SEMA 2009: Jeep Lower Forty a favorite in the Mopar display
Jeep Lower Forty - Click above for a high-res image gallery
Our SEMA coverage generally doesn't include too much from the off-road segment, but the Jeep Lower Forty concept in the Mopar booth was too good to pass up. Sporting 40-inch Mickey Thompson tires, this Jeep can pretty much go wherever it wants without the help of a suspension lift. Granted, plenty of bodywork was removed to make the new rubber fit, but impressive nonetheless. A 5.7-liter Hemi V8 sends grunt to a six-speed manual transmission before hitting all four wheels via a Dana 44 front axle and a Dana 60 rear axle fitted with 5.38 gears.
Additional features include a carbon fiber hood, custom bikini top, a chopped windshield, and a color-matched interior with Katzkin leather seating. You can read more details after the jump, and we have plenty of high-res photos in the gallery below.
Gallery: SEMA 2009: Jeep Lower Forty
Photos Copyright ©2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.
PRESS RELEASE:
The Jeep "Lower Forty" takes the Jeep Wrangler platform to a new extreme. The vehicle is equipped with massive 40-inch x 13.5-inch tires mounted on Mopar's 20-inch forged-aluminum wheels. Mopar added aggressive wheels and tires to a stock, two-door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon without the use of a suspension lift. The team's goal was to achieve added ground clearance without dramatically altering the vehicle's center of gravity. The team removed copious amounts of body metal in order to provide room for 40-inch meats. Three inches are chopped from the windshield frame and a 10-degree rake is added.
Custom front and rear fender flares are 1-inch wider and are located 4 inches higher than a stock Jeep Wrangler. A new one-piece carbon-fiber hood with a Jeep CJ-like power dome and an all-new drop-down tailgate stamped with the "Jeep" logo are added to complete the exterior design.
On the interior, an all-new roll cage is neatly integrated into the body tub and tied directly into the frame rails. A custom made bikini top from Bestop keeps drivers in the shade. The spare tire is relocated to the cargo floor and a custom cargo rack, supplied by Poly Performance, holds extra gear. Once all body modifications were completed, the exterior received a fresh coat of Red Eye No. 3 paint, a custom color developed by Mopar.
Custom touches throughout the interior include a color-matched center console and instrument panel. Seats are re-covered with Mopar's Katzkin leather package in a two-tone scheme. Replacing the carpet is a durable, spray-in truck-bed liner. Rugged Mopar floor mats complete the theme.
Mechanical upgrades came directly out of the Mopar catalog. The Jeep "Lower Forty" features an all-new 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 engine and a Getrag 238 six-speed manual transmission. Powertrain installations were handled by Burnsville Off-Road using an AEV 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 conversion kit.
The Mopar-supplied Dana 44 front axle and a Dana 60 rear axle, fitted with 5.38 gears and ARB air lockers, were assembled by Dynatrac and revalved Bilstein shocks maintain vehicle stability on rough terrain.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
thipps 3:24PM (11/03/2009)
what are they thinking. proportions of a child's toy there is no hope for Chrysler
Reply
MemphisNET 3:31PM (11/03/2009)
Do you understand the concept of SEMA ?
thipps 3:40PM (11/03/2009)
is it for companies to bring amateur designs like this^ to please the boy racers and people who actually think that the dub cars are cool?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2026/2222433676_393d375729.jpg
Paul 3:59PM (11/03/2009)
These are child-like fantasy projects that never come to fruition. I've seen enough Jeep concepts to last a lifetime and yet not one -- NOT ONE -- has ever made it to market.
It's a brand with enormous potential but, sadly, no balls to achieve it.
MemphisNET 4:09PM (11/03/2009)
Ugh.....
You know, it's my fault for replying. Really. I think people see a headline with a Chrysler product and automatically FAIL comes to their minds, and no rational conversation will make that go away.
Anyway, I think that it's great that 90% of what is on this concept can be purchased from Mopar and yes, some things are completely off the wall, but the Dana 60 and MT tires are things that serious off-roaders will want.
thipps 5:03PM (11/03/2009)
actually i am from michigan and have given chrysler every chance to change my mind (family has one). i want them to succeed but they have failed for YEARS to make any improvements to there products. the quality, design, materials, MPG is not up to snuff with anyone any more.
i want them to do well i just dont see that happening. hope im wrong
MemphisNET 5:27PM (11/03/2009)
I'm a huge Mopar fan but even I know their days are probably numbered and I too hope they can some how pull through with realistic products ASAP.
My point is -- this is not Chrysler saying ''hey check this out, we want to build this''
They're saying ''this is something WE made with the parts we offer our customers. And if you REALLY want your own LowerFourty, you two can build it with off the shelf parts"
PJ 7:56PM (11/03/2009)
I can't shake the feeling this thing has been on the show circuit for about 12 years now.
1998 Jeep Jeepster Concept...
http://www.supercars.net/carpics/918/1998_Jeep_JeepsterConcept1.jpg
2005 Jeep Jeepster Concept...
http://jeephorizons.com/news/images/jeepster/jeepster_b.jpg
2008 Jeep Renegade Concept...
http://reparent.blog.uvm.edu/images/jeep-renegade.jpg
We get it, Chrysler, you can chop-top a Wrangler!
telkinsjr 3:32PM (11/03/2009)
Most hardcore off-roaders spend tons of money to get something like this (I know I have). With that tire, gear, engine and axle combo you can go anywhere you want. Hemi with a Dana 60 in the back . . . from the factory . . . yes please.
Reply
madtuscan 3:38PM (11/03/2009)
How silly!!!
BTW, where are the car sales numbers of October?
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actualstuff 3:49AM (11/04/2009)
Silly because you not an offroad kind, aren't ya?
Joe 3:45PM (11/03/2009)
While a Bikini top sounds fun, it probably comes with a Bimini Top.
Reply
adrenalnjunky 4:14PM (11/03/2009)
not into Jeeps are ya?
http://www.jeepsandstuff.com/bikinitops.html
Joe 4:58PM (11/03/2009)
Nope. Apparently I'm wrong. My bad. Didn't feel like researching "Bikini tops" at work :)
fixitfixitstop 3:51PM (11/03/2009)
What's with the haters? This thing is awesome. Unlike many SEMA cars, this actually has purpose.
Reply
thipps 3:59PM (11/03/2009)
have you ever been in any serious off road situations? this thing has minimal articulation room for the suspension. bigger tires dont mean better off road. and they could never sell a jeep lifted like this. they drive horrible when they are close to the ground. when you lift them its the worst driving car i have ever driven. (driven at least 8 different lifted jeeps)
Parkerman 4:05PM (11/03/2009)
Thipps, I couldn't make out in your reply or not if you knew this Jeep wasn't lifted or not.
Mr Clickerson 6:19PM (11/03/2009)
Thipps, just like Frank and his attempts to insult the Silverado ZR2, you have absolutely NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
1) This Jeep is NOT LIFTED. It's at stock height with 40" tires.
2) Yes, bigger tires DO mean better off road. The whole reason you lift a vehicle is so you can fit those bigger tires. What they did here is got those bigger tires on there without screwing too much with the center of gravity.
3) Jeeps ride as well as any solid axle vehicles out there- in most cases, better. Having owned a Jeep XJ lifted 4-1/2" on 33" tires, and driving it DAILY, I can attest to this.
4) What makes you think this thing won't get articulation, or are you just another fool that thinks articulation comes solely from the compression of the suspension? They're called bumpstops, and when one side reaches them, the other side will droop more, creating your articulation- the same way most rock crawlers do it.
Thomas 3:53PM (11/03/2009)
Wow, that would be so much fun!
Reply
ForgedInternals 3:55PM (11/03/2009)
Now here's a potential Raptor fighter, not that I'd take this over a Raptor but it's better than that Silverado
Reply