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Jeep Debuts Retro-Styled Jeepster Beach Concept Ahead of 2021 Easter Safari

Jeep Unveiled four new concept cars for the 2021 Easter Safari. The Wrangler Magneto and its all-electric drivetrain lead the way, but the Jeepster Beach concept is just as interesting if you have a thing for iconic Jeeps from the past.
Jeep Jeepster Beach concept 7 photos
Photo: Jeep
Jeep Jeepster Beach conceptJeep Jeepster Beach conceptJeep Jeepster Beach conceptJeep Jeepster Beach conceptJeep Jeepster Beach conceptJeep Jeepster Beach concept
It's also based on a modern Wrangler, but as the name suggests, the bodywork is a tribute to the Jeepster Commando, a tiny SUV that Jeep built from 1966 to 1973. The sheet metal is a pretty accurate rendition of the Jeepster. There's a wider wrap-around hood, a vintage seven-slat grille, and additional, smaller lights mounted at the corners.

The rear end also looks like a modern revival of the old Jeepster Commander thanks to the slanted fascia with basic rectangular taillights and vintage-style "Jeep" lettering on the tailgate.

The interior is still based on the regular 2021 Wrangler, but the red upholstery and the low-back seats harken back to the late 1960s crossover. In pure Easter Safari fashion, the Jeepster Beach comes without carpeting and a roll cage instead of rear seats.

Even the paint job is of the vintage variety, with the burnt orange hue clearly inspired by the brown, gold, and orange color options available back in the day.

Under the hood of the Jeepster Beach lurks a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Definitely fitting given that the original Jeepster also came with a four-banger standard. But this isn't the regular Hurricane offered in the Wrangler.

The engine has been massaged by SRT and packs 340 horsepower and 369 pound-feet (500 Nm) of torque. That's 70 horsepower and 74 pound-feet (100 Nm) more than the standard turbo-four. The Wrangler Rubicon transfer case with a low 4:1 range gives the Jeepster Beach proper rock-climbing capability.

All told, the Jeepster Beach is yet another cool revival that we won't see go into production. The Jeepster name is older than the 1966 Commander as Willys-Overland first introduced it in 1948, when it wanted a slice of the automobile market.

Smaller than the company's utilitarian SUVs, the Jeepster was a more comfortable vehicle. It came with extra standard equipment, and, unlike the CJ it was based on, it featured actual doors. The Jeepster probably was the first production vehicle to bridge the gap between SUVs and automobiles.
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About the author: Ciprian Florea
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Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer.
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