New Jeep Gladiator: heavy-duty pick-up launched

Jeep Gladiator
Jeep Gladiator
Wrangler-based machine is designed to meet the popularity of pick-ups in North America - and offers plenty of off-road ability

Jeep has revealed the Gladiator, its new heavy duty pick-up track based on the Wrangler, at the Los Angeles motor show.

The new machine, the first pick-up Jeep has produced since the Comanche went off sale in 1992, is designed to cash in on the hugely lucrative and growing North American pick-up market. It will go on sale there next year, although it is not known if there are any plans for it to come to Europe yet. 

The Gladiator has been designed to marry the Wrangler’s off-road ability with the practicality of a pick-up, with Jeep boss Tim Kuniskis saying that it combines “combined rugged utility, versatility and functionality”, and was developed due to “tremendous demand” from customers.

The pick-up features the same body-on-frame chassis design as the Wrangler, and takes heavy styling cues from the off-roader. That includes the familiar headlight and front grille design, although it features extra ventilation to help cool the engine when it is being used for towing.

The Gladiator is 787mm longer than the four-door Wrangler and, in Crew Cab configuration, features a 1524mm load bay. Jeep says the Gladiator can carry loads of up to 725kg, and has 4370kg of towing capacity. 

It will be offered with either a 3.6-litre V6 petrol or, from 2020, a 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine, with eight-speed automatic or six-speed manual gearboxes offered.

Depending on spec, two different all-wheel-drive systems are available, with both offering full-time torque management. It will be available with electric front- and rear-axle locks, a limited slip differential and electronic sway-bar disconnect.

The Gladiator sits on 17inch wheels, with Rubicon spec models using 33-inch off-road tyres, and Jeep promises 11.1 inches of ground clearance.

The interior features LED information displays up to 7inches in size depending on spec, along with an smartphone-compatible infotainment touchscreen of up to 8.4 inches, plus a number of USB and power sockets.

The Gladiator will be built at Jeep’s plant in Toledo, Ohio.

Read more

The history of Jeep pick-ups

Tackling the Rubicon Trail in a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

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