The 2016 Easter Jeep Safari is already underway in Moab, Utah for their 50th year running. It kicked off Saturday, March 19th and is running straight through to Sunday, March 27th. The Safari is an event starting in Moab, using your own vehicle on 40 different trails ranging in difficulty for a 9-day long adventure! Every year, Jeep shows off new concepts at this event which utilize both production and prototype Jeep Performance Parts. The Safari is hosted by the Red Rock 4-Wheelers Inc., which is one of the the local four wheel drive clubs of Moab.

For almost 30 years, the CJ-5 was in production, making it the longest-living Wrangler model to be produced. It’s been said throughout the years that the CJ-5 was one of the hardest vehicles to kill off. The CJ-5 went through years and years of changes and upgrades since it was produced for so long. Some of the most noticeable changes were gas tank relocation, frame length and width and various transmissions and engine size upgrades. The CJ-5 sure is an iconic Wrangler model, which is what makes this 2016 Shortcut Concept that much more special.

The 2016 Shortcut Concept is inspired by the classic CJ-5 to handle tight, winding trails. It is overall a tad more than 2 feet shorter, while the wheelbase remains the same. The bumpers were also pushed in a small amount and the rear spare tire was taken off – bringing the Shortcut closer in size to the older CJ-5. The Shortcut features no doors and roof as well as a restyled grille, hood and tailgate. The Shortcut also shows off the classic round side-view mirrors. Another eye catcher of course are the matching body color 17-inch rims that are fitted into 35-inch tires. As for the engine specs, the Shortcut will be running the same 3.6-liter V6 and five-speed automatic from the current Wrangler.

Jeep is extremely excited this year for the Easter Jeep Safari. Mike Manley, the head of Jeep for FCA Global said, “Every year, the Jeep team looks forward to pushing the limits with new, exciting, and capable concept vehicles for our most loyal enthusiasts at the Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, where we receive a tremendous amount of valuable feedback.” I think we can all agree that this year’s concepts are on point. Manley continued, “This year is extra special, as together with our biggest fans, we celebrate Jeep’s 75th anniversary, as well as the 50th running of the Jeep Safari”.

The Crew Chief is a salute to legendary Jeep military service vehicles

The Jeep Renegade Commander is built to blaze a trail deep into the secluded wilderness.

The Jeep Comanche is designed to be off-road ready with practical utility.

The Jeep FC 150 is a heritage cab-over design, rich in history and capable of tackling any terrain.

The Jeep Trailcat is a  Hellcat-powered off-roader, capable of both crawling and high-speed runs.

The Jeep Trailstorm has added offroad capability with a 2-inch lift kit, 37-inch tires and Dana 44 axles.
To view more photos of the Jeep concepts, check out our album on Facebook.

Photography by Michael Simari and Jeep