Well, it’s that time of the year again. For us off-road enthusiasts, this is nothing short of Christmas. Moab is going to be lit again starting 27 March 2021, courtesy of several concepts that Jeep has planned to bring this year. After pulling out of the 2020 Easter Jeep Safari because of the pandemic, the automaker has returned to the 2021 edition with seven different vehicles comprising of Wrangler and Gladiators. The pick of the lot, however, would be the first fully-electric Wrangler. Will this event make enough impact for people to forget about the Bronco for some time?

Jeep Magneto

Let’s kick start this list with the star of the show, the BEV Wrangler. Mind you, this is also the debut of this truck. Called the Magneto, it is based on the 2020 two-door Wrangler. This silent off-roader comes painted in a Bright White shade with Surf Blue accents. With stuff like a performance hood with a center scoop, Jeep has tried to make it look like its fuel-powered twin.

Interestingly, this motor is paired to a six-speed manual transmission. This is a big draw for the purists, who’ve always had inhibitions about EVs and how electrification would rule out manual gearboxes forever. It operates just as an internal combustion engine would when mated to a manual transmission.

The Magneto makes 285 ponies and 273 pound-feet of torque, which is on par with the 3.6-liter, V-6 Pentastar mill’s outputs. The fuel-powered Wrangler with the Pentastar engine churns out 285 horses and 260 pound-feet of twist. In fact, the Magneto will feel more sprightly since all the torque will be available from the go. If you’d like to open it up on straight roads, the Magneto will take 6.8 seconds to reach 60 mph from a standstill. To prevent rev-hang during quick upshifts, the electric motor here engages regen when the clutch is engaged.

Jeep Magneto specifications

The Magneto also comes with a unique battery setup. Unlike the most common placement of plonking them under the floor, this Jeep has them placed in different locations. The Magneto’s motor draws power from four different battery packs that have a combined capacity of 70 kWh. The first pack is placed where the mid-ship fuel tank would be placed in case of an internal combustion-engined Wrangler, the second pack is mounted opposite the fuel tank location, the third one atop the electric motor under the hood, and the fourth one in the rear storage compartment and exhaust muffler’s location.

There will be a lot of talk about the battery placement, but I think it’s smart packaging. The Wrangler is an off-roader and not a straight-line racer. More than the low center of gravity, it needs a better weight distribution and dynamics that don’t differentiate it a lot from the standard Wrangler. Also, this ensures its off-roading prowess isn’t affected. Jeep mentioned that the batteries will be packed in a waterproof enclosure thus retaining its 30-inch water wading capability.

While this is what the standard Magneto is about, the Easter Jeep Safari concept comes with some additions that give us a glimpse of the aftermarket accessories it will be offered in the future. For starters, it comes with a Jeep Performance Parts two-inch lift kit and rides on 35-inch mud-terrain tires wrapped around 17-inch black metallic wheels. There are a custom roll cage and Mopar rock rails, too.

The tailgate is redesigned and there are custom decals on the body. Jeep has also equipped full-width forward lighting. As for the bumpers, they are steel units with a Warn winch mounted atop, and a steel belly pan underneath to protect the parts from getting damaged during off-roading. On the inside, the seats come upholstered in blue and black leather, whereas the inserts and straps are finished in Sapphire Blue color. A Surf Blue truck bed liner and Mopar slush mats wrap up the changes on this electric concept that will grace the Easter Jeep Safari and show us its prowess off the roads.

Jeepster Beach

Every year, Jeep has one concept that pays homage to a yesteryear model. This time, it’s to the second-gen Jeepster. The Jeepster moniker was first included in the lineup in 1948 and was in production for two years before the automaker pulled the plug on it. 16 years later, it was revived for its second run in the form of the Jeepster Commando but stayed only for eight years before going into exile forever in 1973. The Commando was the first four-wheel-drive with an automatic gearbox, and also the first one to come with doors, roof, heater, and other basic amenities.

This Jeepster retains the original chrome trim along with a two-tone paint scheme. It rides on 35-inch tires. On the inside, the off-roader comes with bucket seats at the front trimmed in red leather, whereas the rear seats were replaced with a chrome, four-point safety cage. Since it is made to be driven on the beaches, Jeep has also removed the carpets so that cleaning the sand out wouldn’t be a big task.

Powering the Jeepster Beach is the 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbocharged mill that makes 340 ponies and 369 pound-feet of twist; almost 25-percent more than the standard production version. It will come with an eight-speed automatic gearbox mated to a 4:1 transfer case.

Jeepster Beach specifications

Jeep Red Bare

This concept is based on the Gladiator Rubicon, which means it comes with all the off-roading frills that Jeep has to offer on the truck. The Red Bare is painted in a Fire Cracker Red exterior shade with custom matte black graphics and gold accents. It comes with a soft-top and half doors, and has the Mojave hood and cowl pieces. Steel bumpers are installed at the front and back with a Warn winch mounted atop. There is a grille guard protecting the front bumper from hard hits and shoves during heavy off-roading.

Furthermore, the concept truck is equipped with a Jeep Performance Parts two-inch lift kit, sand slider rock rails, cargo bed-mounted sport bar, and bed cover and rack system.

On the inside, the Red Bare features plush Katzkin Black leather seats with red stitching and custom red flannel inserts. The instrument panel features the same inserts and gives the whole cockpit a rustic vibe. The truck bed is finished in body color and comes with Mopar slush mats.

Under the hood of this concept truck is the turbocharged EcoDiesel V-6 mill that displaces at 3.0-liters. It churns out 260 ponies and 442 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to all the wheel via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Jeep has also installed Dana 44 front and rear heavy-duty axles with 4.88 axle ratios. The Red Bare delivers an impressive 91:1 crawl ratio that makes it a perfect vehicle to conquer the Moab dominantly.

Jeep Red Bare Gladiator specifications

Jeep Orange Peelz

Here’s another concept based on the two-door Wrangler. It comes with prototype JPP half doors and a custom removable one-piece Freedom Top glass sunroof. Jeep says this concept pays homage to the open-air, fun-and-freedom spirit of the Jeep Wrangler. As cheesy as the name sounds, the Orange Peelz is actually quite a looker. It comes painted in the namesake exterior shade.

Up front, the concept comes with a Mopar hood with the Jeep Willys logo. Jeep has mounted five-inch off-road LED lights at the base of the A-pillars that let out 4,800 lumens of light, making it perfect for night treks. The Orange Peelz also comes with a two-inch lift kit with FOX shocks and a Mopar windshield made with Corning Gorilla Glass to avoid it from chips and shatters while off-roading. It features custom JPP Rubicon steel bumpers with a two-inch steel grille guard and an 8,000-pound capacity Warn winch.

The concept Wrangler rides on 37-inch BF Goodrich KM3 mud-terrain tires shod around 17-inch beadlock-capable aluminum wheels. Jeep had to equip high-top steel fenders to accommodate the big tires. The tires come with Mopar valve stem caps carrying the Jeep logo. The SUV also comes with vintage Jeep fender badges. Custom rock rails wind up the additions made to the side profile. Jeep has installed JPP Swing Gate Hinge Reinforcement that allows for a larger spare tire to be mounted here. Even the high-mount stop lamp had to be relocated from here due to the tire’s size.

On the inside, the cabin is more utilitarian and less plush. It comes with the same orange peelz shade inserts on the plaid armrests and seats. On the steering wheel, shifter boots, and parking-brake handle, you can see accent-orange stitching. The other stuff here includes:

-* Mopar stainless steel pedal covers with rubber pads

-* Door sills protected by black sill guards

-* Standard Mopar all-weather floor mats

-* Front mats with a patented drain plug that covers floor drain holes

Power is sent to all the wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. What’s different here is the addition of the JPP cold-air intake and cat-back exhaust system. All-in-all, this is a sweet concept that looks great and comes with a plethora of Mopar and Jeep Performance Parts accessories.

Jeep Orange Peelz specifications

Jeep Farout

A truck that’s an encore to the 2019 Gladiator Wayout concept, the Farout is this year’s overlanding concept from Jeep. It comes with a deployable AT Overland Equipment Habitat Truck Topper that opens into a 16-foot long and 7.5-foot tall recreational residence that can house four people for those camp nights in the middle of nowhere.

This go-anywhere, do-anything Jeep concept takes off-road exploration to the next level. An encore to 2019’s Wayout concept, the Jeep Farout concept is a true overlanding vehicle that leverages the 2021 Jeep Gladiator’s class-leading payload and fuel-efficient, long-range-capable 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 engine to lead adventure-seekers further off the beaten path. The main feature of this fully functional concept is a neatly contained, customized

The cabin features a wood-lined interior theme with soft ambient lighting. The seats come upholstered in dark smoke blue leather with orange stitching and plaid flannel seat inserts. There’s also a fully functional refrigerator and stove, plus hanging storage racks, built-in seats and table space.

The Farout concept is finished in a new Earl color with Chartreuse accents on the hood, rear tow hooks, springs, badging, and shocks. It features a JPP two-inch lift kit and rides on 17-inch matte charcoal wheels wrapped in 37-inch mud-terrain tires. Jeep has also installed modified Gladiator Rubicon steel bumpers with a 12,000-pound Warn winch. There are custom front and rear rock rails as well.

Power is sent to all the wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. It isn’t as heavy as the other concepts when it comes to its off-roading prowess, but the Farout comes with FOX performance shocks and a healthy travel range.

Jeep Farout specifications

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392

Back in July 2020, Jeep unveiled the Wrangler Rubicon 392 hours before the Ford Bronco’s big debut. The automaker will be bringing this to Moab for the Easter Jeep Safari. This is the first Wrangler to feature a V-8 engine after the 1981 CJ-7. The 392 comes with a 6.4-liter, V-8 engine under the hood that produces 470 horses and 470 pound-feet of torque. It will be mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with a low 3.73 gear ratio. The Wrangler 392 will take just 5.1 seconds to sprint to 60 mph from a standstill.

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 specifications

The Moab concept is based on the four-door 2020 Wrangler Rubicon finished in Granite Crystal exterior shade. It features a performance hood with a center scoop. The 392 comes with custom-built half doors and a one-touch powertop with removable side panels. Jeep has noted that the concept rides on 17-inch beadlock wheels shod in 37-inch mud-terrain tires.

It is also equipped with a JPP two-inch lift kit, Mopar Rock Rails, steel bumpers with Warn winch, and a steel belly pan under the body. To complement the body color, the tow hooks, badging, springs, and shocks are finished in a bronze shade. On the inside, the 392 concept comes with Oxblood Red leather seats with gold stitching.

There’s no word on whether or not the concept will come with the following equipment, but the production 392 will be offered with:

-* Third-gen Dana 44 Axles

-* Selec-Track Full-time Two-Speed Transfer Case

-* Electronic Front and Rear Locking Differentials

-* New Aluminum, Monotube Fox Shocks

Jeep Top Dog

The automaker had unveiled the Top Dog concept during the 2020 SEMA Show. It is based on a 2020 Gladiator and is built for the mountain bikers and their escapades. The highlight of this truck is its flatbed storage and a hot dog grill stand that’s equipped here. Jeep has replaced the standard cargo box with a custom PCOR flatbed storage system that features pull-out drawers to store tools for the mountain bikes. There are storage racks on the top that can hold two Trek mountain bikes. There are many interior storage shelves, a battery-powered refrigerator, and an electric hot-dog roller grill stand.

Dual concept exterior task lights are mounted on each side along with a set of traction mats for vehicle recovery and extraction. There are storage racks attached to these. You can hold two Trek mountain bikes on top of this solid rack structure on the roof. To help load and unload these bikes, Jeep has equipped a foldable ladder in a roll-out storage drawer above the rear-mounted winch. Apart from this, there are two rack structures above the cab area that offer additional storage space for tools and equipment.

The Top Dog is finished in a K-9 Blue shade (or, shall we call it ‘Canine’ Blue since it is a Top’DOG’ concept?). It features a pair of JPP five-inch LED lights and rock rails with two-inch steel tubes. Jeep has swapped the Gladiator bumpers with Rubicon units that come with an 8,000-pound capacity Rubicon Warn winch and a two-inch steel grille guard. There’s a concept hood with black Mopar hood latches, Jeep Willys logo, and a fully-functional JPP snorkel. The truck rides on 37-inch BFGoodrich KM3 mud-terrain tires wrapped around 17-inch JPP beadlock-capable aluminum wheels.

The blue theme continues on the inside, too. Jeep has upholstered the seats in Katzkin leather with blue contrast stitching. The same is present on the armrests and steering wheel, too. Jeep has installed Mopar stainless-steel pedal covers with black rubber pads on the pedals. The truck also comes with black door sill guards that feature a raised Gladiator logo, and Mopar all-weather floor mats throughout.

Since the Top Dog is all about storage space and bike carriers, Jeep hasn’t made changes to the drivetrain. It is powered by the standard 3.6-liter, V-6 Pentastar engine that generates 285 ponies and 260 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission, which is optional on the standard Gladiator. It also comes with a JPP two-inch lift kit with FOX shocks.

Jeep Top Dog specifications

Conclusion

While the first four concepts in this list are new, the latter three were announced and unveiled at different points in time last year. Nevertheless, Jeep will bring all the seven concepts to Moab, Utah for the 2021 Easter Jeep Safari that’s scheduled to be held from March 27, 2021, to April 4, 2021.