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april 28, 2016 - Jeep

Moab 2016: the Jeep® Legend among the Stone "Cathedrals"

The annual Jeep® brand #event kicked off in the town of Moab, Utah, on the banks of the Colorado River, among the snow-covered rocky mountains and beneath a sky speckled with clouds and threatening rain. It is one of the natural beauties of the Wild West, and above all, it’s where the magnificent natural off-road trail that winds through the Canyonland is located. 

The images can be downloaded from this link, and this link takes you to the videos of the adventurous "Jeep Moab Media Drive 2016", the #jeep #event featuring eight historical models, 15 "75th Anniversary” special edition cars, and seven show cars that celebrated together the landmark #jeep brand's 75-year history studded with records, legendary models and sales successes.  

Guests of the #event met up at the Sorrel River Ranch, whose name is the same as the coat of the American quarter horses and the same colour as the breath-taking rocky mountains surrounding the property. Located near the river and established in 1903 to breed livestock, today the ranch is a famous tourist attraction set in a region of such rare beauty that about 50 Hollywood films have been shot here. They range from the first western Stagecoach (1939) starring John Wayne to more recent films, such as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), Thelma & Louise (1991) and Mission: Impossible II (2000). 

The wildest of nature dominates this corner of the USA, a kaleidoscope of colors that today is enhanced by the exclusive green of the "75th Anniversary” special series. This new and unique shade goes perfectly well with the bronze-colored rims and exterior bronze and tangerine inserts. Available on every model of the range and produced in a limited edition, the exclusive special series is also distinguished by the dedicated badge, unique interiors and the "75th Anniversary" logo embossed on the seats. 

This aesthetic aspect is certainly not the only peculiarity of the 15 #jeep "75th Anniversary" SUVs on display at the “Moab Media Drive 2016”. It is enough to see them in action on the demanding off-road route laid out by the #jeep team to appreciate the legendary #4x4 capabilities of the #jeep brand, which has always been the genuine point of reference in off-road driving since 1941. The route started at an altitude of 1500 metres a.s.l. and then continued upward to a plateau of over 2000 metres a.s.l. where a cold wind swept away the last clouds left in the sky. The view was breath-taking and extended far away to the spectacular natural arches, the gigantic sandstone "cathedrals" of the Arches National Park that nature forged over 180 million years ago, and where the earliest human settlement dates to just 15,000 years ago. 

Following a brief stop, the 15 #jeep "75th Anniversary” SUVs resumed their journey on an even tougher stretch, where they traveled in the midst of rocky cliffs on both sides, with the utmost concentration. The #jeep team that followed and assisted with the more complex maneuvers made sure that the journey was totally safe. In some stretches, the rock was followed by sand and the caravan carried on sinuously like a reptile over the sunny and arid ground. Immersed in the most uncontaminated nature, the 15 #jeep vehicles easily passed all the off-road tests and then drove back to the Sorrel River Ranch. 

Eight historic #jeep models and seven new #jeep show cars, paying homage to the 75th anniversary by reinterpreting some models of the past, were reflected on the water of the river near the ranch. Arranged in a semi-circle, but ready to be tested in a restricted area, the 15 cars are a clear expression of the great and undying American dream. 

The seven #jeep show cars are certainly not new to the rough routes of the Moab. It was precisely here where they made their debut at the 50th edition of the Easter #jeep Safari, the biggest #4x4 #event in the world. They are unique vehicles created by a special #jeep team that since 2002 has been customizing production vehicles with #mopar accessories and #jeep Performance Parts, the latter not available in Europe, in order to accentuate their performance. Up until today more than 50 prototypes have been created for this gathering that every year welcomes thousands of fans for an adventurous week in Utah. 

The #event offered a unique experience aboard the unstoppable #jeep Renegade Commander, #jeep Trailstorm and #jeep Comanche show cars. They are the ideal vehicles for venturing off every beaten path. Accompanying them is the #jeep Crew Chief 715, a tribute to the military vehicles of the U.S. brand; the #jeep Shortcut, a vehicle inspired by the classic CJ-5; and the #jeep FC 150, with its traditional cab-over design for a vehicle brimming with history. Closing the line-up is the #jeep Trailcat show car fitted with the indomitable 707 HP of its 6.2-liter HEMI Hellcat V-8 engine. 

Eight ‘gems’ of the past were also exhibited at the "Jeep Moab Media Drive 2016". These vehicles not only marked some of the milestones of the #jeep brand, but also depicted the evolution in the utilization of SUVs: from unstoppable war machine, to faithful work companion in farmhouses, recreation vehicle for families and superior class car for urban customers. 

These charms of the past can be relieved by climbing on board the legendary Willys-Overland MB (1941 – 1945) or the mythical CJ-2A (1945 – 1949), the first modern off-road vehicle of the automotive industry. They are teamed up with the Willys Wagon (1946 – 1965), the stationwagon that offered versatility and room for seven people, and the #jeep CJ-5 (1955 – 1973), produced on the base of the 1951 M-38A1 model used in the military field. Thrills are also guaranteed with the other vehicles at the #event: the #jeep Cherokee (SJ) produced from 1974 to 1983 for off-road enthusiasts , the #jeep Cherokee (XJ) of 1984-2001,the first #suv with unibody , and the #jeep Grand Wagoneer (1984-1991), thebenchmark of the time in the Premium #suv segment. Finally, the #jeep Grand Cherokee (1993-2004) thatfamously first appeared by crashing through the convention center glass at the North American International #auto Show in Detroit during its introduction there on January 7, 1992.

The “Jeep Moab Media Drive 2016”  comes to an end in the midst of the natural beauties of Utah and the fascinating models of today and yesterday, leaving one certainty behind: whatever the challenges of the future may be, the #jeep brand will always be able to count on an extraordinary human styling and technological heritage as an inexhaustible source of inspiration for the SUVS of tomorrow. The #jeep legend continues.