2005 Jeep Gladiator Concept

A Jeep Likely to Make Production?

Earlier this year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Jeep offered up a couple of unique concepts that had showgoers spinning their heads, literally. The first, an odd creation dubbed Hurricane, powered by twin-HEMI V8s and capable of spinning in a perfect circle, wont ever make production, but the second, the Gladiator, looked ready for the showroom floor.

Could it be true? DaimlerChrysler has made it no secret that the Jeep lineup will soon be expanding in an effort to optimize its brand equity, and the new Gladiator, or something similar, might make the best use of the brands familiar face than anything since the much-loved classic TJ.

Painted in an army-like olive drab green, and featuring black matte fender flares

Earlier this year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit Jeep showed off its Gladiator concept, a light truck that looked ready for the showroom floor. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler)

and massive knobby mud and dirt off-road tires, one of which is a side-mounted spare, a long past Jeep tradition, the Gladiator looks ready to carry the troops into action.

Jeeps "Flexible Utility Truck," lucky they didnt call it the Flexible Activity Truck (FAT), sports an open-air canvas top just like Jeep models (and Dodge Dakotas) of yore, removable doors, a fold-down windshield, an expandable truck

Jeeps "Flexible Utility Truck" sports an open-air canvas top just like Jeep models (and Dodge Dakotas) of yore. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler)

bed and a stow-away rear-seat cushion. If produced as is, the Gladiator would be one of the handiest pickup trucks on the market.

This is part of the reason for the concept, of course, not only to judge potential buyers reaction to a prospective design language, and then again a Jeep pickup truck, something the brand hasnt offered in decades, but also to show off its creative side, when it comes to styling and features.

"Jeep Gladiator is an authentic statement of Jeep brand heritage that explores

Those extremely familiar with the brand will recognize the new concepts name from the full-size pickup model from 1962. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler)

what shape and features a modern Jeep pickup might have," commented Trevor Creed, Senior Vice President, Chrysler Group Design.

Those extremely familiar with the brand will recognize the new concepts name from the full-size pickup model from 1962. Yes, you may not remember, or have even known Jeep once made a pickup truck, the last two being the J-series full-size models with the final vehicle in this class being the compact mid-80s Comanche.

And building a Jeep pickup truck doesnt only make sense because the brand has a history of producing light trucks, but also because its Dodge

The Gladiator rides on a unique body-on-frame architecture, and rather than being powered by one of DaimlerChryslers gasoline engines, under the hood is the Italian-built 2.8-liter inline four-cylinder turbodiesel that currently motivates the diesel-powered Jeep Liberty CDI. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler)

cousin already builds two, one of which would make a great donor.

But while the Gladiator looks as if it could be built off of the new Dakota platform, which would give it V6 and V8 power, dynamic handling and serious off-road capabilities, its not. Instead it rides on a unique body-on-frame architecture, and rather than being powered by one of DaimlerChryslers gasoline engines, under the hood is the Italian-built 2.8-liter inline four-cylinder turbodiesel that currently motivates the diesel-powered Jeep Liberty CDI. Considering how well this oil-burner has done

Shifting gears is a 6-speed manual transmission, hooked up to a part-time four-wheel drive transfer case. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

in the marketplace, getting it into more vehicles seems like a natural progression. Of course, like the Liberty, the gasoline-powered 3.7-liter V6 would be a logical fit in a production Gladiator, as would any of Jeeps V8s, if the engine bay would allow.

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