Detroit, MI - Jeep has revived the Gladiator name for their latest concept vehicle, shown today at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
What some insiders are telling us is that the front end of the Gladiator IS the 2007 Wrangler, however, officials will not confirm or deny it.
Jeep enthusiasts have been asking for a pickup truck or a Scrambler-like Jeep for some time now and it looks like their wishes are at least being heard. We already know that when DaimlerChrysler puts out a concept it usually means they are actually considering building something and they want public opinion. In many cases, if opinions are strong enough, they are quick to produce the car. Looking at the Gladiator, we hope that opinions are favorable!
Riding on a 138.4" wheelbase, the Gladiator is powered by the same 2.8L I-4 295 lb-ft of torque and 163 hp Turbo Diesel found in the Liberty CRD models. The engine is backed up by a manual transmission and NV231 transfer case, which provides 2WD, 4HI and 4LO modes.
The Gladiator uses a four-link suspension with coils in front and a five-link in the rear. Control arms are similar in design, though not appearance, to the current Wranglers and are longer to accomodate the longer wheelbase of the truck. Axles are solid at both ends with 3.73 gears and feature switchable lockers. Wheels are 18" x 8" and are shod with 265/75R18 (33.64" x 10.43") Goodyear MT/R tires.
The Gladiator measures 205" long. For comparison sake, a Jeep Unlimited is 165.1" to the rear bumper. The Gladiator is also 8.3" wider than a Wrangler, measuring 76.6" and is 3.5" taller, coming in at 74.8". All that extra size means extra heft. The truck weighs in at 4,150 lb. (est).
The Gladiator features an expandable bed. The standard setup is a 5' 8" long bed. Following trends set by other vehicles on the market, it also features an expandable midgate, which allows the bed length to increase to 6' 8". Drop the tailgate and you have 8' 11" of length - enough to carry a sheet of plywood.
In keeping with Jeep heritage, the Gladiator features a side-mounted spare and integrated winch up front. The interior also features an open-air canvas top for sunny day fun.
Jeep ® Gladiator Preliminary Specifications:
Vehicle Weight: 4,150 lb (est.)
Length: 205" (5,207 mm)
Wheelbase: 138.4" (3,515 mm)
Front Overhang: 28.3" (718 mm)
Rear Overhang: 38.3" (974 mm)
Width (MAX): 76.6" (1,947 mm)
Height: 74.8" (1,900 mm)
Track, Frt/Rr: 65.6"/66.2"
Bed Length: 5’ 8" (1,725 mm)
(midgate expanded) – 6’ 8" (2,026 mm)
(expanded w/ tailgate down - minimum) - 8’ 11" (2,723 mm)
Engine: 2.8L 1-4 Turbo Diesel
Part time 4x4; Manual 5-speed Trans.
Suspension:
Front - Solid Axle w/ 5 bar links
Single coil springs
Rear - Solid Axle w/ 5 bar links
Dual Coilover Springs
Ground Clearance - 13.7" (348 mm)
Front/Rear Tire Size: 265/75R18"
Wheel Size: 18" x 8"
