Every year at Moab Easter Jeep Safari the Jeep/Mopar Underground guys introduce some cool functional one-off vehicles. In the past we've seen Jeep pickups, V-8 and diesel powered Wranglers, stock height JKs with 40-inch tires and so on. Last year we showed you a sneak peak of the Lower 40, this year we got a sneak peak and some pilfered images of several vehicles that will be in Moab. Are they show cars or a look into the future?
Now I'm not saying you'll see a factory Jeep on 40s or a V-8 Wrangler in the future, but you may see these concepts come to life in other ways. Say, a more-powerful Wrangler or maybe a lower stance with slightly bigger tires for example. It's all in how you interpret the modifications. Remember the Gladiator truck? Not only was Jeep testing the waters for a Jeep pickup, but the grille was pretty much a JK grille. Only we didn't know it yet since no one had actually seen the new Wrangler JK.
First up is the J7. It's built off a four-door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and designed to have the basic appeal of military-issued vehicles. This one will need a closer look.
Next is a sketch that shows the Jeep Wrangler Trail Boss: a two-door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon that is built for off-road. Hard to say what may find it's way into production Jeeps without a closer look.
Next shows the Jeep Patriot Extreme, A Sunburst Orange Jeep Patriot model equipped with the Trail-Rated off-road package and added a 2-inch Rocky Road Outfitters suspension lift, TJ ‘Moab’ 16-inch wheels, and BF Goodrich KM2 tires. Additional protection is added to the front and rear fascias with custom rock rails. Mopar added heavy-duty slush mats, Kicker audio and a roof-mounted snowboard carrier. Kinda cool in a Shawn White sorta way but not likely a production Jeep. Maybe we'll see a production Patriot Renegade.
Last but not least is the Power Wagon: The full-size pickup truck of choice in a range of off-road situations. Why is this one important? Simple. It's a short bed step side. What that says to me is that Ram just may be eyballing a premier 1/2-ton off-road package similar to Ford's Raptor. Think go-fast off-road with plenty of horsepower. And if Ram can have it, so can Jeep.
But perhaps what's most important is what you don't see here. And that's a couple more Jeeps that we won't get to see till Moab. Stay tuned.