Every year in the state of Utah, particularly in the town of Moab, one of the most important off-road enthusiasts’ gatherings takes place, an event that attracts thousands of cars, each more or less elaborately modified depending on their intended uses, as well as the owners’ economic means and fantasies. These modifications have over time turned the gathering into a sort of tuning showcase, featuring the top brands in the industry. Among these is Mopar, a brand belonging to the Stellantis group, especially under the Jeep brand, which has been leveraging the event for some years now to showcase the concrete possibilities of customization offered by its lineup. In 2023, seven concepts were proposed, this year four, all of course based on Jeep mechanical bases and all characterized by exclusive liveries, as demonstrated by “Wrangler Low Down”, a vehicle designed to pay homage to a model exhibited 15 years ago and characterized by an intriguing apple red color. The powertrain is based on a gasoline “V8” engine delivering 392 horsepower paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, while traction is provided by 42-inch diameter Bf Goodrich tires that the carbon fenders fail to contain. The suspensions are those of the “Rubicon 392” model, and the hood is made by combining a carbon frame with a preformed lexan that allows viewing of the engine.
Alongside “Wrangler Low Down” is “Willys Dispatcher”, a “Wrangler 4xe” revised in appearance to recall the post-war Jeeps and offered in a bright blue-green color. 375 horsepower are made available by the hybrid system which provides rear-wheel drive exclusively electrically. Worth noting are the headrest-less seats as was once customary, the front “Warn 8274” winch, and the vinyl floor mat to tackle water and mud without concern for its integrity. Intended for intensive off-road use is also “Gladiator Rubicon High Top”, a two-tone black and bronze pickup supported by 18-inch wheels and Bf Goodrich All-Terrain tires left in plain sight by original Mopar flattened fenders. The front bumper is customized by the inclusion of a winch and additional protection extending to the undercarriage, while under the hood a three-liter “Pentastar” engine with 600 cubic centimeters, a well-proven six-cylinder that can also power the Jeep “Vacationeer”, the Moper’s fourth prototype, is proposed. In this case, the reference to the legendary “Wagoneer” produced from the 1960s to the 1990s is clear, a vehicle that in America is now replaced by the Jeep “Grand Wagoneer”.
Apart from a thin strip of wood on the sides evoking the aforementioned “Wagoneer” and some customization at the level of wheel arches and LED headlights, the real gem in this case is a special carbon fiber roof tent that allows two people to sleep elevated from the ground. The tent can also be accessed from inside the vehicle if the rear seats are removed, and it also features photovoltaic elements that contribute to recharging the battery destined to illuminate the night in vain.
