Jeep Makes a Bold Statement With its 2020 Gladiator
Part SUV-inspired, part pickup, the 2020 Jeep ® Gladiator is designed to catch the attention of those potential buyers that are searching for something more than an SUV or a traditional truck. With this latest introduction into the Jeep lineup, the brand is hoping to tap into America’s growing demand for larger vehicles and cater to those lifestyle buyers who need a smaller pickup truck – those buyers aiming to make use of the flatbed functionality. Every automaker knows that if they want to make a statement with a new model, then they’ve got to take risks, and that means designing vehicles with bold (and sometimes polarizing) looks. When the 2020 Gladiator debuted at the 2018 L.A. Auto Show, it was very clear that Jeep had been unapologetic with their design.
Tim Kuniskis, president of the Jeep brand for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) stated: “We absolutely wanted it to look different, bold and stand out from anything else, but give you everything that the truck buyer was looking for and everything that Wrangler has always been known for.” At first glance, it’s easy to see just how many of the styling cues that made the Wrangler a best-seller played a part in the Gladiator’s design, but the five-foot steel bed makes a world of a difference with the functionality of a midsize pickup truck – an untapped market for Jeep.
But it’s not all about looks – the Gladiator boasts some serious off-road capabilities that put other pickups to shame. Under the hood of all Gladiator trims (Sport, Sport S, Overland and Rubicon) is a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine that’s capable of generating 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. Standard on all Gladiator trims will be a six-speed manual transmission, while an eight-speed automatic transmission will be an available upgrade. Jeep plans to introduce a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 engine in 2020. The EcoDiesel is rated at 260 horsepower and a whopping 442 lb-ft of torque and will be available with the eight-speed automatic transmission only.
Two 4×4 systems will be responsible for all off-road capabilities. The Command-Trac 4×4 system is standard on the Sport, Sport S, and Overland trims and features a two-speed transfer case with low-range gear ratio and heavy-duty front and rear axles. The Rock-Trac 4×4 system comes standard on the Rubicon trim and offers some of the same features as the previously-mentioned Command-Trac system. The only difference between the two is the additional 4:1 low-gear ratio that delivers a massive amount of torque to maneuver the Rubicon up and down sharp inclines as well as efficient crawling prowess over big obstacles. Both the Rock-Trac and Command-Trac systems offer full-time torque management.
Jeep also boasts that the Gladiator has an approach angle of 43.6 degrees, a departure angle of 26 degrees, ground clearance of 11.1 inches, up to 30 inches of water fording, and a maximum towing capacity of 7,650 pounds. All this adventuring prowess doesn’t come without safety measures – the Gladiator offers more than 80 available safety and security features. Those features include a backup camera with guidelines, adaptive cruise control, rear cross traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, and a forward-facing off-road camera. Since the Gladiator is a Wrangler-inspired pickup, Mopar will also offer more than 200 new or redesigned parts so that owners can further customize their pickups. The Gladiator is scheduled to hit dealer lots in the second quarter of 2019.
What’s your first impression of the 2020 Jeep Gladiator? Be sure to follow us on Miami Lakes social media to share your thoughts and stay up to date with the latest Gladiator news. Stay tuned as more specs and details about the Gladiator are sure to emerge prior to it hitting the pavement. Check out the big reveal below:
Photo Source/Copyright: Jeep
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