FCA to Skip 2020 Easter Jeep Safari
Despite Easter Jeep Safari still charging ahead, FCA decided against attending out of an abundance of caution.
Easter Jeep Safari always features tons of nifty concepts that always stand a slight chance of becoming a reality. Whether that happens or not, it at least gives Jeep owners a sense of where the aftermarket might be heading. It basically serves as a pretty good source of inspiration for the people who might want to customize their Jeep in the future. Beyond that, it’s a pretty awesome off-road event.
Unfortunately, an important component of the Easter Jeep Safari won’t be happening this year. According FCA recently announced they will not attend the event due to the circumstances surrounding the coronavirus pandemic that’s currently affecting the country. It’s an understandable decision, but a bit of a bummer nonetheless. Interestingly enough, the event itself is still on as of right now.
Future Goodies
FCA opted to skip this year’s safari. Fortunately, the company stated their intention to show off their concept vehicles at a later date. In all likelihood the future reveals will probably resemble something akin what JK Forum’s own Patrick Rall experienced last year. That means we’ll get our fill of all the cool stuff Jeep created. For example, last year Jeep built the Wayout Concept, which you can see in the above photo. As the name implies, the Wayout was designed for enthusiasts interested in traveling far away from civilization. In addition to being a pickup, the roof rack unfolded into a camper setup with a pretty nifty pop-up tent. Functional upgrades included a winch from Warn, a two inch lift kit, and a cold-air intake with snorkel.
Can 2020 top 2019?
Jeep also gets a bit more adventurous with their Easter Jeep Safari concepts too. The J6 was one such vehicle. In might have looked like a Gladiator, but that wasn’t the case. It was actually based on a Wrangler. Basically, Jeep developed a quasi Frankenstein Wrangler/Gladiator hybrid as a means to show off what a regular cab Jeep pickup would look like if they produced one. Total length measured in well under a foot when compared with the Gladiator. Obviously, adding two additional seats takes up a lot of room! Similarly, the wheelbase was shortened. It sports a pretty excellent profile overall and is an absolute tease for those among us who want a regular cab pickup from Jeep.
The bottom line is that whatever Jeep had planned for the safari will eventually see the light of day. It could be three or six months from now, but at some point all of us will be able to indulge in our fantasy Wrangler or Gladiators builds with some assistance from FCA. Worst case scenario is that they opt to simply wait for next year. In any event, we can always just gawk at what Jeep revealed at previous events. Because these things don’t really have an expiration date. If you’re still interested in attending the 2020 edition of the Safari, make sure you head to the official page to stay updated on its status. Opening day is April 4. But that is subject to change. Hopefully, we’ll be able to see some cool concepts by the fall.
Photos: Jeep