The Mopar performance wing is as involved as ever in customizing ex-FCA vehicles, especially on the side of American brands like Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram.
Unsurprisingly, that’s where most of the strategists have decided to invest the booth at this 2022 edition of the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the show that opens this week. And on this Halloween, when the colour orange is in the spotlight, Mopar is taking the opportunity to show us the Jeep CJ Surge Electromod concept, which, as its name suggests, ditches its old-school powertrain in favour of a pure electric one.
“With electrification in focus, Mopar is in an excellent position to enhance the customer experience with quality, factory-tested parts and accessories. […] The Jeep CJ Surge concept explores a future zero-emission propulsion system and supports the Jeep brand’s mission to become the world’s leading electrified SUV brand,” said Mark Bosanac, senior vice president for North America of Mopar Service, Parts and Customer Care.
Jeep CJ Surge Concept | Photo: Jeep
Beyond its orange and black colour scheme with some bluish detailing, a hint of what’s under the hood, the Jeep CJ is meant to be a study of the feasibility of including an electric powertrain in a classic Jeep model, a movement that has been gaining momentum in recent years. For now, it’s just an idea, but it could well lead to a package for fans of older models.
As a true 4×4 Jeep, the CJ Surge concept retains its off-road capabilities, with the vehicle featuring a 400-volt, 200-kW propulsion system, which is attached to the truck’s chassis via custom motor mounts. There are 24 lithium-ion battery modules to power the hardware, which also uses a two-speed transfer case with gear selection. Note that the batteries are housed in a shell mounted in the rear of the cabin.
Jeep CJ Surge Concept | Photo: Jeep
The CJ Surge concept also benefits from those 35-inch diameter BFGoodrich off-road tires as well as a higher-than-original ground clearance that lifts the vehicle two inches. The solid rims are courtesy of Black Rhino with a diameter of 18 inches, a configuration that forced the designers to graft fender flares to the vehicle.
There’s also a special bumper as well as a Warn-branded winch with tow hooks and LED fog lights, while where the user would fill up the gas tank, there’s a charging port for recharging instead.
Of course, this concept won’t be produced in limited numbers, but rather demonstrates the potential of going electric without sacrificing all the other attributes of the original Jeep CJ.
Jeep CJ Surge Concept | Photo: Jeep
