Ready For Battle

JEEP’S GLADIATOR PICK UP BREAK COVER REVEALLING SERIOUS OFF-ROAD CREDENTIALS. IT WILL BE ON SALE IN AUSTRALIA IN 2020.

- Tristan Tancredi

GONE are the Scrambler and Comanche nameplates, with the all new 202 0 Jeep Gladiator officially debuting at the 2018 LA Auto Show. The mid-size pick-up, set to arrive in US showrooms in the second quarter of 2019, will be available there in Sport, Sport S, Overland and top-of-the-range Rubicon configurations.

Building on the Gladiator nameplate’s rich history, the 2020 model pays homage to the Jeep’s heritage but packs state-of-the-art tech and class leading performance into its crew-cab form.

When the Gladiator starts rolling out of Jeep’s Toledo, Ohio, plant it will be powered by the brand’s well-established 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine (213kW and 353Nm). This will be mated to a six-speed manual transmission as standard, but an eight-speed automatic transmission can be optioned. However, from 2020 Jeep will offer a 3.0-litre Eco Diesel V6 engine mated to an eight speed automatic transmission.

The eight-speed auto delivers a 77.2:1 crawl ratio, as well as a 4.7:1 first gear ratio coupled with a 4.1:1 final drive; the six-speed manual features a 4.41 ratio spread.

Two advanced 4x4 systems will be available for the Gladiator pickup. Sport and Overland models get the Command-Trac system as standard, which features a two-speed transfer case with a 2.72:1 low-range gear ratio, and Dana 44 front and rear axles with a 3.73 rear axle ratio.