Jeep rocked the house at this year’s New York auto show with its all-new 2011 Grand Cherokee. But that wasn’t the only news Jeep made that week, as it headed to Moab with a couple of extreme Wranglers to show at the 43rd Annual Moab Jeep Safari. Both were created by the Mopar Underground design team (formerly known as “Mopar Skunkwerks”), which is also credited with last year’s cool Jeep JT concept and, further back, the original Dodge Neon–based SRT-4.
Jeep Lower Forty
The most extreme-looking of the two is the Jeep Lower Forty. Resembling the caricatured offspring of a Jeep Wrangler and a dune buggie, the Lower Forty in reality isn’t all that wacky. In fact, other than the modified body and enlarged fenders, the most extreme aspect of the Lower Forty are the massive 40×13.5-inch tires mounted on Mopar-designed 20-inch forged aluminum wheels. Under the skin, the Lower Forty is little more than a stock, two-door Wrangler Rubicon with a raucous 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 supplying 380 hp and 404 lb-ft of torque—no suspension lift. “The team’s goal was to achieve added ground clearance without altering the vehicle’s center of gravity,” said Chrysler.
We guess that a low center of gravity was also part of why they chopped three inches of height from the windshield and increased its rake by 10 degrees. Other changes include a new domed carbon-fiber hood and a drop-down retro-style tailgate stamped with the Jeep logo. Inside, a shorter roll cage was installed, and the spare tire relocated to the cargo area, while the occupants, sitting on two-tone Katzkin leather seats, face a color-matched center console and instrument panel. Finally, the whole thing was painted “Red Eye No. 3,” which was custom-developed by the Mopar Underground team specifically for the Lower Forty.
The build team turned to the Mopar catalog for the vehicle’s mechanical upgrades. Beyond the 5.7-liter Hemi engine, the Lower Forty features a Getrag six-speed manual transmission. Mopar supplied a Dana 44 front axle and a Dana 60 rear axle, both equipped with 5:38 gears and Dynatrac-prepared ARB air lockers. We wholeheartedly approve.
Jeep Wrangler Overland
While the Jeep Wrangler has the “rock-crawler” market locked up as tight as its center differential in four-low, the “expedition” and “trekker” markets are all but ceded to Land Rover, which until very recently has offered larger, more practical, and far more comfortable vehicles to those that want to go not just anywhere, but everywhere. But now that the long-wheelbase, four-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is here, a slog through a Belizean jungle or a camping expedition in New Mexico’s Rock Garden are possible as demonstrated by the super-versatile Wrangler Overland. It’s dolled up with a snorkel, a constellation of ancillary lights, and huge, 35-inch mudders at each corner, as well as a rigid painted roof and an all-new ARB two-person Simpson II rooftop-mounted tent and touring awning mounted to the cargo rack.
To increase cargo capacity for hauling gear, the Jeep Wrangler Overland’s rear seats were replaced with a flat, rubberized utility floor. The interior of the Jeep Wrangler Overland features water-resistant Mopar front-seat covers, slush mats, and a Daystar dash bin and lower switch panel.
A Mopar 2.5-inch suspension lift and a full-traction rear sway bar increase capability. American Expedition Vehicles’ steel bumpers are fitted front and rear and a Warn 9.5ti winch is bolted to the nose. And anyone that’s ever tried to push a winch-less Range Rover through two-foot-deep Belizean trail mud will appreciate that.
Working in Moab—Tough Gig
When asked about production feasibility, Chrysler spokesman Scott Brown admits that neither of these vehicles are destined for a Jeep showroom near you (“I don’t think you’ll see 40-inch tires from the factory,” he said wryly). Nonetheless, Chrysler maintains that the Mopar Underground design team is in the business of creating vehicle concepts meant to showcase performance parts, accessories, and customization possibilities. According to the chief designer at Chrysler’s Jeep/Truck design studio, Mark Allen, who oversaw the design of the Jeeps, “these vehicles are built with pride and passion for the Jeep brand by a small group of dedicated engineers, designers, and fabricators to explore and demonstrate the many facets of off-roading.”
As for introducing the concepts at Moab and not New York, it should be relatively obvious: “Moab Jeep Safari provides a great venue and works as a proving ground to test Jeep vehicle concepts driven alongside Jeep brand enthusiasts, who can provide immediate feedback at the event,” Allen said. “As a result, we use knowledge gained at this off-road event to explore new directions for Jeep platforms and to develop Mopar Performance parts and accessories to suit these vehicles.”
Source (article) : CARANDDRIVER
Source (picture): CARANDDRIVER
The Jeep Wrangler and its four-door sibling, the Wrangler Unlimited, are Jeep’s best-selling models despite remaining practically unchanged for years. The Wrangler’s pure, unfiltered charm and off-road prowess are the reasons it sells so well. For 2011, Jeep has addressed one of the SUV’s biggest letdowns by revamping the interior. The new trappings look much sharper and take cues from the new Grand Cherokee.
Additional features include a 110-volt power outlet, optional heated power mirrors, and Bluetooth phone and USB audio connectivity with the upgraded sound system. Jeep says it has added more sound-deadening to keep the interior quieter. The cabin upgrades make the Wrangler’s cockpit much more appealing, although traditionalists may decry the dilution of the Jeep’s rugged spirit.
