In 2009, the Jeep design team wowed attendees at the 43rd annual Easter Jeep Safari with the radically modified Jeep Wrangler Lower 40. Rolling at stock ride to maintain its center of gravity, the two-door Lower 40 accommodated huge 40-inch mud-terrain tires while packing a 5.7-liter V-8 under hood for prodigious power. An instant classic, the Lower 40 still draws a crowd a decade-and-a-half later and remains one of the fan favorites of all EJS concepts.
The new Low Down concept pays homage to the Lower 40, in which by some creative clearance work, this new Jeep Wrangler concept squeezes massive 42-inch BFGoodrich Krawler 42×14.5R20 mud-terrain tires mounted on 20-inch beadlock wheels under its custom high-clearance carbon fender flares. The stock Wrangler Rubicon 392 suspension remains intact, but Dana 60 axles with 5.38 gears replace the standard Dana 44 axles with 4:10 gears. Between the diameter of the tires and the shortening of the front and rear bumpers, the Low Down’s center of gravity remains low, while the ground clearance, breakover, and approach and departure angles all get dramatic increases.
The body, coated in deep Poison Apple Red paint, is streamlined via removal of the rear door handles, a custom carbon hood with see-through power dome and a bespoke race-style fuel filler door located in the driver-side rear quarter panel. The interior features custom black leather seats with cloth inserts, Rhino-lined floors and a custom radio-delete instrument panel. A purpose-built, red-tinted bikini top casts a warm red glow upon the interior compartment.
Like its Lower 40 predecessor, the Jeep Low Down is powered by a V-8 engine, though in this modern interpretation, that translates to the formidable 475-horsepower 6.4-liter 392 V-8 engine, which is mated to an eight-speed automatic.
