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
it feels like a hybrid of Kaiser and post 1997 XJ. I want it.
I’m not a Jeep person by any means, but this thing is sick.
Too bad Stellantis will find a way to fuck it up.
They’ve been teasing that look for so long that I’ve lost interest.
It’s a cool look, and it would be hard to complain about potential wind noise or bad aero with tires like those.
To me this looks closer to the Commando (~1972 ish) front end than an FSJ. The nose rakes down a bit rather than up.
Jeep can say this is an all new side profile but it looks a whole lot like the Jeep Hurricane concept just moved a bit toward production.
From a Scrambler aesthetic the 2005 Gladiator concept met the traditional Scrambler perfectly. They could still do it. Easily.
Jeep seems to have a thing for squished grilles lately; at least there’s some history behind this one.
It would be really neat to see this with some proper Scrambler graphics!
This was the one upcoming jeep vehicle I was somewhat excited for, but this ain’t it for me. I don’t know why they are so resistant to just release a 2 door or even extended cab gladiator. They still make 2 door wranglers despite the take rate being 1 or 2 out every 10 sold.
Guess I’ll be taking my money and buying a 2 door Heritage Bronco.
God, why is the side window sill up at neck level?
Most important note here – if this is a “styling exercise” why does every part that isn’t the grill/lower facia look disproportionate and lazily unfinished?
low H point to door still proportions are one of the few things modern wranglers have going for them.
This. So much this. Too much sheet metal around the middle. I had high hopes for a modern-day Scrambler.
Decent amount to unpack here. Assuming this is on the JL Wrangler bones, odd that they would roll out IFS at this point, unless the platform is set to stick around for a while. Gotta think this IFS design will be used for the new Ram midsize pickup too, in which case, will that ride on the current JL Wrangler platform as well? Jeep/Stellantis – shallow at best, problematic at-worst – is fun to watch.
I had the same thought. The timing seems weird. I think we’ll see a new Wrangler around 2029, so would they keep building this on the old platform? Or would this only exist for like 2 model years?
It could mean they’ll keep building the new Wrangler – and the new Dakota – on the old Wrangler platform.