How This Badass Concept Will Inspire The Upcoming Jeep Wrangler Pickup

We can hardly wait to see these things on the road.

2016 Jeep Crew Chief concept

Jeep’s ultra-rugged Easter Safari Crew Chief 715 concept will inspire the design of the long-awaited Jeep Wrangler pickup truck promised recently by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles boss Sergio Marchionne, according to a new report.

1963 Jeep Gladiator pickup truck
1963 Jeep Gladiator. Photo: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Though the concept’s name refers to the old Kaiser M715 Army truck, its also bears a strong resemblance to the Gladiator pickup from the 1960s. But Jeep head designer Mark Allen told Outdoors magazine that the new Wrangler truck will not borrow styling cues from the past, though there are “hints” of the new Wrangler in the Crew Chief 715, one of seven concepts built for the Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah.

“We’re finally going to get to do a pickup truck,” Allen said in reference to the Wrangler pickup. “I can’t explain too much but there may be things you see on the Crew Chief that you might see on that truck.”

Like other recent Jeeps such as the Renegade and Cherokee, the new pickup will have forward-looking contemporary styling, which should help Jeep avoid the trap of nostalgia vehicles that sell on old-time styling. 

“This is the fourth time we’ve used that nose [on a concept],” Allen told Outdoors. “Every time we do it, people go crazy, but I think this is the last time we’re going to do it, honestly.

Jeep Crew Chief 715 Concept. Photo: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Allen also pointed out that the Crew Chief 715 is a crew cab four-door truck, while previous Jeep pickups have all been two doors. 

Considering the popularity of the four-door Wrangler Unlimited and crew cab pickups, it makes sense that Jeep appears to be planning a crew cab Wrangler pickup. We can’t wait to see if it lives up the hype.

h/t Outdoors

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