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The Jeep Gladiator mid-size pickup is designed to deliver the best aspects of a pickup, as well as the capabilities of the Jeep Wrangler SUV, according to the brand's boss, Tim Kuniskis.
Evidence points:
- Towing capacity of 7,650 pounds
- The Gladiator can negotiate every foot of the brutal Rubicon Trail track that has been testing Jeeps for decades.
The Gladiator will debut Wednesday at the Los Angeles Auto Show, which will open to the public on November 30. Sales will begin in early 2019.
The Gladiator will only be available in the four-door crew cabin. Jeep redesigned the Wrangler frame by extending the 19.4-inch wheelbase to make room for a five-foot bed. At 281 inches, the Gladiator is the longest vehicle in the Jeep lineup, but it can still crawl into forests and boulder fields that would prevent a full-size, longer, and wider pickup truck. It can also spend 30 inches of water.
The rear suspension is new, designed to combine the loading and towing capacity with a comfortable ride when the truck is not fully loaded.
The Gladiator also aims to be more useful from day to day. Jeep eagerly points out that a medium-sized person can stand next to a gladiator and reach the bottom of his bed, something that becomes impossible with larger-size light trucks.
Jeep will build the Gladiator alongside the Wrangler in Toledo, Ohio.
Standard features will include a 3.6-liter V6 producing 285 horsepower and a six-speed manual transmission. An eight-speed automatic transmission is optional. All Gladiators will originally have all-wheel drive, although it is not surprising to see a rear-wheel drive model and perhaps a four-cylinder engine in the future.
A 3.0-liter V6 diesel will be available in 2020. It will produce 260 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque, figures that should make it an off-road monster and tow.
Features will include a forward-facing video camera that allows the driver to "see through" the hood to detect and avoid obstacles within 2 feet of the Gladiator. The four-wheel drive system will offer an 84: 1 crawl ratio for the toughest terrains and electronically controlled modes designed for crawling and deep, deep sand.
Like the Wrangler, the Gladiator has a roof and removable doors as well as a folding windshield for driving in the open air. Jeep's Mepar Parts Division will have more than 200 accessories available from the day the new Jeep is put on sale.
Jeep previously used the name Gladiator, on a van specifically designed for this purpose in the 1960s, and on a model of a small van 's auto show in 2005.
Gladiator's features
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Automatic emergency braking
- Lockable storage bins under the rear seat
- Touch screen compatibility and standard smartphone
- Stabilizing bar with electronic disconnection
- Removable wireless speaker for end-of-year parties and picnics
- Start button
- Hard and soft removable top
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
© Gannett Co., Inc. 2018. All rights reserved.
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