2023 Easter Jeep Safari Concepts Preview

The Easter Jeep Safari is upon us, and the automaker has been busy releasing teasers for all the exciting concept vehicles it brings to the event. Jeep hauled out wild lightweight Wranglers and unique takes on its iconic vintage models from years past. This year’s event offers much of the same, but the results are impressive, nonetheless. While the concepts likely won’t make it to production, Jeep pulls ideas from the vehicles, and customers get excited about buying a new SUV after seeing them. In 2021, the brand debuted its Tuscadero Pink color for the Wrangler, expecting to get 3,000 orders, but saw such intense demand from the concept that it extended production.

Here’s an overview of the Jeep concepts headed to the 57th annual Easter Jeep Safari, scheduled for April 1-9, 2023, in Moab, Utah.

2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe Concept

One of Jeep’s teaser images was of a hazy pink- and purple-hued Wrangler with the Rubicon badge clearly visible on the side of the hood. That vehicle turned out to be a Rubicon 4xe, but it’s not like anything you can find on a dealer’s lot. The wild reinterpretation features a custom interior with unique leather and upholstery patterns and a sliding canvas top. Traditional Wrangler 4xe touches include the blue tow hooks and lettering, but Jeep gave the Rubicon 4xe concept SUV several upgrades, making it a completely different animal.

Jeep shaved the Wrangler Rubicon 4xe’s doors to create a lower half-door look with large, open windows and an open cargo hold. American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) beadlock wheels come wrapped in 37-inch BFGoodrich mud-terrain tires, and there’s a Warn Zeon winch mounted to the front bumper. AEV also provided the bumpers and spare tire carrier. The Accuair air suspension system provides lift capability between 1.5 and 5.5 inches.

2023 Jeep Wrangler Magneto 3.0 Concept

It’s a poorly kept secret that Jeep plans to release an all-electric Wrangler at some point soon, but the automaker hasn’t given any hint as to when it’ll arrive. In the meantime, it’s bringing the third and final Magneto electric concept to the 2023 Safari. It’s a fully battery-electric SUV with a 70-kWh battery. Though it’s not a production vehicle, Jeep said it improved the range by 20 percent and bumped torque by 50 pound-feet to 900.

Interestingly, the electric vehicle (EV) comes with a 6-speed manual transmission that Jeep reinforced throughout to handle massive amounts of torque. While electric vehicles typically do not come with manual gearboxes, Jeep has engineered a way to incorporate one here and said that the unique properties of EVs remove the need for a clutch. Since there is no idling gas engine, there are no moving parts when the driver’s foot isn’t on the gas. The driver does not need to work a clutch pedal to get started and can more easily shift through the gears off-road. Jeep also included new drive modes with settings for regeneration, 4-wheel drive low, and two power output levels.

1978 Jeep Cherokee 4xe Concept

As it has done in years past, Jeep will bring a completely overhauled vintage vehicle out to Moab. This time, it’s a 1978 Jeep Cherokee SJ that the automaker’s engineers literally dragged out of a junkyard. They took the body and melded it with a Wrangler Rubicon 4xe to create a unique off-roader. Jeep mounted the 4xe chassis and powertrain underneath, but it retains its vintage body and retro interior.

Jeep equipped 37-inch BFGoodrich mud-terrain tires and gave the SUV a fully custom interior, complete with a (non-working) eight-track plater, patterned cloth and leather upholstery, and a unique mural painted on the headliner. Though it looks outlandish and likely took more work to create than the pyramids at Giza, Jeep said it performed multiple body modifications to create a “responsible” retro-mod.

2023 Jeep Scrambler 392 Concept

While a 392 V8-powered Wrangler is nothing new, Jeep went to great lengths to modify one of its muscle-bound off-roaders, turning it into something completely different. The Scrambler 392 we’ll see in Moab features a radical lightweight body style with an open pickup truck-like bed and no doors—a look that wouldn’t be out of place in a first-person space-based video game. Jeep cut 450 pounds from the Wrangler for the project, giving it a carbon fiber hood, front flares, rear quarter panels, and a uniquely shaped carbon fiber roof. The rear, including the tailgate, came from a Gladiator. Jeep also equipped 40-inch mud-terrain tires on custom 20-inch wheels, giving the concept an almost cartoonish curb presence. Like the Wrangler Rubicon 4xe Concept, the Scrambler 392 also features the Accuair suspension with extra lift.

2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Overland Concept

How do you make a stately luxury off-roader less of those things? You chop the wheelbase, remove two rows of seats, and add 35-inch BFGoodrich mud-terrain tires. To create the Grand Wagoneer Overland, Jeep radiused and flared the concept SUV’s wheel openings to fit the larger tires. Rather than an elegant engineering process, Jeep said it took a saw to the Grand Wagoneer to carve open the wheel arches and form the new shape. Laser-powered off-road lights provide blinding illumination, and the SUV’s front and rear fascias are unique to the concept.

Inside, Jeep removed the second- and third-row seats in favor of an open back portion, and a Redtail Overland Skyloft roof camper offers comfortable sleeping on the trail. It features an open passage into the passenger compartment, so people can move between the vehicle and tent without being exposed to the elements. A truck bed liner covers the roof, and Jeep mounted a Warn Zeon winch on the front bumper.

The Grand Wagoneer Overland Concept features the new twin-turbocharged Hurricane 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine under its hood.

2023 Jeep Gladiator Sideburn Concept

Jeep took the Gladiator and turned up the wild factor by several notches for the Sideburn concept. It features loud side graphics and a unique sport bar system in the pickup bed that offers mounting points for cargo tie-downs. The bed also features a spare tire mount, which clears the spare from underneath the vehicle for better clearance. Inside, there’s a unique brown color scheme with map patterns in the dash and yellow stitched accents to match the see-it-from-the-sun exterior color.

2023 Jeep Wrangler Departure Concept

The Wrangler Departure looks relatively tame compared to the other concepts shown, but it has several unique features that make it noteworthy. The front bumper and grille guard look like usual off-road accoutrements, but Jeep designed the guard to fold down and double as a seat. It mounts to the frame rail and replaces the tow hooks but offers seating for one or two people, which can come in handy on the trail.

Similarly, the concept gets a convertible tube rear gate that lets the driver swap spare tire positions between inside and outside the vehicle, depending on the situation. When the tire is outside the gate, the space is open for cargo and gear. But when positioned inside, it reduces the number of exterior components that might get damaged while off-roading.

The Departure’s interior features a bright orange upholstery color and dark blue contrasting accents. Jeep added a mounting rail to the dash that can accommodate cameras, GPS devices, and smartphones. Additionally, the concept carries a complete Jeep tool set. MOLLE-look body panels and tube doors complete the open cockpit.

Jeep is the source of information in this article. It was accurate as of March 30, 2023, but it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker’s website or your local dealership.

Chris Teague is an experienced writer in the automotive and technology fields. In addition to JDPower.com, his work appears at Forbes, The Drive, Autoweek, and others.

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