Pure-electric Jeep Wrangler Magneto breaks cover

A new battery-electric 2021 Jeep Wrangler Magneto concept has been revealed ahead of this year's Moab Jeep Safari in Utah in the US.

Based on the 2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, the zero-emissions Magneto ditches its 209kW/347Nm 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 for a single large motor that musters 213kW and 370Nm.

The single motor is a departure from having two electric motors driving each axle through a single- or two-speed transmission.

However, four-wheel drive is still provided, with power channelled to all four corners via a six-speed transmission that boasts a high and low transfer case.

This ensures owners can drive it like they would a petrol or diesel, Jeep claims.

There's no word on top speed, but the US off-road brand says that against the clock the Jeep Wrangler Magneto can reach 60mph (97km/h) in a brisk 6.8 seconds.

There are four battery packs on board that pump out 70kWh.

Sporting white and blue paint and Magneto decals, the electric Jeep looks like any other Wrangler and features upgraded lights, bumpers, a two-inch lift kit and 17-inch wheels wrapped with larger mud and snow tyres.

A winch and roll cage have also been added.

Jeep has made no claims on how capable its electric Wrangler is off-road, but says the four battery packs have been placed around the ladder-frame chassis for optimal weight distribution.

Those battery packs have also been encased in a waterproof material that enables it to wade in up to 760mm of water.

There's no word on range, but the Wrangler EV is expected to cover around 350km between top-ups, while 800-volt electronics will enable ultra-rapid charging.

It's thought the new Magneto concept is evidence Jeep is considering a radical EV based on its Wrangler to appease enthusiasts worried about the move to electrification when states like California ban the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles in 2035.

And it's not just the Wrangler Magneto that Jeep has unveiled for its annual fan fest – among other concepts to star in Moab is a new off-road Wrangler Orange Peelz.

Painted in a retina-searing hue, the Jeep Wrangler Orange Peelz concept features a new windscreen made of near-unbreakable Gorilla Glass.

The redesigned half doors, removeable sunroof and trail lights are all thought to have been developed for Jeep's dealer accessories.

Next up is the Jeep Gladiator Rubicon Red Bare that introduces some serious off-road hardware for the American pick-up.

Created for the desert, the tougher Gladiator gets a 91:1 crawl ratio, Dana 44 axles, steel bumpers, a winch, grille guard and BF Goodrich tyres.

Under the bonnet, the butch pick-up gets the 194kW/599Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel not available in Australia.

The final Jeep to be unveiled to enthusiasts this weekend (March 27) is the 1968 Jeepster Commando Beach.

Based on the Jeepster Commando C101 made from 1966-1972, the Commando Beach created for Moab is a retromod that features plenty of modern touches that include a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that produces a punchy 254kW and 500Nm of torque.

There's no word on performance, but it's thought substantial work had to be done by Jeep engineers to ensure the 1960s 4x4 chassis, suspension and brakes could cope with that level of shove.

It's no surprise, as originally the Commando came with a 2.2-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder that produced just 55kW/154Nm.