2005 Jeep Review

Specifications

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 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 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 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 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 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.

Shifting gears is a 6-speed manual transmission, hooked up to a part-time four-wheel drive transfer case. While the transfer case would without doubt remain a conventional part-time unit, maintaining Jeeps “Trail Rated” brand image (although the nameplate will soon deviate from this strategy with a new compact model or two, concepts of which will be shown next month at the Frankfurt motor show - see automotive news for Aug 9, 2005: Jeep to Show Off Baby Compass Rallye and Patriot SUV Concepts at IAA), it is likely an automatic gearbox would be added to the 6-speed manual, most likely including five forward gears like other Jeep products currently in the lineup.

Under the sheetmetal is a robust off-road optimized suspension system, incorporating a solid axle with five-bar links and single coil springs up front, plus a solid axle with five-bar links and dual coilover springs. Solid axles, by the way, are what 4×4 purists want, as they go over obstacles better than independent suspension systems. And with 13.7 inches of ground clearance, and 18 x 8 in alloy wheels with 265/75R18 off-road rated tires front and back, theres not much that could stop, let alone slow down the Gladiator.

And the fact that its flexible cargo bed could carry anything from a camper to duo of motocross bikes, makes getting deep into the woods all the more intriguing. First of all, even at its 67.9 inch regular length (thats 5 feet, 7 inches by the way) theres plenty of room for hauling firewood, gravel or bark mulch, but drop the tailgate down and add on a rear extender, which would no doubt be a Mopar option, and fitting in sheets of building material or an ATV would be no problem at all. And with the “midgate” option lowered, yes a similar system to what Chevy offers on its Avalanche SUT (sport utility truck), bed length increases by up to 79.7 inches (or 6 feet, 8 inches) with the tailgate upright, or 107.2 inches (or 8 feet, 11 inches) total with the tailgate dropped.

That midgate cancels out the rear seats, which incidentally are otherwise accessible via a single rear half-door that hinges at the passenger-side rear and opens up clamshell-like. Theres no rear drivers side door, as it would open up into the spare tire, but rather a tiny half-door allows access to cargo that might be stored in the rear seating area. Nevertheless, I like the way Jeep makes the cab seem smaller than it really is, by tapering the body shell inward as it meets up with the cargo box. The rear seats arent large, but would be handy when transporting four adults was necessary or perfectly suitable for hauling around a family of four, providing the kids were smaller in size.

Speaking of smaller in size, the Gladiator isnt a midsize truck like its Dodge Dakota cousin, a market segment that is now becoming more popular than the old compact sized pickup category. Its compact exterior dimensions and rather light curb weight are closer to the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon duo, or Fords Ranger than the Dakota or Toyotas new Tacoma, which might be ideal for its primary role as off-road pickup truck leader but probably not helpful if Jeep has plans of making its new light truck entry anything but a small player. Of course, current market trends could shift toward smaller trucks if fuel costs keep rising exponentially, which would leave the current Gladiator optimally sized for success. And besides, Dodge already has the midsize segment sewn up with its Dakota, so why not try and dominate the compact market with a Jeep?

A few innovative features set this truck apart from any would-be rivals, the first being that aforementioned tiny half-door on the drivers side allowing access to stored items in the rear seating area. The second is a nifty drawer housing the trucks hydraulic jack, appropriately positioned under the exposed full-size spare. The third really isnt an innovation at all, but the full-size opening cut into the Gladiators roof delivers a classic wind-in-the-hair Jeep experience benefiting from a convertible top that is a lot more convenient to remove or put back on than that on a TJ.

The last point to be noted regards the Gladiators overall interior. Its as inviting as utilitarian cabins get, mixing olive drab and charcoal tones with aluminum brightwork, bold angular surfaces that remind of military-origin SUVs of the past, and capping it of with an off-road sportiness that would no doubt be popular if produced. The concept even went so far to include two aluminum water bottles, slotted into twin cupholders within the center console. Obviously, DaimlerChrysler has plans to produce OEM aftermarket products specifically for the upcoming pickup truck, to enhance its strong line of Jeep merchandise.

So with that in mind, why should Jeep build the Gladiator? For the same reason it needs to produce last years Rescue concept. The famed brand is under direct threat by the 7-slat grilled monster it created while under AMC rule, Hummer. The “baddest” SUV nameplate just launched its midsize H3 on a global scale, a model that targets Grand Cherokee customers, while an H3 based pickup truck that showed up in concept form last year is expected to join the Hummer lineup.

For the time being, however, there is no Hummer pickup and not many rivals to go up against a future Jeep pickup either. Altogether eight competitors currently vie for compact to midsize light truck buyers, including the Chevy Colorado, Dodge Dakota, Ford Ranger, GMC Canyon, Honda Ridgeline, Mitsubishi Raider (which incidentally is based on the Dakota), Nissan Frontier, and Toyota Tacoma. The fact that GMs Colorado and Canyon are basically the same truck with slightly modified front clips makes only seven competitors. The Honda Ridgeline, while a very good truck is a marginal player at best, and although the Mitsubishi Raider is also very well executed and better looking than many in the class, Im not ready to bet the farm its going to make much headway against the domestic players.

And the Gladiator, or whatever Jeep eventually calls it, would be a domesticplayer and by that readily accepted by the buying public as a real contender. Jeep could play off of its rich pickup truck history in its advertising campaign, which would not only sell lots of Gladiators but also bring major attention to the brand itself, helping to sell TJs, Libertys, Grand Cherokees, and whatever else the brand is selling when the pickup truck is on the market. Really, its such a no-brainer that the executives who run the worlds most recognizable off-road nameplate would have to be asleep at the wheel not to take advantage.

Of course, DaimlerChrysler has already been caught napping with this brand, and needs to pick up its game and hit the market with a barrage of new Jeep products if only to keep up with its General Motors built rival Hummer, “trail rated” Japanese competitors Nissan and Toyota, the former which now offers three 4×4 capable SUVs and two pickup trucks with equal off-road prowess, and the latter that not only offers a similar lineup of SUVs and pickup to Nissan, but will also soon come to market with a Land Cruiser-based compact off-roader with FJ40 cum Hummer styling cues - it should be a big hit.

Of course, by expanding the brand Jeep just might open up new opportunities, garner greater market share and, low and behold, make more money. Therefore, its safe to assure that something like the Gladiator will arrive in Chrysler Group showrooms in the near future. Hopefully the new pickup truck will embody a similar presence to this bold concept, and simultaneously attract new customers to the brand.