The 50th Annual Easter Jeep Safari

by Hall Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM Virginia Beach

Article and Photos provided by: “Butch” Hora

The 2016 Easter Jeep Safari was held on Sunday, March 20 through Sunday, March 27. Jeep brought out seven concepts to the 50th annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah.

Photos By JEEP

These are all seven of the 2016 Easter Jeep Safari concepts:

1. Jeep Trailcat

2. Jeep Crew Chief 715

3. Jeep Trailstorm

4. Jeep Shortcut

5. Jeep FC 150

6. Jeep Comanche

7. Jeep Renegade Commander

Every year for half a century, off-roaders have been gathering for the Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, and for a decent chunk of that time, Jeep has been using the event as an excuse to build a fleet of cool concept trucks. 2016 is no exception in fact, it's an extra-special occasion for Jeep, which is celebrating its 75th birthday this year.

True to the Easter Jeep Safari concept tradition, some of these trucks can more or less be created at home from the Mopar catalog, some hint at what is to come and some are just too cool to ever exist outside of the concept truck realm. Here's a quick look at all seven of this year's trucks.

1. The headline-grabber has got to be the 707-hp Jeep Trailcat Wrangler Hellcat. The Hellcat-powered off-roader is capable of both crawling and high-speed runs. Called the “ultimate off-road machine” by Jeep, it has a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI Hellcat V-8 engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. It has 707 horsepower and you can shift it old-school style, racking a custom embossed Hellcat logo ball as the engine roars!

To get the 707-horsepower Hellcat engine into the Trailcat, designers stretched the wheelbase an additional 12 inches. They chopped the windshield two inches for a sleeker look. It also has steel front and rear bumpers, 17-inch beadlock wheels and 39.5-inch BFGoodrich Krawler T/A KX tires, front and rear Dana 60 axles, Fox shocks, and of course, leather seat covers.

2. Next is the open bed and rugged Jeep Crew Chief 715. Built as a salute to legendary Jeep military service vehicles, in particular the Kaiser M715, If you've been following these Jeep Safari concepts over the years, you'll have noticed that Mopar designers like the old Kaiser grille. The Crew Chief 715 utilizes modern-day construction with a rear seat and extra doors, but closely mimics the military classic. Steel front and rear bumpers, 20-inch bead lock wheels and 40-inch NDT military tires pay homage to the original Jeep military vehicles.

This open-air design is powered by the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine and is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The Crew Chief 715 is lifted, equipped with a set of winches and has an onboard air system with a hard-mounted quick-disconnect fitting for airing up or lending assistance to other vehicles on the trail.

Inside, the no-nonsense interior has leather bucket seats with canvas inserts, aircraft-inspired control switches and Mopar all-weather mats. It even has a centrally located navigation compass, like old school GPS!

3. The Jeep Trailstorm will get you off the beaten path, with extra room for gear and fuel tanks. Based on the Wrangler Unlimited, it has enhanced off-road performance and aggressive looks. It has 17-inch concept off-road wheels wrapped in 37-inch tires, a 2-inch lift kit with Jeep Performance Parts/Fox shocks, a Rubicon winch, and Dana 44 front and rear axles.

Mopar exterior enhancements include a winch guard, Satin Black grille, LED headlights and fog lights, high top fenders, power-dome vented hood, Mopar off-road rock rails with a step, Big Brake Kit, a concept fast-back soft top, tail light guards, and a Mopar fuel filler door. Finishing the Trailstorm’s exterior upgrades are a steel front and rear Rubicon bumper. This camo beast is powered by a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine with 5-speed automatic transmission. Half doors offer a clear view of obstacles ahead and a bed-lined interior allows you to hose down the inside after a rowdy day in the mud.

4. The Jeep Shortcut is inspired by the classic CJ-5 of the 1950s. Overall body length has been reduced by 26 inches including bumpers and spare tire to keep the Shortcut concept vehicle light and maneuverable on the trails. The distinctive paint color looks like something that was on CJ-5s back in the 1970s. Inside it is simple yet functional, interior features low-back leather bucket seats with plaid inserts, a red ball shifter handle, four-point safety cage, and Mopar all-weather mats that add to the retro factor.

The Jeep Shortcut is powered by the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine and 5-speed automatic transmission. A unique grille, hood, tailgate, front and rear wheel flares, and custom chrome front and rear bumpers, coupled with a modified exhaust. It gets a performance upgrade from a front and rear Dana 44 axle and a 2-inch lift with Fox shocks. A unique grille, hood, tailgate, front and rear wheel flares, and custom chrome front and rear bumpers, coupled with a modified exhaust, 17-inch red steel wheels, and 35-inch BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 tires help the Jeep Shortcut maintain the look of an icon.

5. Next is something completely different, the Jeep FC 150. It's more of a resto-mod than a concept; unlike the Mighty FC from a few years ago, this one still uses the original Forward Control body (dings and dents and all) but it's now sitting on a 2005 Wrangler chassis. Power comes from the legendary Jeep 4.0 PowerTech I-6 mated to a 3-speed automatic transmission. The components underneath have been revamped, its off-road prowess enhanced 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 tires.

This concept vehicle just oozes history and is built to tackle rocky trails while getting the job done. the FC 150 is based on the CJ-5 and offers a clever packaging solution by keeping overall length to a minimum for maneuverability, but maintaining a full-length cargo box for utility.

6. Based on the Renegade, the Jeep Comanche concept vehicle is a throwback to Jeep pickup trucks of years past. A six-inch wheelbase stretch accommodates the Comanche’s 5-foot bed, while inside, custom seat covers, pedal covers, door sill guards, and Mopar all-weather mats set this Jeep apart. A 2-inch lift kit and a winch bolster the Comanche’s off-road capability, rolling on 16-inch painted wheels and 32-inch BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A tires.

A 2.0-liter diesel I-4 engine powers the 9-speed automatic transmission with Jeep Active Drive Lock, which includes low range and a locking rear differential. This might be the compact pickup the American market has been screaming for.

7. The mildest of the concepts seems to be Jeep Renegade Commander, which features a 2-inch lift, custom decals and is upgraded with an assortment of Mopar and Jeep Performance off-road parts, including rock rails and skid plates. It also has 17-inch Rubicon aluminum wheels with 29.5-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires that boost its off-road capabilities.

Inside, the Renegade Commander includes Katzkin seat covers, body-color bezel accents, a pedal kit, Mopar off-road kit, and Mopar all-weather floor mats. The Jeep Renegade Commander is powered by the 2.4-liter Tigershark engine with MultiAir2 mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission with Jeep Active Drive Low.