There’s a nimble and powerful 4×4 attracting a lot of attention. It’s called the “General,” and it was revealed at the 2024 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The General features a vintage military-style design, combined with a brawny, modern powerplant and stout drivetrain. Inside, it boasts an array of passenger-friendly creature comforts.

Raise the General’s hood, and you’ll see a potent 6.2-liter GM LS3 V8. You’ll also find an Eddie Motorsports Raven Series pulley kit, a Powermaster 170-amp alternator, a Be Cool cooling system, and much more.

525-Horsepower, 486 Pound-Feet Of Torque

The foundation of the General is a custom, two-door Jeep Wrangler JK-sized chassis. Bolted to the framerails is a 6.2-liter GM LS3 V8. This potent 376 cubic-inch Gen-IV engine produces 525 horsepower and 486 pound-feet of torque. Its features include a cast-aluminum block, hypereutectic aluminum pistons, a hydraulic roller cam, and aluminum heads. It draws air through a high-mount K&N air filter and expels exhaust gases via a custom 3-inch-diameter exhaust system with a Borla muffler. The engine is fitted with an Eddie Motorsports Raven Series LS Chevy S-Drive 6 Rib Pulley Kit, which includes U.S.-made, CNC-machined billet aluminum brackets and pulleys. Additionally, it features an SFI-approved balancer and a Powermaster Performance 170-amp alternator.

The General’s engine coolant temperature is managed by a Be Cool universal radiator with dual 10-inch Be Cool electric fans. Also under the hood are Redhorse Performance AN fittings for fuel and engine coolant connections, an Odyssey battery, and a PSC Motorsports power steering pump that feeds a PSC Big Bore XD steering gearbox. Additionally, there’s a Wide Open Design HydroBoost Brake Kit with a Wilwood master cylinder.

Beefy 4L65-E Automatic Transmission And A Rugged Atlas Transfer Case

The General’s driveline consists of components that were hand-picked for their reliability and strength. Bolted to the 6.2-liter LS engine is a beefy Finish Line Transmissions Stage 5 4L65-E automatic transmission. This transmission is packed with upgraded and new parts, comes dyno-tested, and features a satin black powdercoated case, bellhousing, and tailhousing. Power is split to the axles via an Advance Adapters Atlas two-speed transfer case with a 3.8:1 low-range ratio. This gear-driven T-case includes a heat-treated one-piece aluminum case, helical-cut gears, and strong 8620 steel shafts.

Like the front, the rear axle is a Currie HD60 with 4.88 gearing and an Eaton ELocker, and it’s mated to a four-link long-arm suspension with Fox coilovers and Fox hydraulic bumpstops.

Currie HD60 Axles, Eaton ELocker Locking Differentials, And More

Sprouting from the T-case are a pair of driveshafts with 1350 U-joints, created by Tom Wood’s Custom Driveshafts. These feed a pair of beefy Currie HD60 front and rear axles. Each HD60 is built with a reinforced centersection and large 3.5-inch-diameter, 0.375-inch-thick DOM axletubes. The rear axle has 40-spline axleshafts, while the front has Currie chromoly 35-spline inner and 32-spline outer axleshafts. Each axle is fitted with 4.88:1 gears and an Eaton ELocker electronic selectable locking differential.

To ensure the General’s forward velocity can be easily reined in, the front axle is fitted with Wilwood six-piston brake calipers, and the rear axle has four-piston brake calipers. Bolted to the axles are a set of 9-inch-wide KMC Riot SBL wheels, paired with meaty 39X13.50R17 BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 tires. To ensure the big 39s can be pointed reliably, there’s a strong Steer Smarts Yeti XD drag link and tie-rod assembly.

Four-Link, Long-Arm Suspension With Coilovers

The General is designed to be a serious and competent on- and off-road vehicle, so the rig’s suspension features a top-of-the-line four-link long-arm system with Steer Smarts Yeti XD adjustable track bars, Fox 2.5 remote-reservoir coilovers with adjusters, and Fox hydraulic bumpstops. The result is said to be predictable handling and a smooth ride on-road, with an off-road-friendly 12 inches of front suspension travel and 14 inches of rear travel. Contributing to the impressive wheel travel are front and rear RockJock 4×4 by John Currie Antirock sway bar kits. One of the cool things about the Antirock system is that it helps provide suspension articulation without the need to disconnect the sway bar ends, as with a standard sway bar. Finally, the rig was designed so that its 39-inch-diameter tires do not contact the body or frame throughout the suspension cycle.

The General resembles a Willys Jeep CJ-2A, but in fact, it’s 20 percent larger. For comparison, it’s about the same size as a two-door Jeep Wrangler JK.

Aluminum Body, Warn 8274 Winch, And More

Of course, one of the most attention-grabbing aspects of the General is its body design. It resembles a Willys Jeep CJ-2A but is over 20 percent larger. Among other things, this increase in size results in improved leg and shoulder room. In fact, the overall body size is comparable to that of a two-door Wrangler JK. The General’s body is fabricated from 1/8-inch-thick aluminum, primarily 5051.

The General’s exterior modifications consist of items that improve its overall function. The front bumper is a Next Venture Motorsports 8274 Aluminum Adventure Series winch-capable bumper. This bumper is made from 1/4- and 3/16-inch-thick aluminum and has 1-inch-thick steel recovery points. Additionally, its 1/4-inch-thick steel winch tray secures a 10,000-pound-capacity Warn 8274 winch. Furthermore, the bumper’s pair of light ports are fitted with Rigid Industries amber fog lights.

Out back is a custom bumper fitted with a pair of Rigid lights and recovery points. Other exterior features include six rollbar-mounted Rigid lights, a fold-down tailgate, and Ford Eruption Green paint. The paint color is a nod to the rig’s military-like design.

Heated Seats, Wireless Cellphone Chargers, And Lokar Shifters

There’s nothing military-like about the General’s interior. It features a tilt-capable Ididit steering column, a Billet Specialties steering wheel, Lokar Performance Products pedals, and custom carpet. Up front are a pair of heated PRP seats with lumbar adjustability, and out back is a bench seat. The custom dash is fitted exclusively with Auto Meter gauges, and they’re center-mounted. Other dash features include vents for the Vintage Air heating system, a control knob for the windshield wipers, and a lockable glovebox for secure storage. The center console houses the Lokar transmission and transfer case shifters, a Sony touchscreen audio head unit, Vintage Air heat and ventilation controls, a pair of wireless cellphone chargers, and a duo of cupholders. Additionally, there’s a Switch-Pros SP9100 eight-switch panel power system that provides controls for the heated seats, vehicle lighting, and differential lockers.

The General Is Produced By AP Vehicles

The General is a product of AP Vehicles (APV), a division of Illinois-based Attitude Performance. Attitude Performance is a family-owned company with over 50 years of aftermarket off-road experience. They company is known for building everything from trail-ready to award-winning, show-quality 4x4s. APV was created to offer high-end vehicles for clients wanting something totally unique. The team set out to design and build a quality vehicle that would stand apart from other vehicles both visually and in capability. After countless hours of drawing, testing, and fitting, the result is the retro yet modernized General. The vehicle featured here is the company’s first, proof-of-concept vehicle.

There are several levels of the General available from APV, and following the military theme, they range from One Star to Five Stars. The vehicle featured here is a One Star with options. The Two Star version has a 600-horsepower 7.0-liter LS engine, the Three Star has a 700-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter LS engine, and the Four Star has an 800-horsepower 7.0-liter LS engine. The Five Star version is fitted with a custom drivetrain. There is an array of options for the General, regardless of build level. Pricing for the General starts at $224,000.

The Bottom Line

Not only is the General a looker, but we’re told that it’s effortless to drive on pavement and an animal off-road. In fact, it went straight from the carpet at the 2024 SEMA Show to rugged trails in the Southwest for several days of off-roading. It’s a unique, attention-grabbing, modernized military-style classic that works.

Photos by APV