It’s that time of year again. Jeep’s Annual Easter Safari starts in the first week of April and as in (most) years, the 4×4 manufacturer has been on site with a collection of concepts truck that may or may not indicate future options, accessories – and maybe even entire vehicles. Looking at you, magnet. This project returns (now in version 3.0), along with four new in-house themes from the jeep Team. As usual, Jeep Performance Parts brought two more builds of their own. We’ll have more from the field once we get a chance to play around with Jeep’s toys in Moab. Let’s dive in.

Jeep Wrangler 4xe ****

Official is the Wrangler 4xe **** has no name. Jeep just refers to it as “wrangler Rubicon 4xe Concept.” As the name for his preliminary livery (no, it’s not that Tuscadero), his name has been redacted. But if you’re the type of Jeeper who likes to be strapped in for a little fun in the dirt, the **** might be for you. Its PHEV powertrain allows you to drive responsibly, and it even comes equipped with reinforced straps and buckles, a fur-lined glove box, and various other toys designed to enhance the experience. The **** even comes with active air suspension that adds between 1.5 and 5.5 inches. From the ground clearance.

Serious face: There is obviously more to it than you can see from the pictures. It can be an April Fool’s joke or just a Jeep designer’s fever dream come true; We need to (OK, not so serious) find out more in Moab.

Jeep Wrangler Magneto 3.0 Concept

Yes, Magneto is back. This will be its third and final outing, Jeep says, and based on how little it’s changed since last year, we’re okay with Jeep calling this one finished. This year there is only a slight increase in performance; it gets another 25 horses and 50 pound-feet of torque, for a total of 650 and 900 respectively. But it spawned a new array of drive modes that give you finer control over the output of its electric motors. Its default setting dials the overall output down to just 285 hp and 273 lb.-ft. That’s both the power rating of Jeep’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 and a subtle nod to the Magneto 1.0 that used those numbers as a baseline. And yes, it still has a six-speed manual transmission.

1978 Jeep Cherokee 4xe Concept

If this gives you jeep boss vibes, you are not alone. What started as the 1978 Craigslist dumpster fire Cherokee is powered by a modern 4xe plug-in hybrid powertrain. You need that torque to turn the massive 37s attached to all four corners. Inside is an 8-track player and a secret storage box. What exactly is the secret storage box you ask? It’s a secret. Moron.

Jeep Scrambler 392 concept

The 392 Scrambler “adds lightness to the V8-powered Wrangler formula.” The 392 is currently only available as a four-door, but this concept explores what kind of performance machine one could make by slicing the fat off Jeep’s big bruise. While still riding on the 392’s standard four-door wheelbase, the Scrambler has been chopped down and shortened to concentrate its mass further near its center. It features several custom carbon fiber exterior body panels. Most of the others were simply stripped off entirely. The blue checkered interior came out of the dustbin because Jeep engineers say the Scrambler’s only real mission is to be “really rowdy fast.”

Grand Wagoneer “Camp Lux” Overland Concept

“I vowed never to build a rooftop tent again,” says Jeep CEO Mark Allen. Well, so much for that. The Wagoneer checks in with an Overlanding-inspired concept based on Mopar’s new twin-turbo I6 engine. The rear seats were removed to open up the interior for supplies, people and pets, and it was fitted with 35-inch tires to take it anywhere.

JPP Jeep Gladiator Rubicon Sideburn Concept

The first of Jeep Performance Parts’ two builds is the Sideburn Concept, which takes its name from the armor plating on its rear fender. It has a utilitarian bed arrangement from the company’s catalog, a fold-down brush guard that doubles as a bench (allowing you to open the tailgate from either side), and integrated fuel and water storage.

JPP Jeep Wrangler 4xe downhill concept

This one’s about as down-to-earth as they come, and honestly, this blue-over-brown look is pretty pretty. This is another Jeep Performance Parts showcase, and the truck sports a mix of existing accessories and conceptual additions. The Sideburn’s fold-down brush guard returns and receives several more accessories, including a convertible tailgate, custom fender flares, molle panels, and a new dash accessory mounting system. Yes we have seen that somewhere.

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JPJ has announced that DES and CET are the next license plate series to be offered on its online auction platform. JPJ eBid.

Kelantan’s newest serial number series is ‘DES’ and will be open to tender on April 6th. The bidding period on JPJeBid is five days and ends on April 10 at 10:00 p.m. As usual, the results will be released the following day. The whole process is now online, as it has been for some time, and bidders are getting the good (or bad) news via email.

Also coming soon on JPJ eBid is the Pahang CET Series. The bidding period begins this Sunday, April 2nd, and ends on April 6th at 10:00 p.m. The results will be published the day after the auction ends.

New car is coming soon and you want a nice license plate for the new car? Why not DIY and skip the reseller markup and runner fees? If you’ve never bid on a number yourself, check out ours Step-by-step guide to navigating JPJ eBid and the techniques required to get your preferred number at the “retail price”.

These two plates with vowels in the middle have the potential to form words together with numbers – any ideas? There aren’t many unwanted “1” signs, but CET1 has to be one of them!

Every car manufacturer builds a flagship – a vehicle that shows what it can do. It is usually the most expensive thing in the showroom, often the biggest and always impressive.

Mazda has a brand new one for 2024 2024 Mazda CX-90 comes with a choice of two powertrains. One is Mazda’s first hybrid – a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version, which we’ll cover separately.

The other uses a powertrain common to luxury cars – a turbocharged in-line 6-cylinder engine mated to a rear-biased all-wheel drive (AWD) system. It’s a setup known for smoothness and crisp handling.

Mazda will offer the CX-90 in eight trim levels. The top-of-the-line 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus carries a luxury car’s price tag – starting at $59,950 – and deserves it with great trim and all the hallmarks of a great performance car.

340 hp turbo engine

Mazda will offer two different “in-line six” engines for the CX-90. The basic version does not have to hide with 280 hp. But the Turbo S Premium Plus gets a more powerful version with 340 hp.

Straight-six engines are known for their excellent balance and smooth power delivery. And 340 hp is a normal value for the upper class, beating everything Toyota or Honda put in a commercial vehicle and landing firmly in the territory of the mid-size SUVs from BMW and Audi.

Rear-biased i-ACTIV AWD system

We haven’t had a chance to drive the CX-90 (no one in the automotive press has as of this writing), so we can’t vouch for how it handles.

But it has a promising setup. Mazda’s AWD system sends more power to the rear wheels for everyday driving, only shifting that power forward when it’s needed for extra grip. This gives you the everyday feel of a rear-wheel drive car that enthusiasts love, but real security in cold weather. Combine it with Mazda’s Kinematic Posture Control system for more balanced handling, and the CX-90 has the specs of a fun-to-drive SUV.

Luxurious equipment

Most auto manufacturers can give you leather. Mazda sells you nappa leather with the CX-90 – a finer leather quality that undergoes additional softening steps in the tanning process. The front seats are 8-way electrically adjustable, heated and ventilated. Remarkably, the seats in the second row.

Three-zone automatic climate control with a pollen filter, LED accent lighting throughout, and a 12.3-inch full-color center touchscreen display (larger than the 10.25-inch of the entry-level trim) give the CX-90’s cabin a more upscale feel than you might expect from a brand traditionally considered a mainstream brand.

Thoughtful style

But it’s not just the materials. It’s how thoughtfully they’re put together.

Some cars feel well made. others feel manufactured. The CX-90 pushes Mazda into new territory. Weirdly, we particularly like the stitching on the dashboard.

Tone-on-tone oatmeal-colored instrument panel fabrics are beautifully highlighted with hanging stitches – “particularly inspired by manual binding and an intricate Japanese weaving technique known as kumihimo,” says Mazda. We’ve never seen it on any other car, which makes it feel special.

These nappa leather seats are quilted, which makes them look more elegant.

safety tech

The Mazda CX-90 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus is equipped with a whole range of modern safety aids. These include advanced driver assistance systems like radar cruise control with stop-and-go functionality and automatic speed limit assist, as well as lane keeping assist that can slightly assist steering to keep you centered in your lane. It’s not quite the self-driving car of the future, but it can be extremely helpful on long highway journeys.

More Mazda CX-90

Read our full review or build your own and rate it Mazda CX-90. When you’re ready to take action, check them out Mazda CX-90 models for sale near you.