Gladiator dominates Easter Jeep Safari concepts
BY JUSTIN HILLIARD | 9th Apr 2019
JEEP has again partnered with automotive parts specialist Mopar to continue its annual tradition of producing off-road-focused concepts to tackle the week-long Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, which is now in its 53rd year.
All six of the 2019 concepts are based on the American brand’s Gladiator pick-up that is due in Australian showrooms in new-generation JT form sometime next year.
Significantly, the M-715 Five-Quarter leads all comers with its 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engine, dubbed Hellcrate, that produces more than 522kW of power.
The other five concepts use the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6, although the Flatbill and J6 gain a cold-air intake, while the JT Scrambler and Gravity also feature a cat-back exhaust system.
Using a single-cab 1968 M-715 military vehicle as its basis, which itself was derived from the original SJ Gladiator, the M-715 Five-Quarter features a carbon-fibre front end, steel bumpers, extended rock rails and a six-foot aluminium tray with perforated sides.
Capability is enhanced via a heavy-duty multi-link suspension with coil springs, a Dynatrac Pro-rock 60 front axle, a Dynatrac Pro-rock 80 rear axle and 20-inch beadlock wheels wrapped with 40-inch tyres.
The dual-cab Wayout targets adventurers with its roof-top tent for two people, 270-degree awning, custom canopy and armoured body that is finished in Gator Green paintwork, which will make JT Gladiator production.
The tub has a unique rack with an attached ladder and lockable drawers, as well as two integrated auxiliary fuel tanks in its sides and an on-board air system with body-mounted quick-disconnect supply line from ARB.
A 2.0-inch lift kit, 17-inch steel wheels wrapped in 37-inch mud-terrain tyres, a snorkel, roof racks and a 5443kg winch from Warn also feature.
The dual-cab Flatbill targets desert enthusiasts, particularly Motorcross participants, by being able to transport two dirt bikes thanks to its dedicated sliding wheel ramps and removable tailgate.
The tough exterior look is punctuated by a vented carbon-fibre bonnet, high-clearance wheelarch flares, a front skid plate and a tube rear bumper.
Capability is improved via Dynatrac Pro-rock 60 front and rear axles, a 4.0-inch lift kit from Off-Road Evolution, large rear bypass shocks and 20-inch wheels wrapped in 40-inch tyres.
The single-cab J6 references the brand’s pick-up styling from the late 1970s and features prototype and production Jeep Performance Parts developed by Mopar for the JT Gladiator.
Based on the Rubicon grade with a removable hardtop, the J6 adds a 2.25-inch steel sports bar and a six-foot tub with a spray-in bedliner that matches its Brilliant Blue metallic paintwork in colour. The latter harks back to the 1978 Honcho.
A 2.0-inch steel front stringer bar, a second set of 2.0-inch steel-tube rock rails, 10 5.0-inch LED lights, Brass Monkey-painted ‘deep dish’ 17-inch beadlock wheels wrapped in 37-inch tyres, and a 2.0-inch lift kit are also included, among other parts.
The dual-cab JT Scrambler pays homage to the CJ8 Scrambler from the early 1980s with its Punk’N Orange and Nacho metallic side stripes, while the rest of the body is painted in white, excluding the roof that is amber in colour.
The Rubicon-based concept further ups the ante with a spray-in bedliner, a full-length tub-mounted 2.0-inch steel sports bar, six 5.0-inch LED lights, two 7.0-inch LED lights, bronze-painted 17-inch slot wheels wrapped in 37-inch tyres, a 2.0-inch lift kit and rock rails.
Meanwhile, the dual-cab Gravity, again based on the Rubicon with a removable hardtop, is aimed at rock climbers and applies the JT Scrambler’s orange hue to its entire body.
The cross rails and cargo carrier basket in the tub accommodate rock-climbing gear, while a storage system provides lockable space via dual sliding drawers.
Traditional doors are replaced by 2.0-inch round steel tubes, while non-slip steel rock rails, 7.0- and 5.0-inch LED lights, and 17-inch gear wheels wrapped in 35-inch tyres have also been added.
