Over the past 20 years Jeep has made a gang of concepts for the Easter Jeep Safari. These Jeep concepts are mostly modified production Jeeps. But some have opened a window to potential production models that never pan out. Other Jeep concepts are flat-out concepts. They were never meant to forecast production Jeeps. So these concepts are the ones we wish Jeep had given the green light to.
Jeep Willys and Willys II
Jeep Willys II concept | Stellantis
Of all of the Jeep concepts over the decades, this one ranks close to the top. A squat, compact, high-riding Jeep, it debuted at both the 2001 Detroit Auto Show and Tokyo Auto Show. It may have been too
Jeep Willys concept | Stellantis
radical, or maybe it was never intended for production but merely as a design exercise. It existed as both the open and closed Willys II versions. The closest thing it influenced was one of our least-favorite Jeeps, the Compass.
Jeepster
Jeep Jeepster Beach concept | Stellantis
A high-styled Jeep, the 1998 Jeepster concept was intended to be a high-performance Jeep, so to speak. With adjustable ride height and almost 10 inches of ground clearance, the two-door Jeep was a styling exercise that could have been comfortable in the harshest conditions. The closest it got to seeing production is with some design ideas for the disappointing Liberty.
Magneto
Jeep Magneto concept | Stellantis
Another highly stylized Jeep is based in the past. The Jeepster Beach was based on a retro late-1960s early-1970s Jeepster. It utilizes a 2021 Wrangler platform, so it definitely has production potential. But so far, Jeep has only created a weak-sauce 2022 Magneto sticker SUV.
M-175 Five-Quarter
Jeep M-175 Five-Quarter concept | Stellantis
Military versions of the 1968 M-715 were reimagined for this concept. As it isn’t based on JTs, it definitely has a stronger pull. Yet, it screams Jeep. The concept housed a Hellcat engine for added desirability. So far, no word on any production plans.
Jeep Hurricane
Jeep Hurricane concept | Stellantis
Maybe we’re influenced more by Jeep’s radical concepts, which could be why the Jeep Hurricane is a favorite. With a minimalist carbon fiber body and four-wheel steering, it beat the GMC Hummer’s crab walking antics by 17 or more years. Some highlights got patents, but it is yet another great concept thrown into the dustbin.
Mighty FC concept
Jeep Mighty FC concept | Stellantis
Remember those forward-control Jeeps from the 1960s? It followed the lead by the E-100 Ford van pickups, A-100 Dodge trucks, and Chevrolet Corvair Rampside pickups. Today FCs are revered by Jeep enthusiasts. So Jeep wanted to capitalize on its nostalgic properties by doing a modern version, hence the Mighty FC. A 2012 Wrangler Rubicon chassis underpins the cab-over design. The concept went no further than this one concept.
Jeep Quicksand
Jeep Quicksand concept | Stellantis
If anything Jeep has done tries to blend hot rod and off-road, it is the Quicksand. With those stacks popping out of the hood, the stance, Moon tank, body mods looking like an early 1930s sedan, and classic black paint, this is it. We suspect that from the beginning this was only a concept.
Keyword: Jeep Concepts We Wish Were Made