Comments on: Spied: SEMA concept to preview production Jeep pickup?

By: DialM4Speed

DialM4Speed — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 12:28:41 +0000

Why the hell does DC think Jeep needs a pickup? Haven’t they lost enough money? If you want a truck they have the Ram or the Dakota. And who designed this piece O crap? It’s just as butt ugly as the Gladiator! In a way I hope they do make this thing so people can see just how bad an idea it was.

By: ironpony42

ironpony42 — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 15:29:48 +0000

God Bless you Dave Harriton & AEV. Companies like yours are what keeps us dreaming…

By: AEV Source

AEV Source — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 14:48:58 +0000

Guys, Here is the first official word on the new Brute. It’s smokin’ hot and we are happy to bring it!!!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October, 2006

American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) to Show Production-Ready Jeep “Brute” Pickup Conversion at SEMA 2006

A new Jeep pickup conversion kit called “Brute” will likely shake up the compact pickup market and satisfy dedicated Jeep lovers with a rough-and-ready, street-worthy and off-road demon rarely seen on American roads for years.

Missoula-based American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), working in close affiliation with longtime supplier Quality Metalcraft (QMC) of Livonia, Michigan, will unveil an all-new, production-ready Jeep Brute conversion kit at the Las Vegas SEMA show in November, 2006.

The kit is production-ready and will fit all Jeep Wrangler TJ models built from 1997 to 2006. AEV has become legend in the aftermarket for its popular aftermarket parts for Jeep, and the eye-popping Brute is sure to draw attention on the street and off-road.

“The Jeep Brute is the common man’s Hummer,” said AEV spokesman Michael Chetcuti. “Every red-blooded male, and quite a few females, will say: “I want one!”

While American pickups have trended to larger sizes and more luxurious details, the AEV Jeep Brute conversion presents consumers with a compact, rugged alternative that stresses performance and attitude while preserving the highest Jeep TJ standards.

Demand for the TJ Brute kits is expected to be high. AEV will begin accepting deposits immediately and plans to start shipping kits in 8 weeks. Orders and further questions can be directed to AEV’s Kent Klein (phone: 406.251.2100; email: kent@ aev-conversions.com; web: http://www.aev-conversions.com).

In addition to kits that will allow Jeep fans to build their own Brute, AEV is currently developing a Detroit-based facility that will do the work for them. The new facility will ship everything from base-model, turn-key Brute conversions to Brutes with a wider range of options, including the popular AEV Hemi conversion, a Hi-Line Fender and Hood kit with XL flares to accommodate a larger wheel tire combination, and a number of other AEV innovations.

AEV founder Dave Harriton, who has been called “the Carroll Shelby of Jeeps,” first introduced the Brute as a concept vehicle in 2002. Working closely with DaimlerChrysler engineers, as well as QMC, Harriton had all Brute parts, materials, and finishes engineered and validated to rigorous OEM production standards.

QMC can now mass-produce Brute kits for AEV to meet consumer demand. Kits will include everything needed for the Brute conversion. Prices will be announced at this year’s SEMA and are expected to run between $8K to $10K per kit.

In addition to the Brute, AEV will show several new aftermarket products for the new 2007 Wrangler (JK) at this year’s SEMA, including:

• A formed-steel front bumper with integrated winch-mount and skid plate
• 3-dimensional formed-steel rear corner guards
• Newly-styled AEV wheels that will also fit Jeep Commander (XK) and Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK).
• Wheels will be conventional or with a bead-lock application for off-road performance; finish options include chrome, silver, or argent
• A JK Brute conversion is in the works and should be available soon

For further information on American Expedition Vehicles, please visit http://www.aev-conversions.com. To inquire about Quality Metalcraft, visit http://www.qualitymetalcraft.com or email sales@qualitymetalcraft.com.

By: chevy490

chevy490 — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 23:15:22 +0000

me like!

By: Fatstrat

Fatstrat — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 20:05:49 +0000

Thanks 1c3d0g.

By: TimG

TimG — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 18:36:51 +0000

Same thing goes for pavement pounder. UH, the GRAB HANDLES they refer to are on the sides, behind the doors, NOT the tie downs for the windshield. Gimmee a break!

By: ironpony42

ironpony42 — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 16:17:30 +0000

um, TJS4EVER, yur right, I didn’t build a brute in my garage. That’s exactly what my post says… I said I’d like to convert my ’05, but I’d never do it myself. Simple rules, read and comprehend before posting… No worries though. I would however drive out to AEV and drop off my rig with a huge sack of cash to have AEV convert it… AEV also installed the CRD diesel from Libery into some Wranglers with success… That’s a mod I’d really go for. 25mpg and tons of torque.

By: motoboyo

motoboyo — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 03:54:19 +0000

and just how much will you save if you “chop the back off and install a custom made truck bed”?….let me think…..less than nothing! Like it or don’t, but by these pics, if you want a wrangler with a bed you are in luck if they really produce this. If not any jackass with bailing wire, duct tape and bondo can make their own if they have a “custom made truck bed”.

By: RustedEmpire

RustedEmpire — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 03:31:38 +0000

all you need to do is buy a used wrangler and chop the back off and install a custom made truck bed…
save yourself 8,000 dollars

By: VDuv Kux Klan

VDuv Kux Klan — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 03:12:35 +0000

Thats a nice truck id buy one!

By: Bobzooki

Bobzooki — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 01:42:13 +0000

That is such a gay truck lol

By: British_Rover

British_Rover — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 01:15:51 +0000

I hope they do build this as it will just give Land Rover one more reason to bring over the next generation defender.

By: TJS4EVER

TJS4EVER — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 21:43:39 +0000

ironpony42 with all due respect you didnt build no BRUTE in your garage. Ecoat, 2 and 3 t spot welding in your garage, I dont think so! AEV has hit a home run. The proportion and stance is magical. As far as small pick ups go I bet this one will have a bit more ROI than lets say “Chevy SSR”. Sign me up. The design is timeless and these dudes don’t cut corners. With only about 1.85m TJ’s in the market place, I wounder if they’ll sell any of these? Can anyone say Cobra?

By: 1c3d0g

1c3d0g — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 20:58:57 +0000

Fatstrat: wow, dude, that sounds like it was a close one. I wish you a speedy recovery. People really need to watch out when they drive, too many people get killed because some jerk thinks he owns the road.

By: THellURider

THellURider — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 20:45:12 +0000

I think its a great idea. Finally a new pick up truck with decent offroad capability. I’d be all over it if it had 4 doors, the bed, a V8 or diesel, and a 5 or 6 spd transmission. Especiially if its highway competent asi don’t feel wranglers are. Not comfortable for the longer hauls.

I’d buy it.

By: ironpony42

ironpony42 — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 20:38:12 +0000

Tjeeper called it, this is all AEV. I’d like to convert my ’05 Wrangler into a truck, but I’m not gonna drop 8,000 on a kit and knock it together in my garage. I do like the roof windows, and high fender mod. You can see the argent alloy AEV rim with logo in the cap, and that heat reduction hood is a dead givaway. I’d rather see a JK Truck Diesel, why they are working on a guessied up Brute is anyones guess.

JEEP – GET YER HEAD OUT YER ARSE AND GIVE US DIESEL WRANGLERS!!!!!

- oh, and I can also relate to the bike incident. I woke up on the hood of a Volvo once… My little vintage CB350 was destroyed. Still have a bum shoulder…

By: A4

A4 — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 20:12:27 +0000

i think it looks pretty badass, and if they can work out a way to keep some form of a convertible top in place it will be even more unique in the marketplace as well. Id definatly take it over something like a Tacoma, and jeep really does need to bring back a pickup truck. Everyone that remembers the Comanche loved it. And on top of it, it will cost them very little to produce it since everything from the A-pillar forward is the same, and everything to the back is basically just a bed instead of a seat. They havent got much to lose with it.a

By: ant123

ant123 — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 18:37:45 +0000

it does look like the brute, except the mods on the roof, gas cap location and the hood. The brute are original. These have more lines

By: F451

F451 — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 18:27:11 +0000

I like this…I like it a lot.

By: PavementPounder

PavementPounder — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 18:20:57 +0000

As TJeeper already mentioned, this is pretty much just AEV’s Brute. My guess is that DCX got tired of being shown up by AEV and want to offer AEV’s products directly (Viper plant strategy), or the writer is completely misidentifying it as a DCX product and its just AEV’s SEMA Brute show truck for this year’s show that is based off the new Wrangler platform (very likely). Compare the pics here and you will see that’s what it is:

http://aev-conversions.com/Vehicle_Brute.html

I also think that leftlanenews needs to get some writers that know something about Jeeps to avoid any confusion between “grab-handles” and a freaking WINDSHIELD TIE-DOWN that has existed on short-wheelbase Jeeps since CJ’s were born.

Idiots.

By: GL1

GL1 — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 18:01:25 +0000

dear fatstrat i KNOW exactly how you feel with the bike incident i no longer ride anymore. As my last accident (if you want to call it that) was an old guy in a pick up truck that looked RIGHT AT ME while he ran me off the road and into a field. I broke various body parts and totalled the bike. This was my third major bike wreck in the 15 years I had been riding them and I came to the FINAL reailization that some people are actaully aiming for you because you’re on a bike… jeeezzzz.. I figured i had really pushed the hell outa my luck already and I don’t own one anymore… miss it tho but not enough to let some guy with a pickup murder me on the road..

By: GL1

GL1 — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 17:53:46 +0000

Frankly I like the thing.. and yes they’re really aren’t any good light duty trucks around anymore. This will likely sell pretty well for jeep as long as its at least farily reliable…

By: Fatstrat

Fatstrat — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 17:48:22 +0000

I know this is off topic and I have posted it before but please endulge me as I think it is important and might save a life.

LOOK FOR MOTORCYCLES!
I had an oncoming car turn left in front of me Tuesday morning on my way to work and I t-boned them nearly totaling my bike and only by the Grace of God escaping with only a somewhat balky shoulder and some bruises after flying over bars and the offending car. Take the second look and don’t be in such a hurry.
Thanks
(steps off soap box…very gingerly)

By: Fatstrat

Fatstrat — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 17:38:22 +0000

A hammer isn’t pretty either, but it’s a perfect tool for driving nails.
This jeep isnt pretty either, but is as efficient at what its built to do as a hammer is for its job.
And beauty pagents aren’t on the job description.

By: 1c3d0g

1c3d0g — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 17:26:15 +0000

Joey D: yes, I also recall a very similar vehicle like this, IIRC it was called Comanche. A bit odd that Jeep didn’t provide their 3.0L V-6 Diesel as an option, since it’s readily available for the Grand Cherokee.

By: Jimbo - G Mill$

Jimbo - G Mill$ — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 17:25:28 +0000

some serious ugly went down that day

By: lanapat7

lanapat7 — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 17:13:29 +0000

Looks like the VW Rabbit pickup of the 80′s. Bad idea.

By: bepsf

bepsf — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 16:39:35 +0000

(Yawn)

By: TJeeper

TJeeper — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 16:12:20 +0000

This truck is old news, it has been around for several years. It is produced by a company called AEV, and their touches are all over it. The HEMI install, heat reduction hood, high clearance fenders, custom wheels. They build them to order on the older TJ platform. They are probably working on a kit for TJ owners since the new JK platform is being produced now. What this has to do with DC and the new JK Wrangler, I haven’t a clue.

By: YourNameHere

YourNameHere — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 15:47:24 +0000

what he said. there are no good small trucks. that is where truck buys will be going soon. if they cant afford a big truck they will likly get a small truck before a sedan/suv. and if it looks straight out of an indiana jones movie thats good to!

By: MyGodBeatsYourGod

MyGodBeatsYourGod — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 15:38:16 +0000

Oh sure, with a tig welder and a carbon-fibre autoclave, we all could make Bugattis…

Just because Rock-Climbers-types have modified Jeeps into very specific tools, doesn’t mean that many buyers wouldn’t want a factory-produced and -warrantied cool and tough ride.

The Big 2.5 have given up on small and hip pick-ups. Ranger? Butt old. Colorado? Clunky, chunky, and so un-spunky. This Jeep would be COOL!

By: TimG

TimG — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 15:08:11 +0000

I love it. BUT, it appears to be built using the TJ platform, not the TK of the ’07 Wrangler. And to hearken back to “the day”, they could call it the Scrambler!

By: RustedEmpire

RustedEmpire — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 15:06:14 +0000

even without the provided kit I’m sure it can be done

By: RustedEmpire

RustedEmpire — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 14:53:49 +0000

I see no use for jeep to have a truck…
its a wrangler with a open truck bed…I’m sure many people who are knowledgable with customizing can already do this to an existing one

By: Joey D

Joey D — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 14:52:57 +0000

Didn’t Jeep try a pickup some time ago? I don’t think they did very well because I hardly ever see them. Cool idea, I just don’t think it will sell.

By: BAMF

BAMF — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 14:52:18 +0000

it looks tiny