This year’s Easter Jeep Safari offers high-voltage fun!
Batteries would seem like an unnecessary weight when it comes to off-roading, but the future looks bright thanks to a few new concepts. Jeep Performance Parts is a division of Mopar, and their latest offering is truly unprecedented. The Jeep Magneto concept has shocked everyone at Moab by being the first battery-powered (life-size) Wrangler. It’s time to put away your Power Wheels because this one is likely heading for production.
The 4WD world doesn’t know what to think of it. Starting with a custom-built axial-flux motor, engineers wanted to replicate the power of their 3.6-liter. Therefore it has a redline of 6,000 rpm and it is bolted to a SIX SPEED MANUAL transmission. Stop drooling, you will have 273 lb-ft of torque at almost any rpm, which means choosing a gear will translate into how quickly you leave everyone else in the dust. Four unique 70kW battery packs are designed to offer a very low center of gravity. Not only will it offer comfortable handling, you can tackle steep trails with ease.
The 800-volt system also powers a 10kW heater for warm adventures once the doors are roof are removed. All components are sealed to handle 30″ of water, and the 35″ all-terrains get you to 60 mpg in 6.8 seconds. They wouldn’t go to all this trouble for a one-off show queen, so tell us your thoughts of an electric Wrangler in the comments below.
Images (C) Stellantis