Jeep’s superstar 4x4 vehicles

Each year, off-roaders get together to tear up the Moab desert, and Jeep brings along its superstar 4X4 vehicles

Most automakers would be thrilled to have an owner base as passionate and loyal as Fiat Chrysler Automobile’s Jeep fans. They are among the most devoted of all enthusiasts. Jeep’s management fuels that loyalty with its annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. The nine-day event draws thousands of Jeep fans for offroad adventures in some of the most beautiful trails in the Western United States. The 52nd event took place March 24 to April 1. The coolest part is that Jeep brings out a bunch of custom-built concepts and prototypes for fans to see. For this year’s Moab bash, Jeep debuted seven custom four-wheelers, covering a variety of styles and themes, and built on several different platforms.

Jeep 4SPEED

The featherweight of the group, this concept uses carbon fibre extensively, including for the hood, fender flares and the rear tub, which also features perforated aluminum panels. The wheelbase remains the same as a stock Jeep Wrangler, but the 4SPEED is 56 centimetres shorter than the production vehicle. With less overhang, that’s all the better for going up and down hills.

Jeep B-Ute

The only one of the seven concept Jeeps based on the small Renegade platform, the Jeep BUte has been prepped and primed for heavyweight off-road duty, thanks to an infusion of goodies from the Jeep Performance Parts catalog. Those include a fourcentimetre lift kit, a roof rack and rock rails. Add fat BF Goodrich T/A Baja Champion tires on 17-inch wheels, and the compact B-Ute sits high, wide and handsome. Jeep also put a lot of time and effort into cosmetic upgrades.

Jeep J-Wagon

To build this concept, Jeep began with a Wrangler Sahara and then dolled it up with touches inside and out from the company Brass Monkey, and the Jeep Performance Parts catalog. Although more than capable of hard off-roading, this is the top end of the seven concepts, with plenty of luxury touches, including camel-colour Katzkin leather seats with brown piping. An especially nice stylistic homage is the vintage Willys logo on the hood latch.

Nacho Jeep

Based on a 2018 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, this concept stands out with its bright, Nacho yellow paint, which is just about impossible to miss. And at night, the Nacho Jeep lights up the darkness with a massive array of custom LED lights mounted on the A-pillar, brush guard and windshield, all courtesy of the Automotive Lighting division of Magneti Marelli. There’s a liftkit, too, and lots of other off-road styling cues.

Jeepster

Marrying a 2018 Wrangler Rubicon with a bevy of items from the Jeep Performance Parts catalog allowed this one-off concept that evokes the style and feeling of a 1966 Jeepster. It’s all done up in the iconic colours of Firecracker Red on the body, with a Bright White hardtop, fender-flare trim and half doors. A lift kit and big wheels and tires add to the vintage look. Jeep Sandstorm Jeep officials say the Sandstorm was “inspired by Baja desert racers,” which means it was built to go fast in a straight line while at the same time handing rugged terrain. Inside and out, Jeep went for the look of an off-road racer, with extra ground clearance and chopped rear doors. For increased high-speed stability, the wheelbase was lengthened 10 centimetres and the rear axle moved back five centimetres.

Jeep Wagoneer Roadtrip

This one is for fans of the venerable Jeep Wagoneer, one of the true pioneers of the sport-utility-vehicle movement. Built on an original steel body, the Wagoneer Roadtrip has a thoroughly updated chassis and drivetrain, including a 5.7-litre V-8 engine. The celery-green paint and bare white steel wheels add a retro vibe. A cool touch is the tool kit, which was built from a valve cover off an original Wagoneer sixcylinder engine. Suddenly, it’s 1965 all over again.