Thursday 30 March 2017

Jeep Grand One Concept: The 1993 Grand Cherokee ZJ Gets another Day in the Sun

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March 30, 2017 at 5:58 pm by | Photography by Michael Simari and the Manufacturer

Jeep Grand One concept

Twenty-five years after the original Jeep Grand Cherokee arrived on the scene, the ZJ-generation SUV is getting a new outlook on life. Behold the Jeep Grand One concept, part of Jeep’s 2017 Easter Jeep Safari haul that brings a bit of modern off-road equipment to the now-old-school sport-utility. We’re used to seeing retro Wrangler creations as part of this annual off-road bash, but it’s a fresh idea for Jeep to pay homage to the history of its more luxury-oriented off-roader.

Painted in a lovely light-blue hue, the exterior of the Grand One mostly stays faithful to the original boxy profile—no surprise considering the donor car is a 1993 Grand Cherokee that the Jeep team found on Craigslist. Key modifications include 18-inch gold wheels, fender flares, subtle woodgrain-look siding, and slightly restyled front and rear bumpers. Jeep also slightly stretched the wheelbase, lifted the car by two inches, fitted meaty 33-inch BFGoodrich tires, and installed locking front and rear differentials for maximum off-road prowess. A period-correct 5.2-liter V-8 and four-speed automatic transmission provide motivation, just as they did back in the day.

Jeep Grand One concept

The interior is also true to the 1990s, with few changes to the rectilinear dashboard. Nostalgia-inducing touches such as a car phone and an old Nintendo Game Boy really drive home the point, and a plaid-pattern headliner provides a bit of whimsy. Even MC Hammer gets a shout out, thanks to the graphic over the brake light that reads “Hammer Time.” Those with a keen eye will also notice that this Grand Cherokee’s classic Jeep grille has eight slots, rather than the current seven-slot iteration.

Along with several other fanciful Jeep concept creations, the Grand One will hit the trail in a few weeks as part of Jeep’s Easter Safari event in Moab, Utah, to be held April 8–16.

Jeep-Grand-One-concept-REEL


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