Jeep Gladiator (JT)

Jeep Gladiator (JT)
Overview
Manufacturer	FCA US LLC (Jeep division)
Production	April 2019-present
Model years	2020-present
Assembly	Toledo Complex, Ohio
Body and chassis
Class	Mid-size pickup truck
Layout	Front-engine, four-wheel-drive
Related	Jeep Wrangler (JL)
Powertrain
Engine	3.6L Pentastar V6
Transmission	6-speed manual 8-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	137.3 in (3,487 mm)
Length	218.0 in (5,537 mm)
Width	73.8 in (1,875 mm)
Height	73.1–76.1 in (1,857–1,933 mm)
Curb weight	4,650–5,072 lb (2,109–2,301 kg)
Chronology
Predecessor	Jeep Gladiator (SJ) Jeep Comanche Ram Dakota

The Jeep Gladiator is a midsize pickup truck manufactured by the Jeep division of FCA US. It was introduced at the 2018 LA Auto Show on November 28, 2018, and went on sale in the spring of 2019. Based on the same platform as the Wrangler JL, the Gladiator is Jeep's first pickup truck since the Comanche was discontinued in 1992.

History

The vehicle's name harkens back to the original Jeep Gladiator, made from 1962-1988 and known as the J-Series after 1971. Jeep considered reviving the Gladiator name alongside Comanche and most commonly Scrambler, as well as simply using a new name, before deciding on Gladiator, feeling it fits the truck the best.

A version of a Jeep Scrambler pickup truck was shown in 2003 at the North American Dealers Association. In late-2004 the Jeep Gladiator concept was introduced.

Exterior design

Jeep Gladiator (JT) rear

The all-new four-door, five-passenger midsize Gladiator features exterior and interior styling cues from the Wrangler JL. Taylor Langhals was the lead exterior designer on Gladiator. Because a truck is frequently used for both hauling and towing, the front grille slots were enlarged to allow for increased airflow and heavier-duty engine cooling. A full-sized spare tire, normally mounted on the Wrangler's rear tailgate, is mounted underneath the cargo bed of the Gladiator.

Four different roof options are available, similar to those on the Wrangler JL, including a black vinyl Sun-Rider soft top and a premium black fabric Sun-Rider soft top (both of which can be fully retracted), a black Freedom-Top three-piece hard top, and a color-keyed Freedom-Top three-piece hard top, both of which have removable aluminum roof panels.

The truck has front and rear doors that can be fully removed, as well as a windshield that can be lowered (like the Wrangler JL, Jeep includes a tool kit with the tools necessary to remove the doors and lower the windshield). The Gladiator is unique in that it is the only truck available with a removable roof.

Launch Edition

Jeep celebrated the launch of the all-new Gladiator with the limited-edition Launch Edition model. Available for preorder only through a special website, and only on April 4th, 2019 (Jeep 4X4 Day), the Launch Edition is based on the top-of-the-line Rubicon trim level, and includes all available options on that trim level with no additional options available. Available for an MSRP of $62,310, only 4,190 limited-edition Launch Edition Gladiators will be produced (the number "4,190" pays homage to the "419" area code of Toledo, Ohio, the home of Toledo Complex where the Gladiator is assembled). Special features that distinguish the Launch Edition from other Gladiator models include special badging, special wheels, and a leather-wrapped instrument panel with red stitching. The Launch Edition is available in five colors: Black, Bright White, Firecracker Red, Granite Crystal Metallic, and Billet Silver Metallic.

Trim levels

The Gladiator is available in base Sport, mid-level Sport S, luxurious Overland, and off-road ready Rubicon. The Gladiator and Wrangler JL diverge when it comes to their luxury trim levels. The luxury Wrangler gets the "Sahara" name, while the luxury trim on the Gladiator is known as the "Overland" model. The Overland trim gets a hand-wrapped panel with a soft-touch surface.

Powertrain

At launch, the only engine option for the Gladiator will be the 3.6L Pentastar V6 gasoline engine with Variable Valve Timing (VVT) and an Electronic Stop-Start System (ESS), and like the Wrangler JL, will produce 280 horsepower. However, a 3.0L EcoDiesel Turbocharged V6 diesel engine will become available in 2020. The 3.6 will be mated to either a six-speed manual transmission, or the Wrangler JL's ZF 850RE eight-speed automatic transmission. All Gladiator models will be four-wheel drive.

Payload and towing capacities

Payload for the Gladiator is 1,600 lb (730 kg). The bed of the truck can be optionally equipped with a rear folding tonneau cover, which features a "Weekend Warrior Mode" that allow for the tailgate to be closed and 2 x 4 lumber to be hauled in the pickup bed and only one section of the tonneau cover to be open (the cover can also be fully retracted or removed, if required). The tailgate is hinged, and can be locked in a partially-open position if the owner does not want to fully lower the tailgate.

The standard Gladiator will feature a towing capacity of 7,000 lb (3,200 kg), though a heavy-duty towing package will be available on select Gladiator models that increases the towing capacity to 7,650 lb (3,470 kg).

Off-roading

The Gladiator features an approach angle of 43.6 degrees, a breakover angle of 20.3 degrees and a departure angle of 26 degrees. The Rubicon comes with front- and rear-axle electric lockers and an electronic disconnecting front sway-bar.

A front camera system is available on the Gladiator that allows the driver to see obstacles in front and to the sides of the vehicle while off-road.

Interior

Unique features on the Gladiator include a flat rear load floor for carrying of longer and taller items inside the truck's interior, secure and lockable storage underneath the rear bench seat, and a removable Bluetooth wireless speaker that charges when the vehicle is running, and the speaker is in its docking station located behind the rear bench seat. The Gladiator also offers an optional 8.4-inch (210 mm) touchscreen on the Uconnect 4C NAV.

Safety

The Gladiator has most safety features that are also in the Wrangler JL including forward-collision warning with active braking and adaptive cruise control.

Safety ratings are not available at this time.

Marketing

The introduction video at the Los Angeles Auto Show used a sound clip from the 2000 film Gladiator, showing the original Jeep Gladiator telling the new model that it "needed to win the crowd", just before the formal introduction of the new model.

The Gladiator went on sale with pricing as follows (spring 2019):

• Sport : $33,545

• Sport S : $36,745

• Overland: $40,395

• Rubicon : $43,545

• Launch Edition : $62,310

Competition

As a midsize pickup truck, the Gladiator's competition will be the Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon, Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma, Honda Ridgeline and Nissan Frontier. A potential Ram midsize truck, which would serve as a replacement of the Dodge Dakota, may either be based off the Gladiator or the overseas Ram 1200 as a potential competitor in the same showroom, but would be marketed to different clientele than the Gladiator.

External links

• Official website