Jeep has presented its first fully electric concept vehicle, the Wrangler Magneto. Jeep has simply converted a Wrangler Rubicon and replaced the combustion engine with an electric motor – which, bizarrely, is connected to a six-speed manual transmission.

Jeep said it plans to test and improve the Magneto… over the next three years. While the Wrangler concept is being used as a careful proof-of-concept, the transmission and gear-shift certainly come as a surprise. The company claims that it provides greater off-road control, and that drivers can also just use the throttle and brake. Unlike most other EVs, power delivery is not at 100% immediately, providing a torque curve “that comes on early and remains flat”.

The Jeep concept is said to be able to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 6.8 seconds, however no mention was made of the range at this stage.

motorauthority.com, cnbc.com, electriccarsreport.com, stellantis.com