2023 EJS Concept – Grand Wagoneer Overland
Jeep brought the Grand Wagoneer nameplate back in late 2021 as a 2022 model. For 2023, they added it to their roster of concept and custom vehicles for the Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. While the all-new Grand Wagoneer is very much an “urban SUV,” the Grand Wagoneer Overland concept shows it can be a genuine 4x4 and set-up for camping, too.
The Grand Wagoneer Overland was one of seven new concept vehicles Jeep presented at this year’s Easter Jeep Safari, and while it wasn’t the most radical or most heavily modified, it was easily the most luxurious.
Described as a ‘go anywhere, do anything’ concept that takes off-road exploration to the next level, the Grand Wagoneer Overland has also been modified to make spending time off the grid as comfortable as possible.
Powered by the ‘Hurricane Twin Turbo 510’, a turbocharged 3.0-litre six, an engine that made its debut on the long wheelbase Grand Wagoneer L, the eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are also standard production items. The economical Hurricane six produces 372kW/678Nm (500hp/500lb/ft), which Jeep says is enough to lead adventurers off the beaten path.
While the running gear was unchanged for the concept, the underpinnings were, starting with custom 18-inch wheels, fitted with 35-inch BFG off-road tyres, that provide a natural 1.5-inch (3.8cm) lift without the need for a suspension overhaul or lift kit. Adding that wheel and tyre package required the wheelarches to be enlarged, with custom wheelarch flares added, too.
The front bumper has been opened up to allow a sturdier front skid plate, tow hooks and a winch to be fitted, while auxiliary lights were added to the factory DRL position. Additional lighting sits above the windscreen and rear screen, with a tow hitch added at the back, too, but the unmissable addition to this concept was its rooftop tent.
A customised RedTail Overland Skyloft unit, this carbon fibre-constructed tent is accessed through a sliding panel that was the Grand Wagoneer’s third-row skylight, aided by a small step in the cabin that doubles as a table. Once deployed (a 10-second, one-hand operation), the Overland Skyloft offers comfortable, climate-controlled sleeping for two, with integral lighting and storage space, along with enough windows to allow occupants to take in the views.
To further turn the Grand Wagoneer into a camper, the concept had the second- and third-row seats were removed, with durable bedlining added to the floor, then beanbags, a rug, pillows and plants to convert the area aft of the front seats into a relaxation space.
The Grand Wagoneer’s rear doors remain functional, with the air con outlets and speakers for the back two rows still in place, too, but ambient lighting has been added. With the furniture and decoration removed, the Overland’s bedlined floor means it can be used for pets, to store mountain bikes, muddy hiking gear or carry other equipment for that off the grid trip.
Cosmetic additions for the Grand Wagoneer Overland included an Industrial Green paint finish with Gunmetal accents on things like the window and tail light surrounds. Patterned decals were added to the B- and C-pillars, while the roof has Rhino lining in black.
Where badging and grille trim on the standard Grand Wagoneer is in bright metal, the Overland concept accents these in orange, with a textured black bonnet decal outlined in orange, too.
Jeep’s finishing touch for the Grand Wagoneer Overland concept was plaid fabric inserts on the front seats - a nod to Wagoneer seat trims from the 1970s and ‘80s.
For an overview of the 2023 Easter Jeep Safari concepts, click HERE.
