Jeep splashes out with Magneto Wrangler EV, Jeepster Beach for Easter Jeep Safari – Roadshow [CNET]

The coolest thing about Magneto is that the electric motor is mated to a six-speed manual transmission. I know, that just sounds weird, but getting to row your own with an electric motor must be an amazing feeling, and I can’t wait to drive this concept. Jeep, you can deliver this Magneto to my house, please. 

The bummer is that the Magneto might not get you very far. Jeep isn’t commenting on the concept’s range, but its four battery packs only add up to 70 kWh of power. When I drove the larger Rivian R1T with a 135-kWh battery in the Rebelle Rally, we averaged about 170 miles of range over seven days of off-road driving. Now, the Rivian’s battery pack was not production ready, but I would expect the Magneto to last fewer than than 100 miles when driven in the rough stuff.

The good news is that Jeep has paid attention to where those packs are mounted. One replaces the fuel tank, another sits opposite the fuel tank for even weight distribution. One motor is on top of the electric motor under the hood — for easy swapping, maybe — and the last is in the rear, taking up the storage space. Their placement allows Magneto to maintain the standard Wrangler’s 30-inch water-fording capabilities. Plus the cells are strongly mounted and protected with skid plates, so drivers can bash the heck out of the undercarriage, just as they would in a normal Jeep.

Magneto comes with a 2-inch lift, auxiliary lighting, a roll cage, rock rails, a Warn winch and 35-inch Falken WildPeak mud-terrain tires. There is also a hood scoop, which I find hilariously odd, but hey, it looks good and likely provides some additional cooling for that battery packs.

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Jeepster Beach

The Jeepster Beach is a resto-mod throwback to the second-generation Jeepster Commando. Back in the late 1960s, the Commando was pretty fancy, with an automatic transmission, a heater, roll-up side windows and a roof, all as standard equipment. This was all pretty posh stuff for a sport utility vehicle back in the day. 

At any rate, the mad scientists at Jeep have taken a 1968 Commando and blended it with a modern Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, slapping in a souped up version of the company’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 25 percent more power than the production version. We’re talking 340 horsepower and 369 lb.-ft. of torque here, people. To make cruising on the soft sand a bit easier, the Jeepster Beach is outfitted with 35-inch tires, but beyond the larger shoes there aren’t too many extra off-road goodies.

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Jeep Orange Peelz

The Jeep Orange Peelz concentrates on design and customization. I love that the side and rear windows are gone entirely while the doors are cut in half and the top features a removable glass sunroof. 

The Orange Peelz paint is a bit brighter than the Nacho paint color currently available on production Jeeps. The shade is highlighted by some black striping around the beltline and vintage badging. Inside, the lumberjack feel of the Red Bare concept makes an appearance, this time with orange and black plaid seats and armrests.

The powertrain here is the stock 3.6-liter V6 and like other concepts, Orange Peelz rides atop on a 2-inch lift, rock rails and sports a Warn winch. Upgraded Fox shocks are here, as are 37-inch BF Goodrich mud-terrain tires. The front gets auxiliary lights and the rear gets an upgraded spare tire carrier for the larger tire.  

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