Leaked photos of Jeep’s grand dual cab Gladiator ‘truck’ have set motor mouths to open throttle.
On the Jeep Gladiator Forum, user ‘gladjt’ posted photos claimed to be sourced from an official Fiat Chrysler Automobiles media site before FCA quickly removed them.
In a move certain to make hard core 4X4 enthusiasts happy, a document from the same source reveals front and rear axles are Dana 44s with electronic lockers and with electronic sway bar disconnects and 33 inch tyres fitted as standard. Images clearly show the front and rear axles are solid. Rejoice!
Old Jeep new Jeep
In what could be an homage to the old Kaiser Jeep military variants, the 2020 Gladiator will be available with a premium soft top or choice of two hard tops, which will make it the only soft top dual cab on the market in a long time! Windscreen options include fold-down ability for the full ‘bugs in teeth’ driving experience. Door options to match the soft or hard tops will give over a dozen combinations of door, top and windscreen.
Interior tech is slated to include Android Auto and Apple Carplay via the fourth generation of FCA’s Uconnect system. The Rubicon’s forward facing off-road camera viewed through either a 7.0″ or 8.4″ touchscreen will assist in off-road driving too.
Rear bed size is listed at 5 foot (1.5m) long, around 300mm short of a typical dual cab steel tray. Body panels including the doors, hinges, bonnet, fenders, windscreen frame and tailgate will be pressed from aluminium to save weight and increase fuel economy.
Mechanically minded
The venerable 3.6l Pentastar V6 will be matched to either an 8-speed auto or 6-speed manual for the initial launch. A 3.0l V6 turbo diesel and 8-speed auto transmission will be available later in 2020, according to the document. Both engines feature Engine Start-Stop for fuel economy.
The suspension is claimed to be “tuned to optimize on-road handling and ride comfort without sacrificing off-road capability, payload or towing capability.” Payload capacity of up to 1600lbs (725kg) will be on par with the Ranger Raptor, making it a bit low compared to most of the dual-cab market. The tow capacity of up to 7650lbs (3469kg) will be outstanding for a Jeep if GCM is also high enough to suit.
Is this Jeep going to compete in the existing dual cab market segment? We’re not so sure. It doesn’t come across as a typical tradie hack, more a lifestyle and enthusiast vehicle. We applaud Jeep for keeping to their roots and finding a way to expand their niche.