Each year, Jeep hosts the Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, where it shows enthusiasts what their SUVs are capable of with just a few performance parts.
For this year’s event, which opens tomorrow and runs until April 20, Jeep has taken the wraps off of six unique concepts that are ready to chew up any sort of tough off-roading thrown at them. Starting with the most hardcore of them all, the Jeep Wrangler Level Red gets its name after the most difficult type of off-road trail. It features the standard 3.6-litre V6 engine, but with an added cold-air intake and exhaust system. It also includes Dana 44 crate axles, a raised suspension and Jeep’s Rock-Track transfer case.
The Wrangler Level Red will be shown alongside two other models in Moab. The MOJO, teased just last week, is basically a four-door version of the Level Red, save for a bright orange-on-black paint job and unique bumpers and fenders. It rides on 37-inch BFGoodrich Mud Terrain tires, because if there’s one place where size matters, it’s when you’re off-roading in a Jeep. Rounding out the Wrangler lineup is the Maximum Performance, complete with a four-inch lift kit and electronically locking Dana 60 axles.
In addition to the unique Wrangler concepts, Jeep will also showcase spruced-up versions of the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee. It’s no secret the new Cherokee has received its fair share of flack over its styling and compact car underpinnings. That’s why Jeep will showcase the Cherokee Adventurer and Dakar models at the event. While they’re both based on the Cherokee Trailhawk, their modifications are decidedly different — the Adventurer includes just a handful of Mopar accessories.
The one you should care about is the Dakar, which Jeep bills as “the most extreme Cherokee ever.” Finished in silver with red accents, the Dakar includes a prototype lift kit, 33-inch off-road tires and massive fender flares. Sure, it has a long way to go as a Dakar Rally competitor, but it’s most definitely a start. Rounding out Jeep’s Easter Jeep Safari lineup is the Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel Trail Warrior, complete with a tweaked version of its Quadra-Lift air suspension, unique paintwork and 20-inch wheels on off-road tires.
