Jeep concepts headed to Moab Jeep Safari

Jeep and Mopar didn't create the Moab Easter Jeep Safari, but their using the occasion to introduce wild concept vehicles and new parts to a crowd of their most rabid fans has become something of a company tradition. Jeep and Mopar previewed six concepts on Tuesday that are destined for the Moab desert. The Pentastar brand showed off three customized Wranglers, a Grand Cherokee, a J-12 Concept and a Mighty FC Concept. The Jeep Wrangler Traildozer Concept was the result of close collaboration between Jeep and the off-road gurus from American Expedition Vehicles. The Traildozer sports the same Hemi engine featured in the Challenger SRT8 coupled to a Getrag six-speed manual transmission. Dana 44 axles with 4:10 gears and electronic locking differentials transfer power to the wheels. An AEV Dualsport RS 3.5-inch suspension lift was added to help the bodywork clear 37-inch Mickey Thompson Baja Claw tires. Front and rear bumpers and corner guards were also installed. It's painted in what Jeep calls “dozer yellow”, which for now is only offered on 2012 Wranglers. “Even though this is a 470-hp Jeep, it's actually not our wildest vehicle in the group,” said Mark Allen, head of Jeep design. That honor would go to the Apache. The Jeep Wrangler Apache from Mopar showcases a kit that will enable Jeep owners to build their own 470-hp Jeep. The swap kit will be available this summer from Mopar, first for the automatic Jeep and later for the manual-equipped version. The Apache gets Mopar Pro 60 5.13 front and rear axles, a 4.5-inch Stage 3 long-arm lift kit and off-road bead-lock wheels. A Warn winch, Katzkin leather seats and a locking center console box are also installed. The last of the three Wranglers is a Mopar display Jeep featuring a selection of accessories. Mopar now says they have more than 250 for the Wrangler alone. It started its life as a standard Wrangler Rubicon before Mopar lifted the vehicle, installed 35-inch tires, a Warn winch, Mopar rock rails and a handful of other bits and pieces--all of which can be ordered now from the Mopar catalog. Of the six vehicles, only the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Concept could head to production. The Trailhawk is improved with 18-inch Goodyear off-road tires with five-spoke mineral gray wheels. Mopar-modified rock rails protect the lower body from the terrain. The Trailhawk is painted in stone white with mineral gray and red accents. Jeep logos adorn the wheel caps and bolt holes in the alloy wheels. Red trim outlines the matte black hood appliqué. The front fenders get Trail Rated badges while the tailgate wears a unique Trailhawk logo. The funky Jeep Mighty FC Concept pays homage to the old Jeep Forward Control trucks built from 1956 to 1965. The advantage to the forward control design is that it kept vehicle length at a minimum while allowing plenty of space for a full-length cargo box. To build the new FC, the Jeep team started with a Rubicon and repositioned the cabin over the font axle. Engineers lengthened the wheelbase and added a drop-side cargo box. The cab uses a roof from the Mopar JK-8 conversion kit, along with a custom front clip. The bed measures more than eight feet. Off-road capability is improved with Mopar's Portal Axle set, which offers the most ground clearance available without a full lift kit. The front Portal Axle costs $12,500 while the rear setup is $11,000, both are on sale now. Axle movement is controlled by King coil-over assemblies with upgraded control arms and track bars. The FC rides on 40-inch tires mounted on 17-inch beadlock wheels. The Jeep J-12 concept is an extended version of Mopar's JK-8 pickup conversion kit. The frame of a 2012 Wrangler Unlimited was extended 18 inches, making room for a cargo box measuring six feet in length. A custom hood and front fender were created as a nod to fans of the Jeep Gladiator series. The J-12 is lifted three inches with a Mopar kit, and uses Teraflex sway bars tied to ARB air-locker equipped Dynatrac D-44 and D-60 axle assemblies. It rides on 36-inch tires with 16-inch steel wheels. Other highlights include Mopar fuel filler door and slush mats, Tom Woods driveshafts and Katzkin seats. All but the Trailhawk are true concepts with no production plans. But a close approximation of each Jeep can be built with a little know-how and the Mopar catalog. That might be just as well, because the only thing Jeep guys like better than off-roading is improving their vehicles for the next time they're going off-roading.