Jeep is celebrating its annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, with a range of new concepts, including the Jeep Wrangler Magneto 2.0, a battery-electric off-roader with a reported 466kW output.
Among the 10 concept vehicles on display at the eight day event for Jeep enthusiasts is the Jeep Wrangler Magneto 2.0 Concept, the company’s first battery electric vehicle (BEV) concept which Jeep hopes will demonstrate it’s dedicated to a zero-emission future for the marque.
The Magneto 2.0 has a reported output of 466kW and 1152Nm thanks to a custom-built axial flux electric motor operating at up to 5,250rpm and four lithium-ion battery packs, distributed throughout the chassis, with a combined power of 70kWh, running an 800-volt system.
Peak amperage in the propulsion system is more than doubled to 600 amps, enabling 850 lb.-ft. of peak torque to the wheels – more than triple the torque output of last year’s concept – and 625hp for serious rock-climbing challenges.
A new electric powertrain calibration is able to maintain the peak amperage for up to 10 seconds – billed by the company as “electronic nitrous oxide” – which allows the Magneto 2.0 to accelerate from 0-100km/h in only 2 seconds.
As should be expected from a Jeep concept on display in Utah’s rocky Moab, the Magneto 2.0 demonstrates unequalled rock-crawling capability thanks to its instant on-demand torque delivery.
Additional hardware upgrades to deliver the necessary torque include 12 inches added to the wheelbase of the two-door Wrangler body style, a custom 3-inch lift kit and 40-inch off-road tires mounted on 20-inch wheels.
A handful of Jeep hybrids are also on display at Easter Jeep Safari, along with two new Jeep concepts from JPP and three that have already debuted at the 2021 SEMA show.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.