by Matt Konkle
Managing Editor
A few more days closer to Easter Jeep Safari week in Moab, Utah, and a few more concept teasers from Jeep.
The brand Thursday unveiled three more one-off creative designs it plans to bring along to EJS for this year’s 57th annual event.
"When it comes to legendary electrified off-road capability, unapologetic color palettes and powerful platforms for any adventure, what comes to mind?" the brand said in a statement. "These collective themes hint at the next grouping of the Jeep brand and Jeep Performance Parts by Mopar concept sketches of mission-capable vehicles heading to the 57th annual Easter Jeep Safari."
While the sketches intentionally do not reveal too much, there are a few interesting style cues to note.
The first purple-hued image displays what appears to be another offering in the 4xe Wrangler stable thanks to that black and blue badging down the hood’s passenger side and in the hood’s center. Jeep calls this purple color 'Reign' and is using that paint style for a limited run 392 Wrangler this year, so perhaps it plans to also roll out the color for 4xe as well.
Besides electrification and color, it also looks to have extra wide fender flares and that smaller new front grille like all 20th anniversary Rubicon Wranglers will carry.
With the lack of other front details, it is a good bet most concept stylings on this will either be interior-based or further back on the Jeep. Keep in mind, the brand recently unveiled a new heavy-duty floor system and weatherproof vinyl seats it said will help “owners weather the environment inside the cabin.” So, perhaps, sub in ‘rain’ for Reign and you have some sort of interior waterproof theme on this concept.
Jeep’s second EJS image in this batch release looks to be more off-road based, judging by the integrated front winch and what looks like dust and debris plastered all over the sketch. Additionally, what is new here is limb risers that jut out and attach somewhere on the fender flare. Normally, those risers lock down right around the hood catch area, so engineers must have some sort of new attachment mechanism that allows the same solid hold-down security to the urethane flare.
Another cue to notice is right at the top of the Jeep, where engineers have placed what appears to be a full-width, 50-plus-inch, light bar — a first for the Mopar line. Since just about all Wrangler EJS concepts utilize the Rubicon platform, we know the vehicle will definitely already have lockers, so now it has a factory light bar as well.
The last sketch Jeep released Thursday depicts one of its newest vehicles — the Wagoneer. Again, this concept image really does not give away too much but does have an integrated winch inside what is probably a prototype front bumper. It also is hued in a brighter red than what is currently available as a Wagoneer color choice, so this may be a doorway to a new Wagoneer paint option later this year.
Like most concepts Jeep has rolled out in the past, all will certainly have plenty of Jeep Performance Product offerings (some new, some currently available), and probably will feature other wild stuff and innovative ideas as well. Cabin hot dog roller, anyone?
With this current image release, Jeep has now displayed five of its overall 2023 EJS concept stable. The brand last week showed off what could be this year's all-electric Wrangler, potentially dubbed Magneto 3.0, as well as a 4xe Rubicon with what looked like a new rack system and plenty of JPP items.
Last year, Jeep created seven concept vehicles for EJS, including the all-electric Magneto 2.0 that promised 625 horsepower and 850 lb-ft of torque. Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe, Jeep ’41, 20th Anniversary Rubicon Wrangler, Jeep Bob, D-Coder Gladiator and Rubicon Birdcage rounded out the selection.
Each year, EJS attracts thousands to the Utah desert for a week’s worth of off-roading and congregating on some of the best 4x4 trails in the world. This year’s version is set for April 1-9.
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