Jeep Easter Safari Concepts Are Out

Jeep has gone and released their usual lineup of concepts for the Easter Jeep Safari 2016. And, man, are there some stunners this year.

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Crew Chief M715: Appears to use a Wrangler Unlimited frame and running gear with the awesome Kaiser-Jeep M715 front end. Rough idea of what to expect from the upcoming Wrangler pickup

Shortcut: It's a new Wrangler that's shortened a foot and given new flares, grille and bumpers to make it look like a CJ5. And, man, that plaid interior. Wish Jeep would make this thing a production unit but it would probably be considered to dangerous.

Comanche: Take a Renegade and chop it down into a pickup with a cloth top and a 2.0L diesel and 9-speed auto. It's the meanest I've seen a Renegade look and even with a hardtop, I bet they could move them.

Trailstorm: Pretty much just a modified Wrangler Unlimitied to show people what they can do to theirs. Nothing too stand out, but they can't all be ludicrous, I suppose

Renegade Commander: Designed to show what a Renegade can be made into using Mopar Performance parts. A 2″ lift, Rubicon wheels on 29.5″ BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A K02 plus, rock rails, skid plates, exhaust, a trailer hitch and rear auxiliary lights. The Renegade is kinda growing on me, although I can't forgive the use of that name.

FC170 Heritage: I love me some Jeep FCs. They took a patina'd body and then dropped it over a modified '05 Wrangler suspension and drivetrain. Well-played, Jeep, well-played.

TrailCat: Because of course, FCA is going to continue inserting Hellcat drivelines into everything they don't belong in, in this case a stretched Wrangler. It has Dana 60s, 17" beadlock wheels with 39.5" tires, Fox shocks, a Hellcat hood and Viper seats.

Kudos to you Jeep, for not forgetting how to have fun.

I saw the Crew Chief a few days ago. I'd buy that. But they won't make it...

I'd take the commanche. I never knew I needed a convertible, diesel pickup truck, but now I do

I fully support this proposed revival of the roadster pickup.

I've been shopping Renegades pretty hard lately.

I look at the bedsides on the little Comanche and I bet we're seeing parts that are pretty close to being production on the Wrangler based truck.
The trailcat is cool and should be built in very limited numbers just because.

Tom Suddard wrote: I've been shopping Renegades pretty hard lately.

Fix It Again Toledo

I don't say this lightly, but I would seriously consider the crew chief as my first new car, and first car payment. It does it for me in ways I can't explain.

mazdeuce wrote: The trailcat is cool and should be built in very limited numbers just because.

Agreed. It makes absolutely no sense. There is a company out there building 6x6 converted Wrangler Unlimited pickups with Hellcat engines and 6WD. Yes, I just typed that.

Dusterbd13 wrote: I don't say this lightly, but I would seriously consider the crew chief as my first new car, and first car payment. It does it for me in ways I can't explain.

Yes. I know they are making the Wrangler pickup and all, but it needs that ugly, utilitarian M715 face, and I'm sure we won't get that.

Out of all of them, I really want the Shortcut. The Shortcut just speaks to me on a level I can't explain, maybe it's because my father had a CJ-5 that he still speaks very fondly of or maybe it's just that the proportions are so right. Of course, it'd probably never get made because it'd be "too dangerous" because the short wheelbase would make it so you can't text and drink your coffee at the same time while driving it.

crankwalk wrote:

Tom Suddard wrote: I've been shopping Renegades pretty hard lately.

Fix It Again Toledo

Exactly! I'd love to buy a Panda, and it's the closest thing we get. I have James May's taste in cars.

I had a CJ5 as my 1st car.. Red and black colors. I'd buy that.

I would take the Comanche with a hardtop. I can't see them having a problem making them and they could probably be pretty affordable because they would be made here. While I can see why they would use the 9-speed auto, I would take one with a 6-speed manual.

I love Jeep. I'm a loyal Jeepist (if there is such a thing) but why won't they give us a truck? Any truck at this point? Trucks are the #1 selling vehicle in the US, Jeep has the ability to make some very cool trucks, and yet they continue to not make one for retail. Grrrrrr.

I'd take a 4 door Wrangler based truck with a bed and a removable top. Whether it looks like the Crew Chief, the Gladiator concept from a few years ago, or a current JK with a bed, I'd still buy it.

I like everything about the Commanche except that goofy military-cap soft top. The Crew Chief is awesome but it will never see production, at least not with the M175 tin and that's the best part about it.

I like the Shortcut too - looks perfect for forest use around here. And if the Wrangler pickup looks like the Crew Chief, they'll have nailed it.

octavious wrote: I love Jeep. I'm a loyal Jeepist (if there is such a thing) but why won't they give us a truck? Any truck at this point? Trucks are the #1 selling vehicle in the US, Jeep has the ability to make some very cool trucks, and yet they continue to not make one for retail. Grrrrrr. I'd take a 4 door Wrangler based truck with a bed and a removable top. Whether it looks like the Crew Chief, the Gladiator concept from a few years ago, or a current JK with a bed, I'd still buy it.

The long rumored Jeep pick up has been confirmed for production by late 2017: http://blog.caranddriver.com/its-official-jeep-wrangler-pickup-is-coming-in-2017/

If it looks like the one in the link, nope.

STM317 said: The long rumored Jeep pick up has been confirmed for production by late 2017: http://blog.caranddriver.com/its-official-jeep-wrangler-pickup-is-coming-in-2017/

I'll believe it when I see it. They've pulled that line before. I also hate to say it, but I'm sure it will have a crazy price tag as well.

I follow Jeep on FB. For the past few months, they have been posting pictures of older J10's and Gladiators, with some tag line of "Heritage." or "Be Proud of Where You Came From." or some other lame remark. Every time they do it, I post the following, "Stop posting pictures of Jeep pickups and build one already!". That usually gets a few likes.

What I think they are doing is gauging interest in building one. Based on their social media presence, I can see them going outside the box a little and building a retro truck, like this one from the 2012 Easter Safari:

Every guy wants an old pickup truck right now. Lots of people think that modern trucks are too damn big. If they do this right, they will sell like hotcakes. Its smaller than the giant "1/2 Ton" monsters that are out there now, it's different than any of the current offerings on the market, and people will love it.

That Crew Chief concept is pretty gnarly, too.

Love the Crew Chief but also intrigued by the Renegade Commander. As these are the smaller, more fuel efficient Jeeps are they seeing heavy markdowns in comparison to the big guys (GC's, Wranglers, etc.) with cheap gas lately?

I seem to remember they can be had in a manual, wonder what it would set you back to do the lift and wheels/tires. As someone said above they are starting to grow on me, but it'd have to be for the right price.

SilverFleet wrote: I follow Jeep on FB. For the past few months, they have been posting pictures of older J10's and Gladiators, with some tag line of "Heritage." or "Be Proud of Where You Came From." or some other lame remark. Every time they do it, I post the following, "Stop posting pictures of Jeep pickups and build one already!". That usually gets a few likes. What I think they are doing is gauging interest in building one. Based on their social media presence, I can see them going outside the box a little and building a retro truck, like this one from the 2012 Easter Safari: Every guy wants an old pickup truck right now. Lots of people think that modern trucks are too damn big. If they do this right, they will sell like hotcakes. Its smaller than the giant "1/2 Ton" monsters that are out there now, it's different than any of the current offerings on the market, and people will love it. That Crew Chief concept is pretty gnarly, too.

This. I would love an older pickup but would need to update it with AC, disk brakes, etc. and it would never have the new compliment of safety equipment (airbags, etc.). This could be the best of both worlds if they did it and kept it under the crazy prices of the new full size pick-ups (I don't need heated/cooled/massaging seats and internet and electric lift-gates).

In reply to CobraSpdRH:

Well, the factory Jeep 2" lift for the 2012+ Wranglers was $1500 and that included springs, brake lines, control arms, four remote reservoir shocks, all necessary brackets, a new driveshaft and yoke, a steering damper and a high-steer conversion kit. I imagine that the Renegade kit will require a lot less of those parts.

Crew Chief M715 looks nice, but the bed looks to small.

The more I look at the Trailcat, the more I think I would want to take that out to Glamis and see how big of rooster tails that rig would throw.

I wish the throw back Gladiator front end didn't have the 'lets take two designs and smash them together' look. The Gladiator had a full width front end and the CJ/Wrangler has a narrow with separate fenders front. Smushing the Gladiator down to fit between exposed fenders just looks awkward and not very proportional.