You mean $1750.00 plus tax and auction fee on a Government Auction Site or the price that the US Government originally paid in 1970 for a truck designed in 1949?

Here is what I have to say about American vehicles-- sub par in a lot of respects. Take a look at the capabilities of the Unimog 5000 series (I think MB is also screwing up the works by overly complicating the design with needless features) or Tatra's T 810 series trucks and you will find vehicles that have amazing capabilities off-road.

As for the gadgets-- I don't see how sat-radio, power mirrors, cruise control, climate control, alarm system, USB, Power Outlets, sat-navigation, alpine sound system, a built in thermometer, compass, heated seats, humidity sensor and so on and so forth makes for a safer vehicle.

ABS great for the highway not so good on the trail, Airbags-- also great on the highway-- no so good on the trial. But okay, I'll say those are at least productive features.

But what features would make the Jeep in my eyes more attractive are the following:

CTIS
Portal Axles
Driver controlled differential locks in any range at any speed.
Transfer Case with operator controlled locking differential in it. That way you could run say 4x4 at speeds above 55mph without putting as much stress on the system. Then when you want to lock up the entire system for hard terrain bam-- hit the locks and 100% traction is afforded to you.
Ground Clearance about 11 inches minimum.
Turbo Diesel Engine with about 200hp and 520ft-lbs of torque operating at 2400-2600rpm with a load on it.
Gearbox-- 8spd manual type unit.
Capable fording 48 inches from the factory.
Grade Capability: >100% on certain surfaces.
Side Slope: >30%

That to me would be the ideal Jeep vehicle. Something that is basically a 75% off-road and 25% happy on the road type truck. And you frankly, I would leave out all the electronic do-dads that are really only for comfort out of the design. From my perspective those things are basically just things designed to sell a vehicle to people who plan on being in traffic all day long. Instead I say build a vehicle that is about really going places way out of the way.