Product: CJ3b
Manufacturer: Icon Motors
Wired Rating: 8
Back when LPs were the state of the art, the Willys CJ3B was king of the trail. Unfortunately, its motor skills haven’t aged as well as its looks. So Icon Motors has produced an aesthetically faithful update. Did we say update? More like a total reengineering. The new steel body is protected by a Teflon polyester powdercoat; leaf springs are replaced by a fully independent suspension. The four-cylinder engine makes 205 horsepower but gets 23 mpg. The 4WD system is adapted from a 2010 Jeep. And while the original 3B topped out around 50 mph, we throttled the Icon down LA freeways at over 80. When we hit the Miller Jeep Trail, we switched into 4WD low and went way beyond our comfort zone without a hiccup.
WIRED ATV-narrow and insanely capable. Every light is LED—from dashboard to headlamps. Just try to scratch the paint—we drove through a big-ass thornbush and wiped away the evidence with a rag.
TIRED 83 grand. Just like on the original, high-beam switch is next to the clutch—easy to hit by accident. Shifter feels sloppy … er, retro.