Jeep has teased two of its one-off concept vehicles to be shown at the 56th annual Easter Jeep Safari in the Moab Desert in Utah.
Set to run from April 9 to April 17, this event has historically been one of the largest Jeep owner gatherings worldwide.
Jeep will use this 2022 event to showcase “several one-of-a-kind Jeep concept vehicles” that have been designed by Jeep and Jeep Performance Parts (JPP), like it has done for a number of years now.
In 2021, Jeep used this event to showcase its all-electric Wrangler Magneto concept that’s powered by an axial flux electric motor and uses a traditional six-speed manual transmission.
One of this year’s teased Jeep concepts is an electrified, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) 4xe SUV that looks to be based on the new-generation Grand Cherokee.
The teaser image shows the concept has flared wheel arches and blue highlights. A charging port can also be seen on the front quarter panel too.
This 4xe concept is said to be able to “conquer even the most tumultuous terrain along the back-country trails of Moab and further highlight the Jeep brand’s vision of accomplishing Zero Emission Freedom”.
The Grand Cherokee 4xe combines a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, an electric motor, and an eight-speed automatic transmission that produces a total system output of 280kW and 637Nm.
The other teaser shown off by Jeep shows what looks like a Gladiator but is stylised with a QR code-esque design. It’s unable to be scanned though.
It’s unclear what this concept will be exactly. The concept could use Jeep Performance Parts that may morph it into an F-150 Raptor-rivalling, baja-ready off-roader.
On the future front, a Gladiator 4xe PHEV is coming in 2024, according to reports. Jeep’s global boss Christian Meuiner has previously said he wants to bring more electrified vehicles to Australia.
“I am going to push for electrification as a leader and not a follower,” said Mr Meunier in July 2021.
Gladiator Rubicon
“We’re not going to be after the others, we’re going to be first, and we’re going to do everything we can in all the [APAC] region.”
Mr Meuiner says markets like Australia, Japan and Korea “are going to become very quickly electrified”.
An undisclosed source from Stellantis told Mopar Insiders the Gladiator 4xe will be powered by the same PHEV powertrain that’s currently used in the Wrangler 4xe.
This PHEV powertrain in the Wrangler 4xe is the exact same as the one in the Grand Cherokee 4xe as well.
Wrangler Rubicon 4xe
At Stellantis’ EV Day presentation in July 2021, Mr Meunier also announced Jeep will have an all-electric model in every segment by 2025.
By 2025, Jeep plans for 70 per cent of all its sales to be electrified vehicles, ranging from mild-hybrid to all-electric.
The automaker also used EV Day to preview features it may offer in the future, like vehicle-to-vehicle charging, drone pairing and biometric recognition, as well as something decidely simpler: front seats that fold flat to form a bed.
It also suggested it could roll out autonomous off-road driving capabilities by 2030, as well as a function that could allow you to send your Jeep off while you tracked it remotely.
Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe
We’ll have to wait and see if Jeep showcase any of these autonomous features at its 2022 Annual Easter Safari.
Meanwhile the next-generation Grand Cherokee is set to touch down in Australia in long-wheelbase, seven-seat Grand Cherokee L guise first. At this stage it’s slated to arrive in mid-2022.
The 2022 Grand Cherokee L will be priced from $82,250 before on-road costs and the range is solely powered by a 3.6-litre naturally-aspirated V6 petrol engine producing 210kW of power and 344Nm of torque.
‘Regular’ Grand Cherokee five-seat and all 4xe variants are due to follow from the second half of 2022.
Grand Cherokee L Night Eagle
MORE: Jeep Wrangler Magneto EV concept revealed with manual transmission
MORE: 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe revealed, brand’s electrification plans outlined
MORE: Jeep Gladiator 4xe coming in 2024 – report
