Jeep Shows Off Six Concepts Headed for 2012 Moab Easter Jeep Safari

This morning Jeep rolled out six concept vehicles it plans to show off at this year's Moab Easter Jeep Safari outing. The concepts are the Jeep Mighty FC, Jeep J-12, Jeep Wrangler Apache, Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk, and the Jeep Wrangler Traildozer. A Jeep Wrangler Rubicon decked out in Mopar accessories was also on hand, but really wasn't a "concept," since all its trick bits are available in Mopar's parts catalog. Jeep has brought some pretty cool stuff to Jeep Safaris past, but it may have outdone itself this time with the FC and the J-12. Ok, we admit it—all of this year's Moab-bound off-roaders are pretty awesome. Jeep Mighty FC Concept As we said when Jeep previewed the FC last week—along with the J-12 and Apache concepts—the mighty FC pictured above is mighty interesting. That's because it's a cab-over pickup modeled after the Jeep Forward Control of the 1950s and '60s. Believe it or not, the FC is based on a two-door Wrangler chassis. The front axle was moved forward, lengthening the wheelbase, and Mopar portal axles were fitted front and rear. (Portal axles feature reduction gears at each hub that enable the center of the wheels to sit lower than the axle itself for better ground clearance.) A cab was installed ahead of the engine—which wasn't moved from its original chassis location—and a drop-side pickup bed was fitted out back. Inside, there is a Wrangler-sourced dash and steering wheel, plus tons of neat plaid cloth accents. The suspension gets overhauled with King coil-overs, track bars, and Teraflex control arms. A set of 17-inch beadlock wheels clamping knobby 40-inch tires rounds out the functional off-road gear. Jeep J-12 Concept If you're thinking that the J-12 concept looks to be a Wrangler Unlimited fitted with the JK-8 Independence pickup conversion kit and the face of a 1960s-era Jeep J-series Gladiator truck, that's because it is one. Of course, Jeep didn't simply graft the face of an old Gladiator onto the front of a JK-8. It also added 18 inches of length to the back of the donor Wrangler Unlimited's frame, resulting in a full six-foot pickup bed. Functionally, Jeep installed a three-inch suspension lift, new sway bars, and locking axles front and rear. The J-12's wheel and tire package—old-school 16-inch smooth steel wheels and 36-inch tires—really add to the pickup's classic feel. Inside, Jeep melded two bucket seats together to create a sort of bench seat. Just like the FC, the J-12 gets plaid cloth accents throughout the interior. Jeep Wrangler Apache Concept The Jeep Wrangler Apache is one special Jeep, but not just because it's packing a Hemi V-8 under its striped hood. No, the Apache is noteworthy because it previews a bolt-in kit from Mopar that will allow Wrangler owners to drop a Hemi V-8 into their rig. That's right—it looks like AEV is no longer the only show in town when it comes to V-8 conversions for the Jeep Wrangler. Mopar's kit, when it becomes available this summer for 2007-2011 Wranglers—the 2012 kit comes this fall—will require no cutting and will accommodate either Chrysler's 5.7-liter or 6.4-liter Hemi engine. Initially, the conversion kit will accommodate only Chrysler's five-speed automatic transmission, but Jeep and Mopar are working to make the Wrangler's standard six-speed manual available sometime later. Besides packing a 470-hp 6.4-liter Hemi, the Apache concept gets a suspension lift, new axles, beadlock wheels, front and rear half doors, and a Mopar front bumper with a Warn winch. Jeep Wrangler Traildozer Concept Compared to some of the other Jeep Moab Safari concepts, the Dozer yellow Wrangler Traildozer is pretty tame. Jeep worked with AEV to create the Traildozer, which is powered by a 470-hp, 6.4-liter Hemi V-8. Unlike the Apache concept, the Traildozer is a two-door Wrangler and gets a six-speed manual transmission. (AEV's V-8 Wrangler conversions are available with either the stick or an automatic.) AEV fitted the Traildozer with its 3.5-inch suspension lift kit along with 37-inch Mickey Thompson Baja Claw tires. The awesome wheels are Mopar pieces, as are the front and rear bumpers, hood, half doors, and front winch. Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Concept Jeep says the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk concept could reach production in some form, if it gets a good response from Jeep Safari-goers and the broader public. So what is the Trailhawk? Essentially, it's a Grand Cherokee with a white, red, and gray paint job; Mopar rock rails; and 18-inch Goodyear Wrangler off-road tires. The badges and headlights are blacked out, and the interior gets the same multi-colored theme as the exterior. Don't be surprised to see the Trailhawk appear as a Grand Cherokee special-edition trim package in the future. Jeep most recently showed off a blacked-out Grand Cherokee "concept" that metastasized into a line of Altitude models for the GC, Compass, and Patriot. from Car and Driver Blog http://blog.caranddriver.com

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