Jeep Mopar concepts at Moab Safari

But don't think these are just pie-in-the-sky concepts with little connection to reality - much of the gear on these concepts is likely to appear in a future Mopar catalogue.

The Mopar Underground design team has shown off some of its tweaked Jeep machines, as well as the Grand Cherokee, to the faithful at the recent 43rd annual Moab Jeep Safari, in Utah.

The team, in existence since 2002, has delivered more than a dozen on-the-edge Jeep vehicles and go-better bits, and chief designer Mark Allen says the skunkworks has a passion for off-road machines equal to the enthusiastic crowds at the Moab Jeep Safari.

"Moab Jeep Safari provides a great venue and works as a proving ground to test Jeep vehicle concepts driven alongside Jeep brand enthusiasts, who can provide immediate feedback at the event.

"As a result, we use knowledge gained at this off-road event to explore new directions for Jeep platforms and to develop Mopar Performance Parts and Accessories to suit these vehicles," he says.

Local Jeep spokesman Jerry Stamoulis says the Mopar team is utilising some Australian aftermarket equipment in the concept cars.

"A couple of the cars are using ARB accessories … the Wrangler Overland has an ARB roof-mounted tent and a rear-locker; the Grand Cherokee has an ARB bumper as well,” Stamoulis says.

"It's good to see the Australian stuff getting recognition in the US and being used by Mopar for these vehicles.”

Stamoulis says new Grand Cherokee was also shown to the Moab faithful ahead of its 2010 U.S. launch.

"We don't have a date yet, the U.S. will start selling it mid next year, right-hand drive and diesel have been confirmed but we don't have an exact date, hopefully it will be near the end of 2010, eaarly 2011," he says.

Three key Jeep models have been given the Mopar treatment.

The Jeep Wrangler Overland - based on a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited four-door - sits on 17in wheels (with chunky off-road rubber) and a 2.5 inch Mopar lift kit and is what the company calls "a mobile self-contained campsite."

The cabin is trimmed in water-resistant materials, the rear seats have been replaced with a rear cargo area with a rubber floor, with the roof rack fitted with a ARB two-person Simpson II rooftop-mounted tent and awning.

The current Grand Cherokee has been given the Mopar treatment to be re-named Grand Canyon II.

The most luxurious Mopar off-roader yet has been given more off-road ability with 285/70R17 tyres and a Superlift 4-inch suspension system. The approach angle has been improved with an ARB high-clearance front bumper and Mopar heavy-duty rock rails.

But the hotrod of the Mopar trio is the Jeep Lower Forty, based on the Wrangler platform but with 40in x 13.5in tyres on Mopar 20in forged aluminium wheels.

The Mopar team aimed to maintain the Wrangler's centre of gravity with extra ground clearance with the wheel/tyre package without a lift kit, so the body and guards were cut and customised, as was the windscreen, which lost three inches in height and gained 10 degrees of rake.

The bonnet is now a one-piece-carbon-fibre panel, the rear has an all-new tailgate and there's also an all-new roll cage, but the best bit lies beneath the new bonnet.

The Lower Forty is powered by an all-new 5.7-litre HEMI V8 engine and a Getrag 238 six-speed manual transmission, driving all four wheels via Dana axles and ARB air-locker diffs.