Zac Quinn 
For the 2023 Easter Jeep Safari, Jeep is bringing some concept vehicles to participate in off-road adventures. One is a 1978 Jeep Cherokee (SJ), which takes place as this year’s Resto-mod concept build. First introduced in 1974, the Jeep Cherokee was a sporty, two-door version of the Wagoneer and featured bucket seats, a sports steering wheel, and racy detailing designed to appeal to younger, more adventurous drivers.
1978 Jeep Cherokee 4xe Moab Easter Safari Concept: Details
A year later, the Wide-Track option was available with key upgraded features, including exterior stripes, larger tires, 3-inch wider axles, larger front, and rear wheel cutouts, Dana 44 front and rear axles, and an interior with more creature comforts, which brings us to the present day of this concept vehicle-loving journey.
To pay homage to the Jeep Cherokee SJ, a first-of-its-kind vehicle with on- and off-road chops, the Jeep design team set out to reimagine the iconic full-size SUV with a modern spin. The Jeep Cherokee 4xe concept began its life as a 1978 Jeep Cherokee, which was affectionately blended with a 2022 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe. The original Jeep Cherokee was intended to take the Jeep Cherokee SJ to the next level of performance, and that ethos rings true for this concept vehicle.
The body of this 2023 Jeep Moab Easter Safari concept was heavily modified, and the exterior fused original proportions with a bright, unmistakably 1970s-theme multicolor paint scheme. So while the ’78 Jeep Cherokee 4xe concept looks similar to a vintage Jeep Cherokee SJ at first glance, it has transformed into a modern, electrified, off-road performer. Under the hood, the ’78 Jeep Cherokee 4xe concept features the advanced Jeep Wrangler 4xe powertrain, which provides a unique on- and -off-road experience through the combination of two electric motors, a high-voltage battery pack, and a high-tech 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 engine. An eight-speed automatic transmission is mated to a 4:1 transfer case to deliver more than enough power to 37-inch tires wrapped around custom 17-inch “slotted mag” style wheels.
The 1978 Jeep Cherokee 4xe concept’s custom interior features low-back bucket seats trimmed in leather. The rear bench seat was replaced with a four-point safety cage, and the rear cargo space houses a full-size spare tire just in case the trail gets a little too wild.
