-in. prolonged wheelbase to 2-door Wrangler, Dynatrac 60 up entrance and 80 in rear, carbon fenders/hood/B-pillar
The all-electric Magneto 2 was far and away probably the most sought-after to drive and the idea that Jeep was most happy with. It’s an open engineering testbed that reveals us that Jeep could make a battery-electric car (BEV) that’s true to the off-road-focused DNA of the model.
Climbing into this machine takes effort, because it’s rolling on 40-inch tires. There may be loads of room to simply get in although, because the wheelbase has been stretched 12 inches, giving it LJ Wrangler Limitless proportions.
Behind the wheel, it simply feels particular, particularly so as a result of it has a 3rd pedal and a six-speed shifter. It’s near-silent, in addition to some electrical noises from underneath the hood. And as soon as it clicked into gear and rolling, all you actually hear is the large tires rolling throughout the terrain.
The handbook transmission works similar to some other, however isn’t wanted to get going and can by no means stall the car. Final yr, Magneto had 285 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, and this yr, Magneto 2 has 625 horsepower and 850 pound-feet of torque. With these large energy upgrades this yr, it equates to the necessity for a constructed Tranzilla transmission and burly constructed axles at every finish.
With that energy and tools to place it down, Magneto 2 is alleged to have the ability to do 0-60 mph in simply 2 seconds. Sadly, Jeep didn’t allow us to check this declare. We will say that energy was by no means missing once we crawled this Jeep over ledges or gave it a bit of thin pedal on the flats.
Whilst you get three pedals on this Jeep, it gives one-pedal drive-through regenerative braking. Choose an acceptable gear for the terrain and pace you need to go, and the accelerator pedal does the remaining.
Magneto 2 feels tremendous open to the world and prepared for journey. The blue-tinted sky panel within the {custom} bikini high initiatives a blue hue into the cabin when the solar is overhead, letting you understand you’re in no odd Jeep.
As a substitute of a winch, there are low-profile light-weight bumpers at each ends of the car, for a trim look and elevated strategy and departure angles. Aggressively styled carbon fender flares complement the carbon B-pillar, and hood. The hood additionally has a cool blue-tinted clear window that provides you a view of the electrical energy unit beneath.
The true query is that if the all-electric Jeep, which is bound to hit the market within the subsequent few years, might be primarily based on the tried-and-true super-off-road-capable Wrangler or a {custom} EV chassis that enables for higher packaging and makes use of Wrangler off-road componentry.
After speaking to a variety of individuals at Jeep, my finest guess is that they’ll have the next-generation Wrangler accommodate a variety of ICE and EV powertrains.
Shock Favourite: Bob Idea
- Powertrain: 3.0L Eco-Diesel V-6
- Elevate/wheels/tires: 3-in. carry, 20-in. beadlock wheels, 40-in. tires
- Key options: Bobbed 12 in., doorways and B-pillars eliminated, {custom} hardtop/soft-top combo, carbon hood and fenders, AEV entrance bumper
Our shock favourite of the 2022 EJS Jeep Ideas was Bob. The title, after all, comes from the rear overhang discount, often called “bobbing.”
Principally, the body rails and physique/mattress are lower down behind the rear axle, so as to optimize departure angle for excessive off-road adventures. Jeep took a full 12 inches off the rear of the Bob Idea.
Bob began life as a diesel Jeep Gladiator Rubicon earlier than being trimmed and tweaked. The doorways and B-pillars are completely eliminated, and the hood and fenders have been changed with light-weight carbon variations. Even the hardtop roof has been modified to let mild via from the canvas high that’s stretched over it.
Bob felt prefer it might deal with any off-road impediment you place in its path with ease. The super-torquey Eco-Diesel powers large 40-inch tires that roll on burly Dynatrac Professional-Rock 60 axles suspended with a number of the newest and biggest shocks from King. Sturdy, succesful, and straightforward are the phrases we’d use to explain driving off-road within the Bob Idea.
Whereas the pumpkin orange isn’t our favourite shade of orange, the general look of the complete car is super-classy and {custom}. Moreover the combo of gloss and matte paint on the skin, the within has additionally been bed-lined for sturdiness and the seats tweaked for a sporty look to match the outside.
City Assault Winner: Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe Idea
- Powertrain: 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder and a couple of electrical motors w/400-volt battery pack
- Efficiency: 56 MPGe, 25 mi. of all-electric vary
- Elevate/wheels/tires: Inventory Quadra-Elevate air suspension, 20-in. wheels, 33-in. M/T tires
Hitting supplier tons very quickly, the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe (PHEV) is bound to be an enormous vendor. It gives 25 miles of all-electric vary in addition to off-road goodies like a entrance sway-bar disconnect, rock rails, and adjustable-height air trip suspension. Jeep even tackled the Rubicon path with the manufacturing model of this car, in full electrical mode.
For the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe Idea, Jeep introduced us some massive aesthetic upgrades and greater tires. Moreover the blue colour scheme and graphics package deal, the roof is Rhino-lined black, and {custom} 3D-printed roof racks with built-in tie-downs had been put in.
Whereas the roof rack mounts look tremendous cool, we weren’t an enormous fan of the Rhino lining. As a substitute of wanting powerful, it cheapened the in any other case upscale look of the idea.
Contained in the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe idea is tremendous sharp-looking saddle leather-based upholstery with ‘Rodney’ houndstooth material inserts. Mixed with blue distinction stitching and the signature 4xe Trailhawk badging, the within of this idea car is only a very nice and opulent place to be.
Wedged underneath this idea are 33-inch mud-terrain tires with none suspension modifications, which took some appreciable fender trimming and widened fender flares. These meaty tires are wrapped on 20-inch wheels.
Whereas massive wheels and tiny tire sidewalls are usually not optimum for off-road adventures, they do look actually good! The setup additionally labored higher than we’d have anticipated off-road.
Coming Quickly: Rubicon Twentieth Idea
- Powertrain: 6.4L V-8
- Elevate/wheels/tires: JPP 2-in. carry, 17-in. wheels, 37-in. M/T tires
- Key options: Sky One-Contact powertop, {custom} half doorways, winch, swing gate air compressor
Take a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 and add some good Twentieth-anniversary touches and also you get the Twentieth Idea. The Rubicon was born in 2003 as a two-door Wrangler, so we’ll see its Twentieth anniversary subsequent yr.
After speaking with the great folks at Jeep, we’re fairly constructive we’ll see a special-edition Twentieth-anniversary Rubicon in the marketplace subsequent yr — and it’ll doubtless have lots of the touches seen on this idea.
The Rubicon Twentieth Idea has a Granite Crystal exterior wrap and gold accents, with an anniversary hood decal, and American flag fender decals. It additionally options {custom} half doorways and a Sky One-Contact powertop with detachable facet panels.
Off-road goodies embody 17-inch wheels wrapped in 37-inch mud-terrain tires, metal bumpers, a Warn winch, metal skid plates, and a soon-to-be-released Mopar swing gate air compressor.
The Wrangler Rubicon 392 simply places a large smile throughout your face, on and off highway. Add in some refined appears, an open-air high, and massive tires, and also you’ve bought a profitable package deal.
Heritage: ’41 Idea
- Powertrain: 4xe PHEV w/2.0L turbocharged I-4
- Efficiency: 49 MPGe and as much as 21 mi. all-electric vary
- Elevate/wheels/tires: 2-in. JPP carry, 17-in. Fifteen52 wheels, 35-in. M/T tires
- Key options: Military colour scheme, half doorways, comfortable high, winch, retro shifter
Jeep at all times brings out at the very least one idea to EJS that harkens again to its previous. Often, that’s an previous Jeep with fashionable parts and {custom} touches. However this yr, they went the route of taking a brand new Wrangler Willys 4xe and giving it some throwback touches.
“Since 1941” is displayed someplace on all fashionable Jeep autos, and acknowledges Jeep’s army heritage. The concept behind the ’41 Idea is to honor the unique Willys MB that served the U.S. Military for a few years.
The complete ’41 Idea is finished up in matte olive D.R.A.B. with sand and digital camo canvas inside. Even the Rhino-lined flooring, instrument panel inserts, and gauge cluster are completed in olive D.R.A.B. Willys retro graphics and stenciled graphics assist join the Jeep with its heritage. The ’41 Idea additionally will get half doorways, a tan comfortable high, and a winch.
We significantly beloved the retro shifter and customised 3D-printed shifter caps, variations of that are discovered on a lot of this yr’s ideas. The ’41 Idea drove like a well-sorted Wrangler 4xe, however with some no-frills, get-the-job-done Military angle.
Cool Components: Birdcage Idea
- Powertrain: 4xe PHEV w/2.0L turbocharged I-4
- Efficiency: 49 MPGe and as much as 21 mi. all-electric vary
- Elevate/wheels/tires: 2-in. JPP carry, 17-in. JPP beadlock wheels, 37-in. M/T tires
- Key options: Customized lighting, DRL fenders, Fox shocks, {custom} sliders, {custom} entrance bumper, Add-A-Trunk, swing gate air compressor
You may not suppose that brown and blue are colours that may go collectively nicely (we didn’t), however they actually work nicely on the Jeep Efficiency Components (JPP) Birdcage idea. Primarily based on a Wrangler Rubicon 4xe, this idea is all about displaying off some cool new equipment, and some prototype elements, from JPP. It’s also all about open-air off-road adventures, having no windshield or roof.
Huge 37-inch tires match underneath new {custom} flat-fender flares and wheel liners. The fender flares characteristic the primary 50-state-legal — for each daytime working lights (DRL) and tire protection necessities — integral detachable DRL covers.
The concept is that they supply extra tire clearance when eliminated for excessive off highway, however are safer and road-legal on the freeway. Even the taillights have been custom-fitted to fulfill federal lighting necessities for a 37-inch tire fitment, whereas nonetheless being trail-worthy with aluminum taillamp guards.
Fox shocks offered a easy trip, whereas a {custom} rock-slider skid plate built-in into the entrance finish and {custom} facet rock sliders protected the Jeep on the path. For carrying massive gear, a heavy-duty (600-pound capability) Rhino-Rack cargo basket is mounted atop the roll cage.
We additionally actually dug the out-now JPP swing-gate flip-down desk, the soon-to-market built-in swing-gate air compressor system, and the Jeep device roll. Each of the longer term equipment appeared like high-quality, well-thought-out merchandise that any Jeep consumer would worth when out on the path.
The idea “Add-A-Trunk” decklid panel was an fascinating doable future JPP half as nicely. It flips up on fuel struts, gives safe storage on high, and covers up gear within the rear cargo space.
Purchase Now: D-Coder Idea
- Powertrain: V-6
- Elevate/wheels/tires: 2-in. JPP carry, 17-in. JPP beadlock wheels, 37-in. M/T tires
- Key options: All of the JPP & Mopar elements and QR codes to purchase them now
Jeep Efficiency Components (JPP) took a Jeep Gladiator Rubicon and threw greater than 35 JPP and Mopar equipment at it. The gloss black Jeep has each accent in a contrasting Maraschino Crimson colour, that are every labeled with a QR code.
Principally, the D-Coder Idea is a rolling catalog, the place clients should purchase elements on-line instantly from their telephones by scanning the QR codes on the car.
You might fairly simply purchase and have constructed on the dealership this Jeep pickup your self right now, minus having all of the purple equipment, with out some further effort.
We significantly favored the Thule basket rack over the truck mattress, as it will permit for extra outside journey toys in your off-road adventures. The tube doorways are additionally tons of excellent enjoyable on the path, however sadly not all that sensible for every day Jeep adventures.