Did Jeep Drop A Hellcat In The Wrangler Trailcat?

Jeep Wrangler Trailcat Concept (Credit: Jeep)

A wild rumor has been circulating around the auto industry, one that sounded like pure craziness. We all knew that Jeep was going to Hellcat the Grand Cherokee, a move that’s borderline crazy, but makes sense in a sinister sort of a way. But dropping the Hellcat in the Wrangler was just too far out there – and it didn’t even make sense. After all, the Wrangler is all about crawling over rocks and fording streams, not ripping up the local dragstrip.

Then Jeep released teaser photos for two of the concepts it’ll be showing off at the upcoming Easter Jeep Safari in Moab. One of them is a Wrangler Rubicon with a “Trailcat” graphic on the fender. The hood features some pretty serious heat extractor vents. It doesn’t take a genius to put two and two together: this is the rumored Wrangler Hellcat.

There isn’t a whole lot else to the Trailcat teaser. It shows some pretty big tires, a green and black exterior and projector headlights, courtesy of the Mopar catalog.

It’s a custom Jeep to give us all a glimpse of the crazy vehicles it will roll into the desert town with. This time around the brand has limited it to only two teaser images. The other one is a green monstrosity Jeep says is called the Crew Chief.

Jeep Crew Chief concept (Credit: Jeep)

A quick study of the Crew Chief teaser reveals a front grille that hearkens back to the Gladiator. There are four doors and larger fender vents. What we can’t see is the backend, which many speculate is a payload. That would make the Crew Chief the long-awaited Wrangler-based pickup.

For now, Jeep is keeping its mouth shut, just posting the images and telling us what the vehicles are called. The anticipation is almost too much.

These two concepts and five more will make a dramatic appearance in Moab by March 21 at the beginning of the Safari. With the annual gathering celebrating its 50th anniversary and the Jeep brand commemorating 75 years, chances are high the vehicles that show up this year will be extra special.