Driving the Jeep Magneto, an electric concept with a manual transmission

Enlarge / The Magneto 2.0 is a modified Jeep Wrangler with an EV powertrain. (credit: JIm Resnick)

MOAB, Utah-First things first: This cliff-climbing battery-electric Jeep concept vehicle is not headed for production, despite the hopes of many Jeep fans assembled in Moab, Utah, for this year's Jeep Easter Safari. The Magneto is an open-book or life-sized laboratory into the mind of Jeep and the brand's future.

The company has already begun to embrace the future of battery-electric propulsion, and actually, the Wrangler 4xe is the best-selling plug-in hybrid in America. In fact, Jeep showed its first iteration of the Magneto last year, though with a simple drivetrain of just 285 hp (213 kW). Jeep has rapidly awakened to a variety of uses and iterations of battery-electric power to the extent that five of the seven concept vehicles it has recently shown to the press and public use electric propulsion. And the zenith of all this is the Magneto 2.0. And we've driven it.

The Magneto began life as a regular Wrangler, but Jeep lengthened the wheelbase 12 inches (305 mm) and fitted huge 40-inch-tall tires mounted to 20-inch wheels. Huge differentials supported by heavily beefed-up suspension bits live underneath, while a throwback bikini top and an early '60s SoCal custom-ish paint scheme keep the visuals fun.

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