Jeep JT: Scrambler Take 2?
Wrangler Unlimited Photos
The new Wrangler is highly favored in the off-road community. It’s theiconic Jeep that people instantly associate with 4×4ing, a vehicle that’s stood the test of time and some serious off-roading trails. The recently redesigned model saw the introduction of the first four-door Jeep Wrangler, a model that is being gobbled up by consumers as fast as Jeep can produce it. But besides the new body style, the new Wrangler has proven successful for the features that Jeep crammed into its purist body shell. Jeep enthusiasts always want more, however, so Jeep is ready to please with a pair of concepts that will be debuting later this year at SEMA.
The first is the Jeep JT Concept, which as the name suggests stands for “Jeep Truck”. It’s essentially a Wrangler Unlimited that’s been reconfigured as a pickup truck with a two-person cab and a five-foot long integrated bed. Longtime Jeep fans will appreciate Jeep’s choice in designation, as the brand’s J-Series pickup trucks were quite popular throughout the ’60s and ’70s, but this truck brings back clearer memories of the CJ-based Scrambler pickup that came later.
While it features a paint job that would blend right into the Mojave desert, this Jeep should also fit right in climbing rock strewn mountain trails. Thestandard suspension boasts a 3-inch lift, and it rides on 35-inch BF Goodrich Mud Terrain tires, enabling it tackle the toughest terrain without concern, while Mopar off-roading front and rear bumpers maximize departure angles. Should the JT get stuck, it also features a Ramsey 9500-series winch.
There’s a real chance that this thing might go into production because Jeep produced the one-off concept from its parts shelf, unlike the Gladiator concept that would have taken a great deal more effort and money to develop. Its largest unique component - the bed - is actually sourced from a vehicle that Jeep produces for the Egyptian army. Elsewhere, from the engine to the running gear, not to mention the legendary grille, things are pretty much the same.
As expected, Jeep fans have responded strongly to the JT, and are pushing Jeep to put it into production, although they want it with an alternative powerplant. The 5.7-liter HEMI V8comes immediately to mind, for its power and intoxicating rumble, but diehard 4×4 enthusiasts want the 2.8-liter turbodiesel that’s available for European customers. With 177 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, it’s lighter, torquier and more efficient than the stock 3.8-liter V6 the concept is fitted with, and such efficiency means that you can go further into the bush on a tank of fuel.
The second vehicle that Jeep will be showing is more of a demonstration that the Wrangler can be dressed up for city slickers than a standalone concept vehicle. The Unlimited Ultimate Concept is by far the most luxurious Wrangler we’ve set our eyes on. Its interior is trimmed in Audi TT-inspired natural Nappa leather with baseball stitching, and the shifter base is made from wood. On the outside, this Wrangler is dressed up with just about every option available in the Mopar catalog, such as the integrated bumper fog lamps and chrome fuel filler cap. The finishing touches include a set of Alcoa 18-inch wheels and a unique Liquid Charcoal paint job.