"The Jeep XJ has always been an icon — a shape etched into our collective memory and a blueprint for the modern utility vehicle."
- Ash Thorp
"The XXJ is my vision of the XJ reimagined as a full-spec Baja machine — all aggression, all speed, yet still true to its original soul."
- Ash Thorp
The Origin...
I’ve always loved the Jeep XJ. It’s one of those rare automotive silhouettes that feels permanently etched into our collective memory — a true icon of its era that helped define what the modern utility vehicle would become. Strangely, I’ve never owned or even driven an XJ myself, but for years it’s lingered in the back of my mind as a platform worthy of exploration. That curiosity eventually turned into an obsession as I dove deep into the massive online archive of builds, mods, and fan knowledge that surrounds the XJ community. It’s a platform celebrated for its modularity and endless potential, and I was fascinated by how far people have pushed it. Yet, one variant I rarely saw was a fully realized Baja-spec monster — a vision of the XJ as a no-compromise desert ripper.
That idea became the foundation for the XXJ, a Make Haste reimagination that amplifies the spirit of the original while reshaping it for pure speed and aggression. The concept started as a conversation with Carlos about our shared love for Baja trucks — those unapologetically functional machines that exist to thrash, leap, and devour terrain. I wanted all of that unrestrained energy embedded into the XJ’s DNA. The goal was to evolve the design while keeping its soul intact — maintaining that iconic boxy stance but refining its proportions, opening up negative spaces, and sculpting new lines that suggest velocity even at rest. We call that “sitting speed,” and the XXJ embodies it completely: a vehicle that looks ready to obliterate the horizon before it even moves.
The Process.
From a process standpoint, this was one of our most technically ambitious projects yet. Huge thanks to our partners at Toyo Tires, who allowed us to digitally recreate one of their actual Baja-spec tires down to the millimeter. We scanned, rebuilt, and textured it entirely in CGI to achieve one-to-one realism — every tread, every imperfection rendered with precision. It’s the first time we’ve applied this level of fidelity to our virtual builds, and the results speak for themselves. The density of detail gives the XXJ a tangible, real-world presence, pushing our digital craftsmanship further than ever before.
The Journey.
In true HASTE fashion, I began the project envisioning the XXJ in matte black — our usual visual signature — but the design evolved organically. To my surprise, a light silver base brought the form to life, amplifying the truck’s geometry while allowing the wild pink-salmon accents and XXJ livery to pop with attitude. It’s a reminder of why I love designing in CGI: you never quite know what will work until you explore, experiment, and let the project lead you somewhere unexpected. This build took around four to six months of off-and-on development, with moments where I nearly lost steam — but thanks to Carlos’s relentless energy and Clayton’s brilliant modeling work, the vision stayed alive. Together we brought the XXJ to its final form — a bold tribute to one of the most recognizable shapes in automotive history, reborn to race across the dunes.
"We wanted it to look like it could drive over almost anything at full speed — what we call sitting speed."
- Haste
"You never know what will work until you explore — that’s the beauty of building in CGI: the process itself becomes discovery."
- Ash Thorp
CREDITS
Design + Modeling + Rendering - Ash Thorp
3D Modeler - Clayton Sjoerdsma
Tire Scan + Processing - Eric Martin + Clayton Sjoerdsma
Toyo Tire - Stan Chen
[:: ACCESS NODE: HASTE.PROJECTS.46A ::]
> UPLINK: LUDICROUS SPEED SCIENCE INC.
> ID: 6851-1588-8868-08576
> INIT: 050520 / STATUS: STABLE
-- CREATOR MODULE --
> ASH THORP
> CARLOS PECINO (COLORSPONGE)
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INFO@MAKEHASTECORP.COM
MAKEHASTECORP.COM
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