Jeep Comanche pickup among 7 concepts for epic Easter Safari

A ROBUST Jeep pickup concept called the Comanche is among seven new ultra-capable concept Jeeps entered for next week’s gruelling Easter Jeep Safari in America’s  Moab desert, Utah.

Based on the Jeep Renegade, the Jeep Comanche concept vehicle is designed to be off-road ready with practical utility. A nod to Jeep pickup trucks of years past, the Comanche concept takes styling cues from military and civilian Jeep heritage.

And in a niche where powerplants can be outrageous, the Comanche is more real-world, powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission with Jeep Active Drive Lock, which includes low range and a locking rear differential.

The Comanche’s “Beige Against the Machine” concept exterior paint is accented with a satin black bonnet, a concept lower front fascia, winch, steel rear bumper, soft top, and spare tyre in the bed. The wheelbase has been stretched by six inches over a production Renegade to accommodate Comanche’s 5-foot bed.

Inside, the Comanche features custom seat covers, pedal covers, door sill guards, and Mopar all-weather mats. Jeep Performance Parts like off-road rock rails, a 2-inch lift kit bolster the Comanche’s off-road capability, running on 16-inch painted wheels and 32-inch BF-Goodrich All Terrain T/A tyres.

The seven Jeep concepts – featuring an array of Mopar and Jeep Performance Parts available to consumers – will take on the famous and challenging trails of Moab, with thousands of off-road enthusiasts are expected to celebrate the most popular Jeep Safari ever, as the 50th annual event on March 19-27  coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Jeep brand.

Mike Manley, head of Jeep Brand – FCA Global – said: “Every year the Jeep team looks forward to pushing the limits with new, exciting and capable concept vehicles for our most loyal enthusiasts at the Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, where we receive a tremendous amount of valuable feedback.”

The seven new Jeep concept vehicles built for Moab this year were created by a team of dedicated, passionate engineers, designers and fabricators that have been customising production vehicles since 2002, and introduced more than 50 concept vehicles.

The 2016 Easter Jeep Safari concept vehicles include:

• Jeep Crew Chief 715

The Jeep Crew Chief 715 concept vehicle was built as a salute to legendary Jeep military service vehicles, in particular the Kaiser M715. This open-air Wrangler Unlimited-based concept vehicle showcases a burly design with heritage styling cues. The Crew Chief 715 utilizes modern-day construction with a rear seat and extra doors for additional passenger capacity while staying close to its classic military roots.

Inside, the no-nonsense interior features leather bucket seats with canvas inserts, aircraft-inspired control switches and Mopar all-weather mats. The media center features a centrally located navigational compass.  The Jeep Crew Chief 715 is powered by the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine mated to a five-speed automatic transmission.

• Jeep Shortcut

A carefully crafted take on the beloved Jeep CJ-5, this Wrangler-based concept vehicle invokes the spirit of 1950s Americana with a body shortened by 12 inches and functional simplicity.

Exterior styling cues include a unique grille, hood, tailgate, front and rear wheel flares and custom chrome front and rear bumpers. A modified exhaust, 17-inch red steel wheels and 35-inch BF-Goodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 tyres help the Jeep Shortcut maintain the look of an icon. It too is powered by the 3.6 Pentastar V6 engine with 5-speed automatic transmission.

• Jeep Renegade Commander

The Jeep Renegade Commander has 2-inch lift kit and 17-inch Rubicon aluminium wheels with 29.5-inch BF-Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tyres. The exterior features Renegade’s MySky open-air roof with removable panels, custom body decal, Mopar off-road rock rails, skid plates and a modified exhaust.  Also featured are the Mopar brand’s trailer hitch receiver and front and rear auxiliary lights.

The Commander is powered by the 2.4-litre Tigershark engine with MultiAir2 mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission with Jeep Active Drive Low.

• Jeep FC 150

A true American workhorse, this 1960 Jeep FC 150 concept vehicle is rich with heritage and built to tackle both challenging rocky trails and the harshness of a western cattle ranch. Originally built from 1956 to 1965, the FC 150 is based on the CJ-5 and offered a clever packaging solution by keeping overall length to a minimum for manoeuvrability, but maintained a full-length cargo box for utility.

This heritage Jeep vehicle still has its original steel body that proudly bears battle scars while components underneath have been revamped with a 2005 Jeep Wrangler chassis modified to accept a Dana 44 front axle, Dana 60 rear axle and 17-inch white steel wheels wrapped in 33-inch BF-Goodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 tyres.

It is powered by a 4.0-liter PowerTech I-6 and is mated to a 3-speed automatic transmission.

• Jeep Trailcat

The Jeep Trailcat concept vehicle is the ultimate off-road machine, equally at home on Moab’s rugged trails or a high-speed section. Utilizing the supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI Hellcat V8 engine, and mated to a 6-speed manual transmission with a custom shifter featuring an embossed Hellcat logo, the Trailcat concept vehicle leaves everything else in a cloud of dust.

To get the 707hp Hellcat engine into the Trailcat, designers stretched the wheelbase by 12 inches while chopping the windscreen two inches for a sleeker look. Mopar exterior enhancements include a power dome vented bonnet, Satin Black grille, LED headlamp and fog lamps and rock rails.

The robust off-road look is further aided by steel front and rear bumpers, 17-inch beadlock wheels and 39.5-inch BF-Goodrich Krawler T/A KX tyres, front and rear Dana 60 axles and Fox shocks.

• Jeep Trailstorm

The Trailstorm concept vehicle is the ultimate Jeep Wrangler for exploring off the beaten path. Offering  room for extra gear and fuel tanks, it is based on the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, and delivers elevated capability to conquer trails with ease.

Off-road capabilities are enhanced with several Jeep Performance Parts, including 17-inch concept off-road wheels wrapped in 37-inch tyres, a 2-inch lift kit with Jeep Performance Parts/Fox shocks, a Jeep Performance Parts Rubicon winch, and Dana 44 front and rear axles.  Half doors offer a clear view of obstacles ahead and a bedlined interior makes cleaning up after a day on the trails easy.

It is powered by a 3.6 Pentastar V6 engine mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission.

The Jeep Comanche pickup means business