Back in May, Stellantis announced during its investor day that SRT would be getting a new halo Jeep, and it would be called the Scrambler. The Drive learned that the vehicle would have a face similar to an old Kaiser Jeep Gladiator and be a two-door with reversible seats. Now, just ahead of SEMA, Stellantis has shown a concept version of the Halo Jeep, and it looks like it’s going to finally bring the world the Jeep nose everyone has been clamoring for.
Jeep needs to build some buzz after some lackluster sales-years, and a great way to do that is to debut the first new SRT Jeep in almost a decade. But unlike that Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, this will be the very first off-road SRT Jeep ever.
Behold the Jeep Wrangler Scrambler Concept, which is clearly not 100% production feasible, but close enough to give you an idea of what’s coming:
This concept is built on the Jeep Wrangler platform, and draws inspiration from the old CJ-8 Scrambler, which was also a two-door pickup. Here’s a look at that:
What I’d really like to highlight is the independent suspension, which Jeep describes thusly:
A bespoke high-travel independent front suspension, developed with off-road racing champion Casey Currie, expands the concept’s performance envelope with enhanced steering precision, wheel control and high-speed stability across challenging terrain. A trophy-truck-inspired rear axle, heavy-duty wheel package and desert-racing-informed hardware reinforce the strength and durability demanded by the powertrain vision.
The suspension architecture builds on the system first showcased on the Jeep Striker Concept and validated in competition when Currie drove his custom Jeep Gladiator “Striker” to a class victory at the NORRA 500. The result is a multi-functional concept engineered to feel at home racing across open desert, exploring remote backcountry routes or navigating technical trails.
I’ll be taking a closer look at this suspension soon, but you can clearly see the heavy-duty RCV universal joints there on the outside, and some standard rubber bellows on the inner joint. This is not a rock crawler like the JL Wrangler; the Scrambler is obviously meant to scramble up dunes while making a beautiful sound from a V8 motor.
The Jeep Scrambler concept has a solid rear axle out back, a big motor under the hood, removable top panels, and an all new body from the A-pillar back. “Longer doors, custom rear bodywork, an integrated pickup bed, a redesigned tailgate, unique fender flares and a structural roll cage create an instantly recognizable silhouette unlike any previous Jeep vehicle,” Jeep writes in its press release.
It’s extremely cool, and definitely gives off some vibes from old Jeep concepts based on the retro Gladiator M715 grille. Here’s the old M715 military vehicle:
Here’s the Nukizer Concept from way back in 2010; it builds off the old M715’s front rake, and even seems to exacerbate it a bit:
Here’s Jeep’s Crew Chief 715 concept from 2016:
Here’s the Five Quarter Concept from 2019:
Here’s the Jeep Convoy Concept from 2025:
Here’s the Jeep Anvil 715 Concept from earlier this year:
This face has been so popular, one could purchase for ~$7000 an M715 conversion kit for the Jeep Wrangler JK back in 2018:
All of this is to say: It’s about time! The very last variation of the SJ grille left the market in the late 1980s; here’s a look — it was called the “Muscle Grille”:
We’re coming on 40 years since the world was deprived of this magical nose-design. I can’t wait to see what the production Scrambler’s looks like!
Top graphic image: Jeep
I always like the Kaiser nose. Gimme a new small pickup like the Comanche, with a four cylinder. We don’t need more monster V-8s.
Some days I fantasize about getting a Comanche and restomodding it with the AMC 150 under the hood, light turbo, and upgrading everything. Expensive but a fun thought experiment. Fortunately a lot of Cherokee hardware works so upgrades are a lot more achievable with over the counter stuff rather than having to invent everything.
All it takes is money and time.
V8? The Hemi???
So since this is going to be a “halo” vehicle and not Halo in the sense of something cool like a Warthog but being their top tier vehicle this thing is going to cost like 100k isn’t it? Which is just asinine for a jeep product. A little 2 door off road style truck I could see getting behind as I could replace my FJ and truck for it.
Agreed, I’m pretty interested in this, but I worry the price will be way too high.
A Scrambler with a Gladiator grille ought to be called the “Glambler.”
“I would gladly glow glamping in my Glambler!” -Glen
All the previous iterations look better than what they finally decided on except the Anvil 715 which just feels like a tarted up Patriot. There sure is a lot of side happening; like a barn door.
Yes, that high belt line makes it look porky, especially when compared to the old CJ8.
My first impression as well. Probably not super accurate or a fair comparison, but my brain said “2dr EV Hummer truck”.
No kidding. Total fail.
Yeah, would it have killed them to stamp some kind of line/indent ebtween the wheel arch and the top of the bed?
There’s really no point in banging on about this grille because the first thing the Jeep Bros will do is swap it out for some aggro BS.
Hell I have seen them sitting on dealer lots with the angry eyes swapped on
Gwumpy face! My one year old nephew can pretty much match those aggro fascias perfectly when he’s upset about something. Probably would fit right in with the drivers too.
Ah yes, another uber-expensive Stellantis product, that’ll barely sell while the brands that have needed attention for the past decade still don’t have any updates!
This would be cooler if they weren’t finding new depths to sink to every year.
I wonder if this is the soft rollout of the new wrangler IFS front suspension for the next wrangler update.
My thoughts as well
Fewer and fewer people are off roading street legal vehicles and using sided by sides and every crossover has a “rugged” version and everyone wants soft rides that the solid axle wrangler cannot continue, I want it to but reality.
Also, the advantage of solid axles is lessening every with generation of vehicle. I think stock for stock, the Bronco could do any trail a Wrangler could do. In fact, I was with a near stock 2 door and 4 door Bronco on the Rubicon. It was slow going but they made it through.
Is there a more water resistant version (one with a top or roof)?
Ditch the BRAT seats, too.
cue the dealer markups, good luck getting one of these for a reasonable price.
Looks like a Bronco. And going after the Bronco upper level trim and 4Runner TRD PRO markets. IFS up front and stout rear axle, pretty much what those others target.
What those other brands have, and what this doesn’t, is history. Well, positive history. Ford was able to trade on Bronco nostalgia to bring it back, Jeep has tried – repeatedly and with a lot of failure – to bring back Cherokee/Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer/whatever they want to call the brand or make this week.
It’s an open-top for-the-hell-of-it truck. If Jeep can find a way to sell this between 40-50k, they’ll fly out the door. If they try to sell them for 80k, as seems to be the thinking among the marketing peeps, we’ll be reading about their cancellation in 2 years.
I like it, but I imagine once they actually make the production version it will wind up being a 4-door only Gladiator facelift, which would be sad.
Scrambler stickers along the bed. Maybe not even with the SRT upgrades. For a brand that leans on fun, that’s not enough to support a model.
I do like the concept vehicle, but I wouldn’t buy one as-is. I still need 4 doors (jumpseats aren’t gonna fly), and that bed looks Chevy tall.
I love it. I think it looks great. That said, they’ve been teasing this front end for 16 years. Lets see if they actually do it. Also, let’s be realistic. This is going to be $100k. Maybe more.
Looks very “Bronco” especially the rear view.
That “muscle grille” was AMC’s effort to update the Wagoneer and differentiate it from the original Cherokee; this Scrambler concept follows that path. Whether it “works” is debatable, as is the original Scrambler profile meets Subaru BRAT seating. Finally, where did the spare tire (if any) end up?!
All the styling elements do not work together cohesively. It’s all over the place
I really like the idea of this, but the proportions just don’t look right. Hopefully the production version gets restyled some.
They gave it the Tonka treatment
In fact, it’s the ugliest Kaiser face since Wilhelm II.
Surely, the Five Quarter Concept was a rebadged Kia with bigger wheels?
It does kind of look like a Kia Tasman if you tilt your head to one side, squint, and bludgeon yourself with a hammer.
I was thinking more of the KM450
create an instantly recognizable silhouette unlike any previous Jeep vehicle,
Well which is it, Stellantis: Instantly recognizable or unlike any previous Jeep?
Thats marketing talk for blah blah blah.
They didn’t say it’s instantly recognizable AS a Jeep.
David. We’re your friends and family. Evin Erin NHRN is concerned.
By David Tracy
November 3, 2026
1:40 am
This is an intervention. You have a problem. You need help.
You need sleep.
David obviously needs help, but I’m guessing the site shows all posting times in EST?
Looks like parent hours to me.
Considering I’m going to my kid’s house at least once a week to help with the grandbaby who is not yet sleeping through the night, you have a very strong point. I remember what that was like…except we didn’t have internet then, or cable TV. We just had walking around the block, reading books, and exhaustion.
EST vs PST?
Maybe in the CTC Design dome “everyone has”.
I’m glad you’re excited, and that David (NHRN) will soon have another grille for his wall, but I’ll get excited about a Jeep Wrangler anything when I could maybe afford to both pay for one, and the gas it’ll guzzle.
Another high end off roader with a thirsty V8 isn’t getting me to leave the house, why do we need another when we already have a V8 Rubicon? Show me the cheap two door with a 4 cylinder non-turbo engine, a manual transmission, and the gear ratios to make it work. THAT may be impressive, just shoehorning in another stupid engine with way too much power, and a suspension I’ll never, ever, use; it’s fun to look at, but won’t sell me anything.
I think your 4 cylinder, low geared Wrangler/CJ is stuck between a rock of “it just isn’t very good on the road (and still gets lousy mileage)” and the hard place of “side by sides are better off road (in part because they aren’t so goddamn wide)”.
I agree with you that the vehicle you’re proposing would be better for the folks who don’t want two vehicles, but it’s gotta be a small group that is willing to put up with the road manners of a jeep and also wants to get it dirty enough to need the capability of one in the same vehicle.
Yeah I absolutely know what I’m getting into with this statement, my first vehicle was a Samurai Tintop.
I want to be able to survive the worst of winter, and have some simple fun in the summer. I have no need or use for a SxS, I live in the city.
I was going to write this very thing! Give me a basic, simple Wrangler. I remember when my uncle was an AMC salesman in the mid-70s and I looked at a red CJ-5 with no options. Plain, simple, cool as hell.
“The Jeep Scrambler concept has a solid rear axle out back, a big motor under the hood,
removalremovable top panels”“I can’t wait to see what the production Scrambler
’s looks like!” -Apostrophe is unnecessary.Editing aside, I’d like the idea better if they offered a basic 2-door pickup model.
Nice catch on the typo! (The apostrophe is fine, though).
Plurals do not deserve apostrophes.
(Or, do you prefer Plural’s do not deserve apostrophe’s?)
It’s singular and possessive.
Just like social media, too much gotcha & not enough reading.
This community is better than anywhere else, so I’m grateful someone cares enough to even weigh in.
Something to be said for that. (The effective moderation helps a lot.)
It should technically be, “…what the production Scramblers look like”.
Sorry to put on my old QC and proofreader hat. I just can’t help but notice things sometimes.
What about “what the production Scrambler’s nose looks like”? That’s a bit redundant but would end this discussion. Anyway, I believe that’s what David means to say.
I believe you might are correct. Then it would be singular and possessive.
I’ve been ruminating over this for half the day so far. Can’t get through other articles… Can’t concentrate on work… Keep coming back to this one quote… Half my lunch burrito went into the trash uneaten, as my stomach is in knots over “I can’t wait to see what the production Scrambler’s looks like!” being grammatically correct, or the word Scrambler being possessive in this context. Possessive of what? Looks? How is it anything other than “I can’t wait to see what the production Scramblers look like!” I mean no snark: I’m genuinely having a minor crisis. Am I missing something obvious? The only way it could work as singular and possessive would be something like: “I can’t wait to see what the production Scrambler’s looks are like!”, which would be clunky and awkward.
Possessive of what?
The word “nose” appears in the previous sentence. It would make sense that way.
Thank you! I knew I must have been missing something somehow… Just totally misread it
You’re welcome! Sometimes these things are easier to detect in your second language than in your native one. 😉
Describe to me what I’m supposed to be ooohing and aaahing over.
The grille looks like it’s scaled up from the Renegade, and added (faux?) hood scoop to it. Nothing like the other photos to me.
Besides, I have my doubts Jeep people are clamoring over the idea of an(other) expensive wrangler.
This might be the first time (the best time, as in others were ok?) that the front clip works for me
Nukizer did it best. It’s closest to the original, and looks pretty sleek/clean. Most of the rest are overwrought.
I’m team Convoy, but yeah, the Nukizer is nice too. I think getting rid of the protruding center feature (sharknose?) on this Scrambler is a mistake.
I like that it looks like a Stomper. It’s a Jeep so I can’t think of anything else nice to say.
The Stomper is quote a throw back. I had to really scour my older data files to pull that one up.
OK, I’m not really a Jeep person but no, that grille isn’t proper Jeep or even a legitimate Gladiator variant. Otherwise, the body style concept is cool but some things just shouldn’t be screwed with…