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

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

BTCC 2018: Neal wins Diamond Double at Snetterton

Image
Neal clinched victory in the extended Diamond Double race Jack Goff stars in qualifying and race one, while veteran Neal clinches glory in double-length finale Triple British Touring Car champion Matt Neal clinched victory in the special extended Diamond Double race at Snetterton, held to mark the 60th anniversary of the series in his Honda Civic Type R . Rising stars Jack Goff and Ashley Sutton also took race wins at the Norfolk track. Instead of the usual reverse-grid finale, the third race at Snetterton was extended from 12 laps to 20, with double championship points on offer and no success ballast. The race also featured its own separate qualifying session. Picture special: 60 years of the BTCC That was good news for Eurotech driver Goff, who went fastest in both qualifying sessions to claim two pole positions in his Civic Type R. He made the first one count, pulling out a big lead in treacherous wet conditions.  The young guns of the BTCC Behind Goff, reigning champion
Read more

Japan's micro sports cars – Honda and Daihatsu kei cars driven

Image
S660 and Copen are the only kei sports cars in production Kei cars are big in Japan, but do they deliver driving thrills? We sample a pair in Tokyo to find out When the American style of christening storms came to Britain a couple of years ago, it was inevitable that some wag in the Met Office would find a way to undermine the whole concept with an underwhelming name to snigger about.  Storm Brian was the result. It’s a fine English name but perhaps lacking the gravitas of many of those coined overseas. “In terms of impact, we’ve had spray overtopping quaysides,” someone from the Environment Agency told the BBC of Brian’s pummelling of Cornwall. Top marks for not trying, Brian.  While Brian was doing his thing on the other side of the world, Typhoon Lan – now there’s a name – was homing in on southern Japan, bringing with it 140mph winds and a storm that made photographer Stan Papior wish he’d invested in a waterproof camera and jacket.  Look really closely at some of his pictur
Read more