What's this then?
This is a Jeep Wrangler Red Rock, a strictly limited edition Wrangler, which Jeep showed off at the legendary Special Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas. What's SEMA? Just the greatest and most outrageous gathering of modified and tweaked cars you can imagine. If you like your cars with extra chrome and silly wheels, this is the place to go. All the big American (and some Japanese and Korean brands too) come to SEMA with wild concepts and new add-on parts to show off.
This year, Jeep didn't just make a concept car, as it normally does, but actually used SEMA to launch a very limited edition version of the Wrangler called Red Rock. Just 50 will be built and it's been designed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Red Rock 4-Wheelers' Off Road Club's first ever Behind the Rocks Trail event in Moab, Utah - an event that eventually became the annual Jeep Jamboree. The Red Rock Wrangler shown at SEMA is technically still a concept, but you can expect it to translate pretty straightforwardly to production in 2016 to coincide with the anniversary.
"The Jeep Wrangler is the most accessorised vehicle in our portfolio, with almost 100 per cent of customers buying at least one accessory or performance part," said Pietro Gorlier, Head of Parts and Service (Mopar), FCA - Global - who also collected an award at SEMA for 'Hottest 4x4-SUV'. "Mopar continues to support serious off-roaders by offering a full-line of high-end, hard-core quality aftermarket Jeep Performance Parts to personalise their rides and tackle extreme trails."
Based on a Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Hard Rock, the Wrangler Red Rock Concept includes next-generation Dana 44 solid front and rear axles, a Rock-Trac transfer case with a 4.10 axle ratio, a power dome vented bonnet, new premium off-road rock rails and front and rear red tow hooks. Wrangler Red Rock Concept-specific features include a commemorative Red Rock badge and Red Rock bonnet decal, low gloss Jeep badge, low gloss Granite Crystal off-road bumpers and a body-colour grille with low-gloss black grille throats and headlamp accents.
Since it's based on the Wrangler Rubicon Hard Rock, the Red Rock Concept is equipped with Tru-Lok electronic locking differentials, the Rock-Trac transfer case and a 4:1 low-range ratio. A 73.1:1 crawl ratio with the manual transmission enables the Red Rock Concept to scale obstacles others just dream about.
Inside, Amaretto Brown Katzkin leather seats with silver accented stitching and a "Red Rock" embroidered seat back logo set the Red Rock Concept apart from the rest of the Wrangler line-up. A serialised "Red Rock" grab handle plaque is also featured to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Easter Jeep Safari.
The Wrangler Red Rock Concept's robust look and off-road capabilities are enhanced with help from a two-inch lift kit, 17-inch beadlock wheels - in low gloss black; the bead lock rings are low gloss Granite Crystal - wrapped in rugged 35-inch BFG K02 all-terrain tyres, LED headlamps and fog lights and a Jeep-branded CB radio. The Wrangler Red Rock Concept includes an aftermarket Warn Rubicon winch, front and rear differential covers, and a reinforced swing gate and wheel mount.
Neil Briscoe - 10 Nov 2015