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Spied: Jeep prototype not JT pickup truck [update]

08/16/2007, 2:28 PM

By Drew Johnson

It appears as though the mystery of the Jeep truck, captured earlier by spy photographers, has been solved. As it turns out, the Jeep pictured is not a mule for the JT concept truck but rather a military vehicle.

“The Jeep you see here is one of the units built to sell (hopefully) to the Egyptian military. As you can see, the rear doors are welded shut and, on the inside load floor, there’s a pickup-style steel bed. It’s powered by a diesel, has rear leaf springs and a rear Dana 60. I understand that, while there are a number of these built, the deal hasn’t been made yet with Egypt (or Israel). There are no plans to offer this in North America.” Phil Howell, Editor-in-Chief of Off-Road Magazine has said.

This would also explain the right-hand drive layout.


Original Story:

Spy photographers have spotted what appears to be a Jeep pickup truck, right along the lines of the Jeep JT truck concept. Based on the four-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, the back doors have been welded shut and the black composite roof structure has been extended forward to the B-pillar. The rear glass is also a solid window rather than a roll-down.


The interior of the vehicle reveals what appears to be a truck bed. The bed extends to the fronts seat and doesn’t allow for any rear seats. More details that suggested a pickup truck are new leaf-springs that have been added, to accommodate heavier payloads in the rear. The Jeep JT was designed to use much of the Wrangler Unlimited’s platform to allow any easy transition from concept to production, and it looks as though this transformation is already underway. Also note the right-hand drive.

August 16, 2007

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08/16, 8:19 AM

posted by:

Fromes

very cool, I already love the four door wrangler…this truck might be even cooler

08/16, 8:26 AM

posted by:

Deanster

IT’s cool, but a bunch of these are already circulating. According to the psychos who own the Jeep forums, this was made for the Israeli army last winter.

They also have leaf-spring suspension instead of the coils, and the put diesels in them. Looks good though.

08/16, 9:01 AM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

I was wondering whan the Comanche would come back. Not sure I’d have based it on the wrangler, but it should be a winner

08/16, 9:48 AM

posted by:

sik59rt

interesting to see leaf springs making a comeback with Jeeps…also, why is it right hand drive and registered in Michigan?

08/16, 10:19 AM

posted by:

55amg

i thought it was JT for justin timberlake

08/16, 10:21 AM

posted by:

Saud

Another cheap plastic interior.

08/16, 11:00 AM

posted by:

Blakkarr

It is a test prototype.

A dead give-a-way that it is only a test.

The interior should be made of better plastics, but is still a serious outdoors off-road vehicle. So don’t expect swede and leather on everything – if anything.

They said to make it suitable for carrying real truck loads.

Yes, this will be cool. Jeeps are among the only SUVs I will ever consider buying. Then there is the Mazda CX-7 for different reasons.

08/16, 11:07 AM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

Blakkar: I’d only buy a jeep if I planned to take it off road. Land rover and Hummer are the only other brands I’d attempt to leave the pavement in

I like the CX-9, because I have four children

08/16, 11:08 AM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

But right now, I’m deciding between lambdas

08/16, 12:21 PM

posted by:

Commodore

Well Jeep needs a competitor to the upcoming H3T…I’ll reserve judgement until they start using mules that look closer to what the real thing would look like. A four door Wrangler without the top in the back sounds expected though.

08/16, 12:22 PM

posted by:

Piablo

Nice choice JackJim, I’d go GMC ;)

This could be a really cool option. Especially if they include the removeable hard top.

08/16, 1:08 PM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

I’m in love with the Acadia, but maybe I’d like to correct myself. I should’ve bought a Saturn instead of a honda years ago.

08/16, 3:48 PM

posted by:

sik59rt

i think LLN shouldnt say anything about any future cars until they know what the hell they are talking about

08/16, 4:53 PM

posted by:

frankhoffy

Shouldn’t it be illegal to build military vehicles for countries that are hostile towards us?

08/16, 6:14 PM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

Frank: I read a boon in which that issue came into play. Turned out the companies had installed kill switches, so when the Saudis turned on the americans, their stuff just shut down (via the corporate satelite) the ragheads — sorry, TOWELheads — surrendered, then the satelitte did its trick again, and the vehicles were in perfect shape again, with Americans at the helm.

life imitates art?

08/16, 6:21 PM

posted by:

Blakkarr

I believe it is illegal. However that doesn’t stop friendly countries, Saudi Arabia and Israeli for example, from buying them or building them and then selling to anyone with the money to buy. The only things that are flat out prohibited from sell to unfriendly nations are weapons platforms like fighter planes tanks and other combat vehicles. Jeeps are merely consumer vehicles built to an unusually high standard.

Commodore,

The JT shown is pretty much what it’ll sell as, except that it will be LSD and likely have a more typical bumper. The Four door Wrangler in some of the pictures is a current model and you can remove the top or buy it with a fixed roof or cloth cover top. Jeeps are pretty simple machines to design for. They aren’t going to mess with the formula. It’s worked since WW2.

08/16, 7:36 PM

posted by:

sik59rt

since when is Egypt hostel towards us?
Also the U.S. just granted Israel a stupid amount of money…to the tune of $30billion over 10 years

08/16, 7:42 PM

posted by:

Deanster

Huh….I posted something about them being made for the military of a SMALL MILITARISTIC COUNTRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST THAT IS INVOLVED IN MANY CONFLICTS and my post was deleted.

Who’s running this site?

08/16, 10:29 PM

posted by:

GMCsyclone#478

Deanster, there is apparently someone moderating on here now and personally I appreciate it.

08/17, 12:28 AM

posted by:

Blakkarr

I think the deletions come when there are clearly insensitive and even grossly inflammatory remarks made. The last JT article and thread was laced with crude and derogatory comments against the Middle East which could easy be considered racist in tone and nature. It comes as no surprise if those comments were removed from the site or, at least, assumed buried somewhere.

I have no idea what Deanster might have said to warrant deletion of his comments, but let’s not find out.

08/17, 8:16 AM

posted by:

jJayC08

I hate moderation, let us talk about whatever we’d like- but the vulgar, childish and sheepish comments need to stop.

But hey, let’s not be leftist and say the Middle East is a good neighbor- leave it neutral for other people to decide.

I wonder if they’d ever consider selling these in small numbers to the public, or indeed turning it into a pick-up platform. It would be neat to see a Jeep pick-up, though I have my doubts that they’ll sell in large numbers.

08/17, 8:29 AM

posted by:

Deanster

OK guys, just for your information, you all know that I love posting obscenities. They let me get away with really rancid vulgar stuff that I would never say in real life.

However, THIS time I merely stated that “These vehicles were made for export to ______’s military.” That’s it, no swearing, no berating, nothing. Just a bland comment. The word I typed starts with a capital I and ends in an L. And the whole post was deleted…..

08/17, 8:32 AM

posted by:

Deanster

BTW, the moderation is not a welcome thing guys. You want to SAY what you want when you want, not have someone breathing down your neck.

We’re all adults here, having a good time. So a few “****s” and “****s” come out. So what? We have a good time, entertain ourselves, etc.

You think I bear hard feelings to Piablo, Fastrat, Veda, etc? I love these little knobgobblers like my brothers! I’m all forklempt now….talk amongst your little homo selves….

08/17, 12:02 PM

posted by:

A4

jeep needs to make a god damn wrangler-based pickup truck with removable top already! ****!

08/17, 12:34 PM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

deantj, you’re on the ball. moderators should only be looking for terrorist threats, and stuff that will give LLN liability.

FREE SPEECH!

08/17, 10:20 PM

posted by:

GMCsyclone#478

Deanster, i agree that it is better to have the freedom to say what we want but why always push the limits? That is what leads to moderation. Occassionally? Sure, but always? You warn us that moderation is not a good thing but it only started because of people like you.

I’m not offended or hurt by what you type, it’s just that it tends to derail otherwise good conversation. It’s like having an ill-manered child yelling and being obnoxious while adults are trying to have conversation.

This i say about your previous comments, not the one you’re talking about. I’m not sure why that post was deleted either, even if considered a slur (because we all know the white race has taken an unmoderated beating on here).

08/17, 11:28 PM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

I got nuthin’ against crackers. I got some on my shelf.

08/19, 4:32 PM

posted by:

BLISS

SOMETHING NEW COMING.

 
 
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