Jeep is aware a lot of the fans of the Wrangler brand want to know what an electric version of the iconic vehicle looks like. Hence, the company released a concept model. The model is being called the Wrangler Magneto, a nod to the electric motor that replaces the internal combustion engine.
The electrified Jeep will be on display at the annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. Jeep often uses the event to gauge public interest in its new models and test them or simply to display the latest and greatest. It will be joined by other custom vehicles.
A word of caution though; being a concept, there is no guarantee the car would be hurtling down the highways any time soon.
The Magneto is built on the 2020 two-door Wrangler Rubicon, with the engineers simply swapping out the ICE to make room for the electric motor. With an electric motor that outputs 273 pound-foot of torque and 285 horsepower, it will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds.
There is no info on the range just yet nor battery size but we know it is using a string of four batteries scattered across different parts of the vehicle. The batteries are completely water-proof, which makes sense given the propensity of Jeep owners to take the car to harsh terrains. It can wade through up to 30 inches of water with no fear of damage to the batteries.
Notably, the Magneto uses a six-speed manual transmission, despite being electric. Most electric vehicles actually use automatic transmission.
The closest Jeep has ever got to a battery electric vehicle is the 2021 Wrangler 4xe, a plug-in hybrid that sells for $50,000. There is no specific promise of a pure electric.
Describing the Magneto during a media event, Jim Morrison, vice president of the Jeep brand in North America, said “It’s a sustainable, stealthy, rock-climbing force. It’s a zero-emissions concept vehicle with Jeep 4×4 capability taken to the next level.”