Every year, Jeep brings a collection of funky concept cars to the annual Jeep Easter Safari event in Moab, Utah. The Safari is a huge event for Jeep fans and a chance to gather, hang out, and pit their rugged cars against the even more rugged landscape. It’s also, obviously, an opportunity for Jeep to test some new vehicle and accessory ideas and present them to the brand faithful. While 2024 isn’t a bumper year—Jeep’s only bringing four concept cars this year, but it often brings as many as six—there are some interesting new vehicles and features.
The Low Down
The Jeep Low Down concept pays homage to another, similarly-named concept from 15 years ago, which is still one of Jeep fans’ all-time favourites. The 2024 Low Down sticks with the idea of taking a stock Wrangler Rubicon, keeping it close to the basis standard ride height, but modifying the body so that you can squeeze in enormous 42-inch BFGoodrich Krawler 42x14.5R20 mud-terrain tyres mounted on 20-inch beadlock wheels under its custom high-clearance carbon wheel arches. The standard suspension remains intact, but Jeep’s engineers have fitted heavy-duty Dana 60 axles with 5.38 gears to replace the standard Dana 44 axles with 4:10 gears. Between the size of the tyres and the shortening of the front and rear bumpers, the Low Down’s centre of gravity remains low, while the ground clearance, breakover, and approach and departure angles all get dramatic increases. Power comes from a massive 6.4-litre V8 engine, pushing 475hp through an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The bodywork - streamlined thanks to the removal of the rear door handles - gets Poison Apple Red paint and a big see-through bonnet power bulge. Inside, there’s black leather, ‘Rhino’ protective coating on the floors, and a red ‘bikini top’ which sounds rude but is actually just a slim, easily-removed roof panel.
The Willys Dispatcher
The Willys Dispatcher concept is meant to be a melding of classic Jeep design cues (the Willys name, the fifties green paintwork, the cream-coloured steel wheels) combined with cutting-edge mechanical modernity (it’s a 4Xe plug-in hybrid underneath). A retro-looking winch is mounted to the front bumper, while inside, there’s a mixture of saddle-style leather and houndstooth cloth. The interior floors get waterproof covers while another interpretation of the bikini top keeps the sun or rain off occupants’ heads. Handily, there’s also an on-board tyre compressor to keep your pressures up (or down - squashy tyres are handy for off-roading) as needed.
The Gladiator High Top
Unsurprisingly, the Gladiator Rubicon High Top concept is based on the Gladiator pickup, itself a spinoff from the regular Wrangler. It has a two-tone black and ‘Ginger Snap’ orange exterior and 40x13.5R18 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 tyres mounted on 18-by-9.0-inch Satin Black KMC Grenade Crawl beadlock wheels. The High Top also gets cut-back wheel arches and heavy-duty Dana 60 axles. It’s powered by the 3.6-litre ‘Pentastar’ V6 petrol engine. Up front, there’s a winch, while the sides and underneath of the car are protected by ‘rock rails’ that also double as sidesteps. In the load bay, there’s a lockable storage box with sliding drawers, while the cabin gets perforated black and brown leather.
The Vacationeer
Finally, our favourite of the 2024 Moab concepts is the Jeep Vacationeer. Based on the massive seven-seat Grand Wagoneer model (which just might get an Irish market debut at some point - stay tuned) the Vacationeer again hits the fifties vibe with Spearmint green paint and cream highlights on the outside. There are even imitation wood panels along the side. For serious off-roading, there are 35-inch BFGoodrich mud-terrain tires wrapped around 18-by-9-inch bead grip 701 Method racing wheels, which raise the ride height by 1.5 inches, and there are custom flared wheel arches, too. Aside from roof-mounted LED lights for seeing where you’re going at night in the wilds, there’s also a custom, carbon-fibre RedTail Overland Skyloft camping section fixed to the top of the Vacationeer. This has space for two and enough glass sections for a panoramic view so you can fall asleep under the stars and wake up to the sunrise. The Grand Wagoneer’s standard second and third-row seats have been binned so that the Skyloft can be fitted, and you can access it from inside the car. At the rear, there’s a handy fold-out step that doubles as a table and a lined storage space for luggage and hiking gear. The cabin has been inspired by fashion designer Kiel James Patrick (who apparently owns a Grand Wagoneer himself) and his KJP logo appears throughout. He’s also designed custom fabric inserts featuring classic Jeep vehicles within a distinctive and charming New England-inspired pattern.
“For over three decades, the Jeep Wagoneer has been more than just a vehicle to me; it has literally been part of the fabric of my life threaded through my most cherished journeys,” said Patrick. “As a designer and lifelong Jeep 4x4 owner, this was a dream project. I could not be more excited to honour the heritage and stories of the Jeep brand.”
Power for the Vacationeer comes from the 3.0-litre Hurricane Twin Turbo 510 engine, delivering 510hp and 677Nm of torque.
“Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, is the perfect venue for new Jeep concepts, with more than 20,000 Jeep enthusiasts gathering each year to celebrate the most iconic 4x4 brand in the world,” said Bill Peffer, senior vice president and head of Jeep brand North America. “From 4xe electrification to unmatched 392 power, this year’s Jeep 4x4 concepts illustrate how the most capable Wrangler ever appeals to such a wide range of people.”