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Every year, hundreds of Jeep fans decamp to camp out in the mountains of Moab, Utah for the annual Jeep Easter Safari, and every year Jeep cooks up a bunch of concepts and hot-rods for them to enjoy - some, none, or all of which might give us a clue as to future Jeep models.
The most significant of this year's crop is probably the Jeep Safari Concept. It's a four-door Wrangler with removable glass doors and a solid roof. The rear doors (they're actually aluminium and vinyl) are actually rear-hinged. It runs a 3.6-litre V6 engine, 35-inch BF Goodrich tyres on 18-inch wheels, comes with full-length skid-plates, an integrated air compressor, and a two-inch suspension lift to make it even better off-road.
Most significant of all though is the styling - look at the grille, lights and roof; you're more than likely looking at the styling of the all-new Jeep Wrangler, due out next year.
Rather more wild, and definitely not for production, is the Quicksand concept - a Wrangler-based hot-rod. This one uses a genuine V8 engine, a Chrysler Hemi unit, matched to a six-speed manual gearbox. It gets classic hot-rod looks thanks to the chopped roof and windscreen, and inside there are two bucket seats, and a chrome roll-bar. There's winch, staggered tyre sizes, 18-inch wheels, and a 'peekaboo' cutout in the bonnet so that you can see the intake trumpets for the engine.
The Trailpass, based on the new Compass model, gets a 1.5-inch suspension lift, 18-inch wheels, and all-terrain tyres for maximum off-roading ability. Jeep Performance Parts featured on the Trailpass include a Jeep roof basket, cross rails and rock rails. Inside there are custom Katzkin leather seats and armrest, body-color bezel accents and Jeep Performance Parts all-weather floor mats.
There are two other Wrangler-based concepts; the Switchback and the Luminator. The switchback gets a massive four-inch suspension lift, plus Remote Reservoir Fox shocks, heavy-duty cast differential covers, a Rubicon winch, grille with winch guard and cold air intake to make it possibly the ultimate off-road Jeep. The Luminator is setup to provide maximum lighting for off-roading at night, with powerful seven-inch LED projector bi-function headlamps, unique LED tail lamps, A-pillar-mounted high-powered LED spot lights, upper bumper LED auxiliary lighting with cornering fog lamps controlled by the steering angle, and low-profile integrated overhead LED auxiliary spot lights protected behind the windshield. The Jeep Luminator also includes LED versions of the standard 100 mm fog lamp and grille-mounted turn signals unique to the Wrangler. Other features include a roof-mounted solar panel, and even a drone landing pad with light-equipped drone.
Then we're into the classics. The CJ66 is a fully restored and updated 1966 Wrangler CJ, which has been equipped with a stonking Mopar 345 'Crate' 5.7-liter Hemi engine. That's a lot of car for a tiny off-roader. Painted in 'Copper Canyon' paint, it's covered in extra kit including a race-car-style fuel flap, extended wheelarches, 17-inch wheels, tyres which can be inflated or deflated on the go, and a classically Jeep minimalist interior.
Possibly our favourite Safari car this year though is the Jeep Grand One - a restored 1993 Grand Cherokee, which the Jeep engineers have equipped with 18-inch wheels, extended wings, a longer wheelbase, two-inch raised suspension and heavy-duty off-road tyres, and even a proper '90s car phone. It even gets a Gameboy in the back seat. Oh, and a 5.2-litre V8 engine too.
"It's truly a labor of love for the Jeep team to develop exciting, capable concept vehicles each year for Moab and the Easter Jeep Safari," said Mike Manley, Head of Jeep Brand - FCA Global. "We look forward to the reaction and feedback from enthusiasts and our most loyal customers as these new Jeep concepts are put through their paces on the trails in Moab."