What We Know About the 2020 Jeep Gladiator
For years there have been plenty of rumors and lots of hype surrounding the potential release of a new version of the Jeep Scrambler, the iconic Wrangler pickup truck many drivers remember from a few decades back. This past year, there has been more and more buzz about how Jeep was finally going to release the re-conceptualized compact truck, and this week we finally caught a glimpse at what Jeep is going to offer.
This past week, a source from JeepGladiatorForum.com (formerly the JeepScramblerForum.com) posted a few screenshots that supposedly came from Jeep’s press website, along with some vehicle specs. As the forum name change implies, the vehicle was listed as the Jeep Gladiator JT, and some pictures and exciting specs were released before getting taken down. We’re supposed to get more details on the Gladiator next week during the Los Angeles Auto Show, but for the time being let’s look at what we already know.
Spilling the Details
First of all, and not surprisingly, is the body of the Gladiator; the Gladiator is heavily influenced and based on the new 2018 Wrangler JL body style. The Gladiator will be a four-door that will come stock with two hard top options, with rumors of a premium soft top option in multiple colors being available as well. The truck will come in three different trim models, ranging from the Sport being similar to your basic Wrangler trim to the iconic and luxurious Rubicon at the top of the line. The base trim will feature 18” wheels and 255mm tires, while the Gladiator Rubicon will share 17” wheels and 285mm wide, 33” tires with its Wrangler JL counterpart. Excluding the 5-foot truck bed attached to the back, much of the Gladiator’s exterior resembles the classic Wrangler look, such as the circular headlights, squared taillights and iconic boxy, lifted body. To decrease the weight a bit, it’s expected that some parts, such as fenders, doors and tailgate, will be made of aluminum.
The Gladiator remains familiar when it comes to what’s under the hood, as it’s expected to house a base 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This is expected to produce 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, and there are unconfirmed rumors of additional engine offerings being a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder model, 3.0L Diesel V6, and a 6-speed manual engine. Other notable features, according to HotCars.com, “include Command-Trac and Rock-Trac four-wheel-drive systems, third-gen Dana 44 Axles, locking and limited-slip diffs, and electronic sway-bar disconnects”. In the safety and infotainment department, drivers will have the option to choose from a 7” or 8.4” touch screen loaded with FCA’s Uconnect and CarPlay for Apple and Android devices. Jeep also claims they’ve included “more than 80 advanced safety and security features,” including integrated rear-view camera (and an available front-view road camera on the Rubicon edition). Jeep claims the Gladiator will have the best towing capabilities in its class, with reports of it being able to tow 7,650 pounds with a payload capacity rating of up to 1,600 pounds. And for all the off-roaders out there, the Gladiator will be able to ford up to 30” of water without issue.
Conclusion
In all, there’s still a lot of speculation of what the Gladiator will really be. We’ll all have to wait just a few more days for the official release during next week’s Los Angeles Auto Show; we’re all excited to see exactly what the Gladiator will offer.
We’ve seen plenty of vehicles come, go and change in our over 75 years of service in the Detroit area. At Holbrook Auto Parts we’re always excited to see what the future of the auto industry will bring, and we’re always eager to continue learning about the latest technology and vehicles. If you’re in need of auto parts or service in the Detroit area, save money and time by stopping by Holbrook Auto Parts!
Images from roadandtrack.com
