If you are the Mopar parts division of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and you have more than 200 different parts readily available for the new Wrangler JL - way more than any aftermarket company at this point - what do you do to further promote your line to all those new JL owners?
Spoiler alert - it involves red rocks, desert trails and thousands upon thousands of hardcore Jeep enthusiasts.
Yup, we're talking Moab. 'Cause if it is Easter time, then it is Moab time. And Jeep Tuesday pushed out images and info on all seven of its 2018 EJS concept vehicles.
A lineup stuffed full of all kinds of Mopar Jeep Performance Parts.
“When it comes to customization, no vehicle can match the Jeep Wrangler,” said Pietro Gorlier, FCA's Mopar Head of Parts and Service. “This is why we worked very closely with the Jeep brand to develop an exclusive line of more than 200 parts and accessories to enhance – even more – Jeep Wrangler’s off-road capability to fit any customer’s lifestyle."
"Almost all Wrangler vehicles sold are fitted with at least one Mopar accessory, and you see this perfect combination between vehicle and accessories come to life every year at the Easter Jeep Safari.”
For this 52nd edition of the EJS, Jeep has resurrected a few names from the past - Wagoneer and Jeepster - while churning out some new ones in Sandstorm, 4SPEED, Nacho, Renegade B-Ute and J-Wagon.
Each one will spend the week leading up to Easter on challenging trails throughout the Moab, Utah area, showing off not only their capabilities, but all the latest JPP offerings.
“Pushing the limit is something the Jeep brand is no stranger to and these seven new, exciting and capable concept vehicles are the latest example of that,” said Jeep Head of Brand Mike Manley. “Every year, we look forward to introducing new concept vehicles and ideas to our enthusiasts. The Moab Easter Jeep Safari presents a unique and perfect opportunity to collect valuable insight from our most loyal customers.”
All but two of these new concepts are based on the latest Wrangler JL that just hit the market earlier this year.
The Wagoneer Roadtrip (pictured above) is based off a 1965 Jeep Wagoneer, and built to scale the trails of Moab or cruise the vast highways of the western states, according to an FCA release. No doubt it is also around to generate interest for the upcoming 2020 Wagoneer edition. Originally produced from 1963 to 1991, the Wagoneer was the first four-wheel-drive vehicle mated to an automatic transmission, and FCA says this particular concept retains its heritage thanks to an original steel body, along with an updated chassis and drivetrain. Its wheelbase has also been stretched five inches, and the body given a wider track and custom fender flares. Other tweaks include reshaped wheel wells, bumpers and integrated rock rails.
Its off-road prowess is reinforced thanks to a boxed and reinforced frame, Dana 44 front and rear axles with lockers, four-link suspension with coilover springs and 17-inch steel wheels wrapped in 33-inch BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain tires. Under the hood sits a stout 5.7-liter V-8 mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. Inside are original front and rear bench seats, door panels, kick and rear panels, a wicker headliner, custom cooler fashioned from period-correct luggage, and a tool box created from the valve cover of this Wagoneer’s original 230 Tornado OHC-6 engine.
Now, there is no doubt the 2018 EJS will see all kinds of JL Wrangler vehicles taking on Moab's signature trails like Hells Revenge, Chicken Corners, Secret Spire, Poison Spider and Pritchett Canyon. So it is no coincidence that Jeep used two of its concepts to salute that kind of dedication.
The Jeep Sandstorm is a jacked-up Wrangler design that FCA says is inspired by Baja desert racers, and all about blitzing long, sandy straightaways while still being capable of handling the daily driving duties. To accomplish this, it received a racer's touch featuring custom styling cues including a vented carbon fiber hood, vented high clearance front and rear fender flares and a cage that includes a rear mounted lay down style spare tire carrier, says FCA. The exterior handles and swing gate have been removed while the rear doors are chopped for a cleaner look.
Other design elements are high clearance front and rear tube bumpers, modified rock rails, an integrated on-board air compressor, race-style fuel filler, KC Carbon series front auxiliary lights and a chase light. Additionally, the front axle has been moved forward four inches and utilizes a heavy-duty longarm four-link suspension and track bar, while the rear axle has been moved back two inches and offers a triangulated trailing arm four-link suspension. This longer wheelbase allows for increased high-speed stability. Custom coilovers and bypass shocks allow the front wheels to travel 14 inches while the rear wheels can travel up to 18 inches.
Finally, the Sandstorm concept features a powerful 6.4L V-8 engine, heavy-duty front and rear Dynatrac 60 axles with a 5.68 gear ratio, 17-inch beadlock wheels and 39.5-inch BF Goodrich Krawler tires.
The Jeep 4SPEED is the automaker's latest venture into a line of lightweight EJS concepts, but one still with serious off-road ambitions. It's body has been shortened by 22-inches which will help with approach and departure angles, while designers left the wheelbase standard. To accomplish that weight reduction, the 4SPEED features a lightweight carbon fiber hood, high-clearance carbon fiber fender flares and a carbon fiber rear tub with perforated aluminum panels. It also displays a raked windshield, elongated door openings and an aggressively swept back custom cage. The concept's rear utilizes custom, lightweight bodywork, and its ride height is two inches higher than a stock Wrangler.
This vehicle also shows off FCA's 2.0L e-Torque I-4 turbo engine which is currently in production on the JL Wrangler, and eight-speed transmission, as well as front and rear Dana 44 axles with a 4.10 ratio and 18-inch monoblock wheels holding 35-inch BF Goodrich M/T tires.
Rounding out the 2018 EJS concepts:
The Nacho: So named after the vehicle's paint job which is also an offering on the 2018 JL Wrangler. This concept is crammed with many of JPP's latest products, including a black hood graphic, cold-air intake designed to feeds its 2.0L turbocharged I-4 engine, black grille, steel Rubicon bumper and Warn Winch kit. It also borrows a page from last year's Luminator concept by adding superior trail visibility behind A-pillar and brush guard-mounted LED lights that provide extra forward illumination, and a rear off-road scouting light that uses four-color LEDs to communicate trail conditions: stop (red), 1-3 miles per hour (amber), 3-25 mph (green) and a rear flood light (white).
Rounding out this concept is a 2-inch lift kit that includes new 2.5-inch diameter aluminum body shocks, 37-inch tires on 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, thick rock rails similar to those used on Ram Truck bedliners, 2-inch-round tube doors, and grab handles embossed with the iconic Jeep grille logo.
The Renegade B-Ute: Also includes a plethora of JPP items to enhance off-road ability like unique front and rear fascias, a hood with heat extractors, wider flares, a 1.5-inch lift kit, roof rack and rock rails. Inside is custom trimmed seats with mineral inserts, a carbonite finish on the shifter, speaker and vent surrounds, piano black inserts, a MOLLE system on the back of the front seats, and Mopar all-weather floor mats. Finally, the vehicle is powered by a 2.4L Tigershark engine mated to a nine-speed transmission, and uses 17-inch wheels that hold BF Goodrich T/A Baja Champion tires.
The Jeepster: Blends the current Wrangler JL Rubicon with color and styling of the 1966 Jeepster. This guy sports a body chopped by two inches, a custom windshield raked back 2.5 degrees while maintaining the new Wrangler’s convenient fold-down feature, white and red Rubicon fender flares and upper portion of the concept half doors, black fuel door, grab handles and all-weather floor mats.
More JPP items appear on this concept as well, including a custom hood and graphic, LED off-road lights in 5- and 7-inch applications and Rubicon steel bumper featuring LED fog lamps. The vehicle also shows off a 2-inch lift kit and 2.5-inch aluminum body shocks, 37-inch BF Goodrich KO2 tires and beadlock-capable 17-inch wheels with body-color matching firecracker red beadlock trim rings. Inside, a concept tubular roll cage replaces the normal sport bar, while an extra 38-inch tire is secured thanks to a custom in-cabin spare tire carrier. Additionally, the vehicle's instrument panel inserts are firecracker red to match up with its exterior. Behind the vehicle sits concept storage packs mounted to the tailgate that adds additional space for gear and supplies such as food, water and tools.
The premium J-Wagon: A concept FCA says is designed to be at home in either urban or rural areas. This one started life as a Sahara and is painted gray with tinted glass, complemented by brass monkey touches throughout the exterior and finished off with a black Rubicon Wrangler grille. It also features a cutout version of the JPP hood designed to work with an available snorkel, and even has a black Willys logo embellished on the hood latch.
For those more into off-roading, the vehicle's new 5-inch LED lights mount with JPP brackets to deliver trail-ready commercial and military grade illumination, while a Sahara bumper provides protection and 17-inch slot-design wheels holding 35-inch KM3 BF Goodrich tires throws out clearance. Additionally, black metal rock sliders guard the J-Wagon’s exterior, a matching black metal roof rack offers utility and functionality, and a black fuel door and tow hooks add style. Behind the vehicle sits a matching spare tire mounted to JPP's tailgate hinge reinforcement, and includes the center high-mount stop light light relocation kit.
To check out all the latest accessories Mopar has for the Jeep Wrangler, check out our Mopar Jeep Performance Products page.
