The Easter Jeep Safari is a week long event that takes place each year out in Moab, UT around Easter weekend. It’s probably the largest gathering of Jeeps and other offroad rigs in the world, and if its not on your bucket list then it needs to be! Among all the trail events, there is also a vendor area where vendors display their newest parts and creations. Jeep, not surprisingly, uses the EJS as a time to reveal and showcase many of its skunkwerks projects and concept vehicles. 2012 is no different.

Today, 27 March 2012, Jeep held a press event where they revealed six new vehicles they will be bringing to Moab and the Internet has been a buzz over all the rugged potential that is being showcased. Here is the list of rigs shown off at Auburn Hills, MI this morning.

• Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Concept adds even more legendary Jeep 4×4 capability
• Jeep Wrangler Apache introduces new Mopar 6.4 liter Hemi V-8 conversion kit
• Mighty FC Concept features Mopar portal axles; harkens back to Jeep Forward Control models of the 1950s and 1960s
• Jeep J-12 Concept extends the J-8 conversion kit
• Mopar accessorized Jeep Wrangler showcases many of the more than 250 Mopar offerings for the Wrangler
• Jeep Wrangler Traildozer: 37″ tires and another interpretation of a V-8 Wrangler

“Mopar is tapping into a growing trend among extreme Jeep enthusiasts who want even more power and capability on the trail,” said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand. “This year, Mopar is pushing the envelope in this arena by offering our customers new Pro 60 portal axles and a new HEMI conversion kit, which we will showcase in these new vehicles. In addition, to further maximize our presence in the off-road market, we are creating a Mopar Off-Road division to develop Jeep Authentic Parts and Accessories.”

So here’s my initial opinion on this release.

Authentic Jeep Parts – Cool, but there are lots of companies that are making parts suitable for the harshest abuse offroad. It’s great to see Mopar developing this segment though because it shows that they understand what we want, even if the lawyers won’t let them put that awesomeness on a rig right on the showroom floor.

Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Concept – Luxury with rock rails, Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor tires, real tow hooks in front and rear, and a lot of appearance upgrades. Very nice, but there is a very limited market who will spend over $40k on a Jeep that going to hit the trails more than once or twice a year.

Mopar’d out JK – This mule just provided a place to hang all their new posts. These posts are all things that other companies have been providing for many years. In fact, in many cases Mopar has decided to buy the parts from those companies and make them their own. The other category of parts are some of the Rubicon parts offered in kit form. The accessorized JK includes: a 2″ lift, 35″ Goodyears on classic wheels, front and rear bumpers, a Warn 9.5 ti XP winch, rock rails, 6.5″ two way speakers, floor mats, a locking center console, a rear cargo cover, windshield mounted LED lamps, and an add–trunk partition and hard-top headliners.

Wrangler Traildozer Concept – American Expedition Vehicles was brought on for this project, like they have been in the past, and started with a 2012 Rubicon. They bolted in the V-8 Hemi mentioned before, paired with a 6 speed manual. 37″ Baja Claws on the classic five spoke wheels are cleared with the hero of the AEV Dualsport RS 3.5″ lift. Body mods include premium front and rear bumpers, corner guards, heat reduction hood, and a half door kit. Other mods include a Warn 9.5 Cti winch, leather seats and Mopar floor mats.

Now comes the good stuff!

Wrangler Apache – 6.4 liter, V-8 Hemi power with 470 HP and 470 lb-ft of torque, Mopar Pro 60 axles with 5.13 gears, 4.5″ Stage 3 long arm lift kit, bead lock wheels, flat fenders, rock rails, stinger front bumper, half doors, Warn 9.5 ti XP winch, Katzskin leather seats, and a locking center console. That’s simply a recipe for a whole lot of fun in the rocks, mud or sand!

Mighty FC Concept – The Forward Control Jeeps were originally built between 1956 and 1965 and they were far ahead of their time. Around the world, you can now find vehicles that are all based on the same idea of having the cab over or in front of the front axle and engine. It provides a compact package for a truck with a full size bed. For this updated FC, Jeep started with a 2012 JK Rubicon, moved the cabin ahead of the axle, lengthened the overall wheelbase and added a sweet custom drop-side cargo area. The interior looks a lot like the 2012 JK except with the Katzkin leather.

The big deal though, is that it is standing tall on Mopar’s new 8-lug portal axle set that you could buy right now, providing you’ve got $12,500 for the front axle and $11,000 for the rear. King coilovers and Teraflex control arms help keep the huge 40″ tires in contact with terra firma. When things get too rough, a Warn 16.5 winch is nestled into a Hanson bumper.

My feelings are that the FC Jeep is still way ahead of its time, at least here in America. Like I said before, this cab forward design is utilized around the world, but the design is not the traditional pickup shape that Americans are used to which means its not going to take off for a long time, if ever. The drop side bed is very tall which makes it difficult to load heavy objects into. And the bedsides themselves are very short, reducing the actual utility of the bed itself. But from the limited pictures that are available currently, there might be some trick cargo space hiding below that bed floor. I mean, a 40″ spare has to go somewhere, right?!

J-12 – Again the JKU was used as the base, but then they added 18″ of wheelbase which addresses the “shortcomings” that the J-8 conversion kit does not address. This also allows room to fit the spare under the six-foot bed. Other new-school upgrades include ARB air lockers turning inside the Dynatrack D44 front and D60 rear axles. That traction is put to the ground with some classic 36″ mudders on 16″ steel wheels. Even though I’m not a fan of chrome on a Jeep, these shiny bumpers just add to the classic look and match the old J-20 grill.

The interior is a mix of modern and classic, with the new JK dashboard design, combined with a plaid bench seat, bed liner coated floorboards and one of those old dashboard compasses floating inside the shifter knob.

I think the only suitable accessories that were left off is a nice wood bed floor, a lunchbox and a dog to keep you company while fishing the pond in the back forty acres. Other than that, the J-12 is a hit that I wish would actually come to market.

Bottom line is that lots of great things are coming from the Jeep brand, which is great to see. But until someone develops an engine that runs on hopes and dreams, Mopar needs to continue to focus on economical power plant options. Direct injection combined with one or multiple turbos will allow you to get more power from less fuel. Can’t wait to see how the J-12 and FC Jeeps perform on the trails out at EJS!

Let me know what you think by commenting on the Facebook page, email, twitter, or my favorite, by calling the voicemail at 719-924-5337.

Be sure to click through to all the full size images from http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/27/jeep-drops-details-on-six-easter-jeep-safari-concepts/