• The Jeep Scrambler SRT concept is a modern take on the CJ-8 Scrambler of yore, with a Wrangler base, two doors, and a usable truck bed.
  • The pickup serves as the first ever Wrangler-branded model to feature independent front suspension, which it pairs with a Trophy Truck–inspired rear axle.
  • The Scrambler SRT concept serves as a preview of Jeep’s upcoming production versions of the Scrambler, which we expect to arrive in 2028.

Don’t feel bad if you’re not old enough to remember the original Jeep Scrambler. The editor of this article isn’t either. To catch you up to speed, the Scrambler was the OG Jeep Wrangler–based pickup that came long before the Gladiator. With plans for production models in place, Jeep just debuted the Scrambler SRT concept to the public for the first time.

Like the CJ-8 Scrambler, the new Scrambler SRT concept is built on a Wrangler foundation. For the bits under the bodywork, Jeep worked with a Dakar-winning off-road driver to develop the Scrambler SRT’s suspension, which, for the first time on a Wrangler-branded vehicle, has independent front suspension. The high-travel front suspension is paired with a Trophy Truck–inspired rear axle, which builds on the design Jeep first showcased on the race-winning Gladiator Striker.

The front end is instantly recognizable as a Jeep, though it looks a bit different from the rest of the brand’s lineup. For starters, the grille takes on a slightly retro style and sports a bit of an overbite. Then there’s the prominent hood scoop atop the engine cover and oversize fender flares, both of which are fitting for a truck with SRT badges on its sides. The concept is finished in a suitably loud Punk’n orange paint that gives Toyota’s Solar Octane paint a run for its money.

The goal with the Scrambler SRT, according to Tim Kuniskis, who now fills the role of head of American Brands, SRT Performance and Direct Connection, Stellantis North America, was to find out what happens when “SRT stops treating the trail as the limit and builds the ultimate open-air desert weapon”?

To that end, Jeep decided that the Scrambler SRT concept needed a V-8 under the hood. Unfortunately, we don’t know exactly which V-8 the truck is equipped with. Given the SRT badges on the sides, though, we think it’s a safe bet that the concept is rocking either the Hellcat’s 6.2-liter supercharged engine or the 6.4-liter “392” engine. Either engine would provide suitable performance, but, knowing Kuniskis, the 6.2 is the likelier choice.

The Scrambler SRT concept is the first public appearance of the Scrambler name since Jeep confirmed plans for the model to return at its investor relations day back in May. When it does arrive, there will likely be a full lineup of Scramblers, with an SRT version sitting at the top of the line. The official timeline is still up in the air, as are official style and mechanical details, but the Scrambler SRT concept gives us a great preview of future production models, which we think could arrive in 2028.

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Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.