The off-road brand Jeep still lacks a real electric car. At Easter, the Americans present their fans with what such a thing could look like.
After great popularity for the first Magneto electric car study, Jeep is now launching a second version. Like its predecessor, the 2.0 model, which was again developed on the basis of the Wrangler, celebrates its premiere at the traditional Easter fan meeting “Moab Easter Jeep Safari” in the Mojave Desert retrofitted the off-road vehicle brand in the technology. The four-wheel drive vehicle, which was subsequently converted to an electric drive, almost doubles its output to around 460 kW/625 hp and now delivers around 1150 Nm of torque. Unusual for an electric car: The six-speed manual transmission is retained to give the driver maximum control over the vehicle off-road. There are many arguments in favor of an electric JeepWhether and when the purely electric Magneto will be followed by a series electric car is unclear . When presenting the study, Jeep design chief Mark Allen repeatedly emphasized the very positive reaction of the committed fan community to the first Magneto at the past Easter meeting. For this year he expects numerous visitors with plug-in hybrids, which Jeep offers for Wrangler and Renegade, among others. When it comes to electromobility, customers would particularly love the high torque and the quietness of the motor. In addition, there are the new design possibilities of the drive: from the lower space requirement to the increasing attractiveness of the convertible rear, where passengers no longer have to sit in exhaust fumes. In addition to the Magneto, other concept vehicles will be presented at this year’s meeting in the desert, as usual. These include some plug-in hybrids such as the retro military-style Jeep 41 with a khaki soft top and camouflage paintwork. Or the particularly off-road Trailhawk variant of the new luxury four-wheel drive Gran Cherokee 4xe. The Jeep Bob, on the other hand, drives up with a classic engine, which as a mix of Wrangler and Gladiator represents a kind of short pick-up. In addition to the show cars of the Jeep designers, several models refined with accessories from the Mopar group brand are also available in the Mojave Desert see, which should bring the possibilities of the parts catalog closer to the fans. The D-Coder does this most consistently, with all add-on elements in red and a QR code that leads directly to the Mopar online shop. The B33r Truck (read as “Beer Truck”) is more of a handicraft project, an old military ambulance that has been converted into a mobile drinks bar. (SPX)
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