So far, we have had a chance to see so many concepts delivered by Jeep. Some of these vehicles informed us about future models, while the others just showed us how creative Jeep could be. Here are 10 Jeep concepts that are worth of attention
10. 1990 Jeep Freedom Concept
When the Freedom concept was introduced it began as a Cherokee, but for some reason, the roof was removed. You can see a large cross brace whose purpose was to keep the body stiffer and to protect passengers in case of a roll but to be honest, it doesn’t look stylish. It was a 4WD vehicle, but it came with a power-operated soft top. Just imagine, what would the Wrangler look like without the roof and doors?
9. 1997 Jeep Dakar Concept
With the Dakar Concept, the engineers and designers tried to increase interior space, and in order to do so, they extended the frame by almost 15 inches. An additional set of doors was inserted as well. John E. Herlitz, then Chrysler Corporation’s vice president of design, said before the unveil at the 1997 Detroit Auto Show: “Compared to our 1997 Jeep Wrangler, Dakar comes complete with twice as many doors and is prepared for twice the adventure.”
8. 2004 Jeep Treo Concept
The odd-looking Treo Concept comes with two seats in the front and one seat in the back. You can switch from left- to right-hand drive by sliding the steering wheel, pedals, and other controls from one side to the other. The rear end is designed to stow two mountain bikes, and this concept is for those in large cities as it comes in small size. There is one electric motor on each axle and these two units power the Treo.
7. 2005 Jeep Gladiator Concept
This concept revealed the possible look of the new Wrangler pickup. It was named after the Gladiator launched in 1962 and it featured a bed with a “midgate” design which allowed expansion from the standard 68 inches to 80 inches on demand. A 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine produced 163 horsepower and 298 pound-feet of torque. Jeep is indeed planning to offer a Wrangler pickup truck, so this concept is not just a fantasy.
6. 2005 Jeep Hurricane Concept
Equipped with two 5.7-liter Hemi V8 units, the Jeep Hurricane Concept delivers 670 hp and 740 lb-ft of torque. Furthermore, the concept features a special four-wheel steering apparatus that can change the position of wheels drastically, which would help you out conquer any terrain. Also, the Hurricane concept comes with a new suspension and massive 37-inch tires.
5. 2008 Jeep Renegade Concept
The Renegade concept looks nothing like the production Renegade as it is a two-seat convertible with cut-out doors. This model that weighs 3,150 pounds is described as ideal for “those who want to enjoy the earth while taking care of its future.” What may be shocking is that this concept had a plug-in hybrid powertrain that paired a 1.5-liter I3 diesel engine with a lithium-ion battery pack that supplies an electric motor. Its range was about 40 miles on battery power.
4. 2012 Jeep Mighty FC Concept
This concept is a throwback to the Forward Control model produced from 1956 to 1965. The drop-side cargo box is located on the back, while the cabin comes from the 2012 Wrangler Rubicon. Because of the portal axles, the ground clearance is massively improved, and these front and back portal axles were priced at $12,500 and $11,000 respectively, back in 2012. It may not look stylish, but this is a beast concept with its 17-inch beadlock wheels wrapped in 40-inch off-road tires.
3. 2015 Jeep Chief Concept
The Chief Concept is Wrangler-based, and it is designed as a tribute to the Cherokee from the 1970s. The cargo area can be expanded, and the tailgated folded down, but what brings this Jeep back into the 1970s is the retro grille and steel bumpers. There are also fascinating details such as the carved-wood shifter and the period-correct surf stickers in the cabin.
2. 2016 Jeep Shortcut Concept
Just like the Chief Concept, the Shortcut also has retro details, and it paid tribute to the classic Jeep CJ-5 but compared to the CJ-5, the concept is shorter by 26 inches. There is no spare tire, and its bumper is shorter as well, but because of that its approach and departure angles are more than excellent. What we spotted first is that red plaid upholstery and the wheels also painted in red. The Shortcut concept really takes us back to the 1950s.
1.2016 Jeep Trailcat Concept
The Jeep Trailcat Concept comes with a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 powerplant from Dodge and it is very capable on any terrain. It is mated to a six-speed manual transmission, and don’t be disappointed if this concept doesn’t appear in the showroom. However, we know that Jeep’s Grand Cherokee with the Hellcat unit is on the way.
