Jeep has shown seven concepts at this year’s Easter Safari. This annual event was started in 1967 by the Moab Chamber of Commerce in Utah as a one-day trail ride. However, as participation grew, the Safari expanded, and today it is a full 9-day event. No wonder Jeep and Mopar choose this even to showcase concept models and new parts.
Of all the models, there were two that stood out for us, the Trailcat and the Comanche.
Jeep Trailcat
This is a true off-road toy, and what Jeep refers to being “equally at home on rugged trails or a high-speed section”. Based on a Jeep Wrangler, one of the highlights of this concept is the fact that it is powered by the supercharged, 6,2-litre HEMI Hellcat V8 engine. What’s even more intriging, it is connected to a 6-speed manual gearbox.
To be able to fit the 527 kW engine, the engineers had to stretch the Jeep’s wheelbase by 30 cm, while the top 5 cm of the windscreen was chopped off. The latter was done simply to give the concept a better stance. Some exterior Mopar additions include the power dome vented engine bonnet, Satin Black grille, LED headlamps, fog lamps and the rock rails.
Further exterior enhancements include steel front and rear bumpers, 17-inch wheels with 39,5-inch (!) BF Goodrich tyres, and finally front and rear Dana 60 axles and Fox shocks.
Climb inside, and sport bucket seats will keep you in place (from a Dodge Viper) during your off-road adventures.
Jeep Comanche
As can be seen from the pictures, this concept is based on the Jeep Renegade. This bakkie is according to Jeep “a nod to Jeep pickup trucks of the years past, taking styling cues from military and civilian Jeep heritage”. Interesting additions include the winch, steel rear bumper and the removable soft top. Compared to the Renegade, the wheelbase is 15 cm longer, leading to a 152 cm rear loading bay.
Several Performance Parts have also been added. These include off-road rails, a 5 cm lift kit, and a winch bolster. On each corner is a 16-inch painted wheel fitted with a 32-inch BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A tyre.
A 2,0-litre, turbodiesel can be found up front, connected to a 9-speed automatic transmission, including low range and a rear diff lock.
In our local market which doesn’t really offer any exciting single-cab bakkies, this would be a perfect addition, however, it is unlikely that Jeep will put any of these concept in production.
