Your prayers have been answered. Jeep has just announced that the Jeep Gladiator Pickup Truck ($TBA) will be built out of its Toledo plant and hit the market sometime in 2017. Currently, if you want to a truck bed on a Jeep, one of your only options is to buy a JK8 conversion kit from Mopar at a price of $10,000.
The Gladiator is expected to come with two engine options. A V6 with 285 horses and 260 lb-ft of torque and a 2.8-liter inline four diesel with 160 horses and 295 lb-ft of torque. If you’re looking for better gas mileage and are going to carry heavy loads, the diesel is probably your best bet. These engines will be paired with a 6-speed automatic tranny and a pair of lockable differentials.
With all of this gear, the Gladiator should be able to compete with trucks like the Tacoma and Colorado when comparing off-road capabilities.
