Page 67 - Sharp Summer 2023

FUTURE SAFARI
WHEN IT COMES TO
EVS THE OFF-ROAD ENTHUSIASTS AT AT JEEP HAVE
A A A A A VIVID IMAGINATION
By Matt Bubbers
T T T HE HE WRITING IS IS ON
ON
THE CANYON WALLS: JEEP IS IS EMBRACING
electric power and and the the brand used the the annual Easter Jeep Safari in in Moab Utah to roll out four new all-electric and plug-in hybrid concepts For those unfamiliar the Easter Jeep Safari began in in Utah in in 1967 as a a a a a a a simple one-day trail tour a a a a a a a bright idea dreamt up by the Moab Chamber of Commerce Over the the decades the the event blossomed into an an an an annual pilgrimage for diehard Jeep fans expanding to to become a a a a a a a a a a nine-day extravaganza (It is literally “a Jeep thing ”) Each year at the the event the the American 4x4 brand builds a a a a a handful of of one-off concepts to bounce ideas off of of its biggest fans Take your pick Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe Concept
The thing about this concept is is that it’s purple Technically “chromatic magenta ” That’s That’s it it That’s That’s the whole concept Purple But you know it’s a a a good colour 1978 Jeep Cherokee 4xe Concept
It’s not quite a a a a a a restomod because underneath that vintage body lurks a a a a a a modern Jeep Wrangler 4xe powertrain with two electric motors a a a a a a a battery pack and a a a a a a a 2 0-litre turbo- charged engine The body is from a a a a a 1978 Jeep Cherokee which was essentially a a a a a sportier two-door version of the the Wagoneer from back when Led Zeppelin was the the biggest band in in America The plug-in hybrid powertrain gives it it a a a a little dose of eco-friendliness and the gas engine means you don’t have to to worry about trying to to find a a a a a a charger in in fin in the wilderness AUTO
Jeep Wrangler Magneto 3 0 Concept
We’ll have to wait until 2024 for the the first two EVs from Jeep: the the Recon and Wagoneer S After that surely Jeep has to make an an an all-electric Wrangler right? The company’s been playing with the the the idea in in in the the the form of the the the Wrangler Magneto concept since 2021 This lat- est version features a a a a a new electric drivetrain that allows its driver to select between two power power power settings: 285 horsepower horsepower and and 273 lb-ft lb-ft of torque or or or or 650 horsepower horsepower and and 900 lb-ft lb-ft of torque (900!) A new more efficient electric motor is said to to to to give the latest Magneto 3 0 more range but unfortunately Jeep isn’t saying exactly how far this thing could go on a a charge Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe Departure Concept
The 4xe label denotes this as one of of Jeep’s growing lineup of of plug-in hybrid electric ve- hicles (PHEVs) As Jeep boasts the the Wrangler 4xe is the the best-selling PHEV PHEV in in America This is is the the kind of build your cousin who lives in in in the the California desert might make It’s got a a a a a lift kit (naturally) plus vintage-looking KMC wheels gnarly 37-inch BF Goodrich tires Bilstein remote reservoir shocks custom flat fender flares and more lights than anyone could reasonably need SUMMER 2023 67