You know it’s finally spring when Jeep releases their annual Easter Jeep Safari concepts. The tradition, now in its 49th year, does not disappoint! The seven concepts will be shown off at Jeep Mecca at the annual Easter Jeep Safari that takes place in Moab, Utah. Moab is the perfect place for Jeep enthusiasts as it’s also an off-roading 4×4 playground full of canyons, trails and gorgeous scenery. Around 10,000 of the most rabid and hardcore Jeep fans from around the world get together for a week of ‘Jeeping’. Standard activities include winching competitions, rock crawling, desert hooliganism, and of course, arguably the best part about thousands of fans getting together, the bench racing, camaraderie and the group celebration of Jeep love.

What’s cool about these concepts is that unlike most other special editions that consist of a few minor bolt-ons and cosmetic trims, these concepts range from fairly mild to fairly wild; all are pretty awesome for Jeep fans. A few of these are truly one-offs and as much as you’d want to buy one off a showroom floor, you can’t. That’s what makes them so special.

Chief

This retro-awesome Wrangler-based concept is a tribute to the ’70s-era full-size Cherokee. This is the kind of concept you’d see the Beach Boys rocking with a few surfboards poking out of the back window and strapped to the roof. Something you could envision you and your fellow dudes and dudettes piling into to cruise the beach boulevard.

To get that retro look, the doors and windshield have been chopped two inches, a vintage Ocean Blue exterior colour scheme with a white, French Bread roof gets you that “feel-good” look. A custom modified razor grille that the original Wagoneer made famous, halogen headlamps, removable sides for an open-air feel and flexible hauling, chrome front and rear bumpers and classic, and 17-inch slotted mag wheels all add to the nostalgic feel. Parts added on include a two-inch lift kit with Fox shocks and front and rear Dana 44 axles with lockers, cold air intake and modified Rubicon rock rails. The Chief is powered by the 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission. This thing is seriously cool.

Staff Car

The Wrangler-based Staff Car was built as a salute to legendary Jeep military service vehicles. It’s a four-door open-air concept that exudes a rugged functionality with obvious military design cues. While it looks vintage and authentic, it is all new.

Basic steel wheels, minimalist fender flares, “hungry horse” stretched canvas roof and bench seats all echo the original military Jeep vehicles and highlights the “function over form” feel of the original Jeep military vehicles.

The exterior features a Sandstorm exterior colour scheme that’s carried throughout the vehicle including the wheels, frame and axles. The Staff Car needs no B-pillar and no doors. Military-style round headlamps, Jeep J8 front and rear bumpers, fender-mounted blackout lamp with guards and a rear-mount spare tire, vintage military gas can, 16-inch wheels with 35-inch Firestone NDT military tires round up the military look.

The minimalist interior features low-backed bench seats in the first and second row, an integrated roll cage and a painted steel floor in place of carpet. A built-in cooler draws its inspiration from an old artillery box and accommodates 85 cans of your favourite beverages.

The Jeep Staff Car is powered by the 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission. A Jeep Performance Parts two-inch lift kit with Fox shocks and front and rear Dana 44 axles makes sure the Staff Car can walk the walk.

Wrangler Africa

The Africa was built for the ultimate back-country and overland expedition.

Also based on the four-door Wrangler, it sports a Desert Tan paint scheme, a high-clearance steel front bumper with winch, power step rock rails, power dome vented hood and an extended rear body and high-top roof. The Wrangler Africa also features fender-mounted auxiliary fuel cans. The Africa sports 17-inch body colour steel wheels with 35-inch BF Goodrich Mud Terrain tires. Fender-mounted auxiliary fuel cans ensure you’ll have all the diesel you’ll ever need.

Unlike the two concepts above, the Africa is powered by a 2.8L diesel engine mated to an automatic transmission. A two-inch lift kit with Fox shocks, sway bar links and front and rear Dana 44 axles from Jeep Performance Parts round out the other modifications. The spare tire is underbody-mounted and the cargo area, inner roof and floor are finished in a durable spray-in truck bed coating.

Overlander

The Grand Cherokee–based Overlander concept vehicle shows off the rough-and-tumble side of Grand Cherokee. It’s a rugged and dependable vehicle customized for the enthusiast interested in overland expeditions where the Jeep would be their mode of transportation and their hotel.

The Overlander sports Sage Green colour scheme, a one-off front fascia, integrated front winch, tow hooks, larger wheel flares, SRT tail lamps and hood, off-road rock rails, front and rear skid plates and 18-inch milled wheels with BF Goodrich All-terrain T/A tires.

It’s powered by a 3.0L diesel V6 mated to the eight-speed Torqueflight transmission.

To top it off, the Grand Cherokee Overlander has a durable spray-in truck bed coating on the roof and an easily deployable two-person hard-shell rooftop tent.

Desert Hawk

Based on Jeep’s newest addition to their lineup, the Renegade-based concept is equipped with a selection of Mopar and Jeep Performance Parts for the ultimate desert adventure.

They went with the Desert Tan colour scheme for this bad boy and it features a Jeep Performance Parts body decal, a topographical hood decal that depicts the Fins and Things Moab trail, off-road rock rails and a skid plate kit. Also featured are Mopar’s trailer hitch receiver and roof rack.

Mopar Katzkin seat covers, body color bezel accents and Mopar all-weather floor mats round out the interior. The Desert Hawk is powered by the 2.4L Tigershark engine with MultiAir2, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission with Jeep Active Drive Low.

Canyon Trail

The Canyon Trail concept is based on the Cherokee, which earned Four Wheeler Magazine’s “2015 Four Wheeler of the Year.” In the spirit of that award, the Canyon Trail ups the Cherokee’s best-in-segment capability with Mopar and Jeep Performance Parts specifically designed for even more off-road awesomeness.

The Cherokee Canyon Trail’s Desert Tan exterior paint is accented with a Satin Black hood that includes a topographical decal showcasing Hell’s Revenge, a notorious off-road trail in Moab. The exterior also displays Jeep Performance Parts body decal, Satin Black roof accent colours and the 2015 “Four Wheeler of the Year” decal.

The interior features Mopar Katzkin leather seat covers and accent stitching, Jeep Performance Parts embroidered logo on the headrests, body colour bezel accents, a cargo tray mat, Jeep Cargo Management System, Moab Off-road bag and all-weather floor mats.

Off-road capability is beefed up with the addition of JPP off-road rock rails, a two-piece fuel tank skid plate, two-piece underbody skid plate, oil pan and front suspension skid plates, as well as concept 17-inch painted wheels with BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A tires, which provide an additional one-half inch of lift.

The Canyon Trail is powered by the 2.4L Tigershark MultiAir2 I4 engine, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission with Jeep Active Drive Lock, which includes low range and a locking rear differential. This thing means business!

Red Rock Responder

The Wrangler-based Red Rock Responder is a support vehicle that’s purpose-built to traverse the world’s harshest terrain with premium off-road equipment beefy enough to respond to any vehicle emergency with spare parts and tools stored in the built-in drawers and compartments of the cargo box.

Painted in Vibrance Responder Red, this thing really stands out. Exterior add-ons include Jeep Performance Parts body decal, 10th Anniversary hood with hydraulic hood props, high-top fender flares and 17-inch beadlock wheels with body colour beadlock ring. In addition, the Red Rock Responder sports LED headlamps and foglamps, LED A-pillar and off-road lamps.

Functional capability is increased with the addition of 37-inch BF Goodrich Mud Terrain T/A KM2 tires, four inches of JPP lift, Fox shocks, and front and rear Dana 60 axles with 5.38 gearing from Jeep Performance Parts. The vehicle also sports a cold-air intake, prototype off-road rock rails and a Warn winch. Red Rock Responder is also armed with Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary Edition steel front and rear bumpers and high-top fenders that were previously concept parts but quickly became a production part due to popular demand.

Side cargo boxes on each side of the vehicle hold a Hi-Lift jack and accessories, fire extinguisher, roadside accessory kit, first aid kit, Snap-on tool soft bags and recovery kit. It also stores an air hose and accessories, a dual compressor and air reservoir and has room for a cooler or a case of water.

The interior stands out along with the exterior with embroidered black and red Mopar Katzkin leather seats, Jeep Performance Parts logo embroidered on the headrests, red accent bezels, grab handles and all-weather floor mats.

The Jeep Wrangler Red Rock Responder is powered by the 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine mated to an automatic transmission.

Whether you’re an off-road junkie or a road race warrior, you have to hand it to Jeep for going all-out each and every year with these concepts, presented to the brand’s biggest fans rather than a big-city auto show.

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