Every spring, robins fly north, the swallows return to San Juan Capistrano and Jeep owners descend on Moab, Utah for the annual Easter Jeep Safari. It’s also the time of year when Jeep and Mopar roll out a string of concepts and customized off-road vehicles, many of which will (sadly) never see the inside of a dealer’s showroom. On the other hand, Mopar-befitted Jeeps probably help sell a lot of accessories for the brand, which is why the event is so critical to Chrysler.
In 2011 and 2012, Jeep and Mopar showed six concepts, so we expect a similar number this year. Chrysler has just released two images of Jeeps that will be appearing in 2013, and we have to admit that neither one really does it for us. The Trailhawk II appears to be a modified Jeep Grand Cherokee, but aside from the bright orange paint, lifted suspension and off-road tires, we can’t see anything particularly exciting about it.
The same holds true for the Wrangler “Slim,” which looks to be little more than a hot pink Jeep Wrangler with a lift, new front bumper and off-road tires. Surely Chrysler is holding back on the good stuff until the event is near, since neither concept shows the imagination (and engineering) that the brand has exhibited for past Easter Jeep Safaris.
Jeep Wrangler “Slim” concept
On the other hand, Chrysler’s parent, Fiat, isn’t exactly prospering from European sales, so budgets have likely been pared back from previous years. We hope this is just a head fake from Chrysler, and that we can all have a good laugh about it in a few weeks. If the budget for the Moab Easter Jeep Safari has been slashed, though, we can’t imagine what other cuts are coming in the near future.
Update: Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk II revealed
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
