Chris Hansen
With 625 hp and 850 lb-ft of instant torque, the Wrangler Magneto 2.0 concept is an absurdly quick 4×4.
BY LUCAS BELL
As the Easter holiday approaches, thousands of hardcore off-roaders are currently gearing up for the 56th Annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari. As has become tradition, Jeep has unveiled a suite of new concept trucks slated to arrive at the event. Among these machines is the Jeep Wrangler Magneto 2.0, which might just be the brand’s coolest EV concept yet.
Fans of the Jeep brand will surely remember the original Wrangler Magneto concept from 2021. Arriving as our first taste of what Jeep’s future might look like, the Magneto concept is an entirely electric off-roader complete with a six-speed manual gearbox. Thanks to four 800-volt battery packs providing 70 kWh of juice, the original Magneto concept could rival the performance of a V-6-powered Wrangler. With 285 hp and 273 lb-ft, the SUV could run the 0-60 in just 6.8 seconds—quick for anything this side of a 392. At least that seemed quick, but the new Wrangler Magneto 2.0 takes things to an entirely different level.
The Magneto 2.0 features the same 800-volt battery packs as its predecessor, though they now power a custom axial flux electric motor. Not satisfied with the performance of the last year’s Magneto, Jeep more than doubled the total amperage of the system, allowing the SUV to produce 625 hp and 850 lb-ft of torque. The system can even hold peak amperage for up to 10 seconds, which Jeep says is like using nitrous with a gas-powered car. According to the automaker, that helps the SUV make the 0-60 mph sprint in just 2.0 seconds. Even more impressive is the fact that this truck still retains a six-speed manual gearbox.
The folks at Jeep had to do a lot of modifying to make sure the truck can handle all that power. That starts with the chassis, where Jeep added 12-inches to the wheelbase, mirroring the looks of an older LJ Wrangler. From there the automaker installed its Rubicon Rock-Trac transfer case, as well as a new 3.36 ratio for first gear. A Dynatrac 60 Pro-Rock front axle works alongside a Pro-Rock Dynatrac 80 rear axle, both of which feature lockers. All of that performance is put to the ground via a set of 20-inch wheels wrapped in massive 40-inch tires.
Visually the Wrangler Magneto 2.0 is set off with a coat of unique Surf Blue paint, which is accented by a ton of carbon fiber. The carbon hood even features a viewing window for the powertrain, similar to a C6 Corvette ZR1. Other tweaks include a fully carbon B-pillar, as well as a custom bikini top.
The future of the Jeep brand is going to feature a ton of electric vehicles, and it’s clear the automaker already has an idea of how to make these machines fun. And while I’m sure many of the Jeep faithful will find the other concepts just as interesting, the Magneto 2.0 is perhaps the most interesting of the bunch. Besides, a 2.0-second sprint to 60 mph in a Wrangler has to be something.
