Head of Jeep Brand NA is bullish on Gladiator future

[BourbonRunner]

Check it out:
Stellantis Line-Up Fully Compatible with Green HVO Fuel | Corporate Communications | Stellantis

That announcement is rather interesting. Also of note: "significantly reduced levels of aromatic compounds..."

Does that mean your diesel truck won't smell like French fries using HVO? That was one of best side effects!!

I think the core Gladiator should not me messed with too much. If they want to make a Raptor competitor use the Comanche, name. Make it light (as it was) simple and effective. One thing that would help the Mojave is a turbo V6 and sequential 8spd manual. Turbo v6 keeps it balanced and fast shift tranny would be massively fun on a desert runner.

I like where you're headed with the historic nameplate but the Comanche are Plains Natives. I think a SW/Desert tribe would be more appropriate for a desert runner.

Perhaps a Gladiator Apache? It would require an arrangement/permission with the Apache Nation but I can see the marketing now: An AH64 Apache comes over a rise and below it on the ground a Gladiator goes airborne over a jump. "Apache: The The most feared helicopter in the world and the fastest, most capable Gladiator in the desert"

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[biodiesel]

That announcement is rather interesting. Also of note: "significantly reduced levels of aromatic compounds..."

HVO is the same as renewable diesel. Slowly, renewable diesel is spreading throughout the United States.

 

[BourbonRunner]

HVO is the same as renewable diesel. Slowly, renewable diesel is spreading throughout the United States.

I have a friend in the fuel distro biz. I'll have to touch base with her on this. I'm very curious.

 

[adamjedgar]

I think they will go IFS and base the next gen on the Cherokee and Wagoneer like the OG Gladiator. No removable tops or doors, luxury interiors.

Hopefully they at least do a Honcho if they go that route.

Why would they (stellantis) do that when they already have the Dodge RAm?

Jeep needs to stick to its own heritage...its patrons dont want road cars, they want weaponised rugged offroad animal 4wds! You dont buy wranglers and gladiators because they are cars!

Personally i think whats killing the wrangler&gladiator is the lack of an appropriate powerplant. Its demise correlates with that of V8's and diesels. The shape has never worked within the framework of electric efficiency...thats not what its about.

I would say the wrangler and gladiator concept is in big big trouble. I mean lets face it, if you want to drive on the beach in an electric with the doors off...buy a golf cart with big tyres...thats where these things are headed and its bullshit.

 

[Minty JL]

Why would they (stellantis) do that when they already have the Dodge RAm?

Jeep needs to stick to its own heritage...its patrons dont want road cars, they want weaponised rugged offroad animal 4wds! You dont buy wranglers and gladiators because they are cars!

Personally i think whats killing the wrangler&gladiator is the lack of an appropriate powerplant. Its demise correlates with that of V8's and diesels. The shape has never worked within the framework of electric efficiency...thats not what its about.

I would say the wrangler and gladiator concept is in big big trouble. I mean lets face it, if you want to drive on the beach in an electric with the doors off...buy a golf cart with big tyres...thats where these things are headed and its bullshit.

Pricing, powerplant and shitty customer service are killing the Jeep brand. Brand loyalty will only go so far. Money talks and bullshit runs the marathon

 

[wadewolf]

Price, power plant, and the lack of a 2-door option. I would have owned a Gladiator day one if they had a 2-door or 2-door extended cab.

 

[BourbonRunner]

Why would they (stellantis) do that when they already have the Dodge RAm?

Jeep needs to stick to its own heritage...its patrons dont want road cars, they want weaponised rugged offroad animal 4wds! You dont buy wranglers and gladiators because they are cars!

Personally i think whats killing the wrangler&gladiator is the lack of an appropriate powerplant. Its demise correlates with that of V8's and diesels. The shape has never worked within the framework of electric efficiency...thats not what its about.

I get what you're saying and not saying I disagree with you but enthusiasts who know the difference between SFA and IFS let alone wheel them hard enough to prove the differences are a very small minority of Jeep owners.

Jeeps have become outdoor lifestyle vehicles for the masses and that's how and to whom Jeep markets them. They're not alone- every unibody or car based AWD SUV now offers a super-butch trail trim because it sells so well.

Something else to thing about: There's only a few SFAs available anymore- the Superduty, Ram HD, G-Wagen and Jeeps are it. Chevy doesn't offer an SFA until you get to the cab/chassis commercial trucks.

This says consumers clearly want a car-like ride and its limitations mean that's just not possible with SFA. Not saying Jeep should abandon but having it as an option on some trims of the JT could be a way to claw sales away from the competition.

 

[biodiesel]

I get what you're saying and not saying I disagree with you but enthusiasts who know the difference between SFA and IFS let alone wheel them hard enough to prove the differences are a very small minority of Jeep owners.

When I was in college, there were three SFA Jeeps (Wrangler, Cherokee XJ, and Grand Cherokee WJ). That was the end of the SFA in the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee. As a matter of fact, the WJ was the last of the front and rear solid axles. Today, the SFA only exists in the Wrangler and Gladiator.

How many Jeep buyers care about a solid front axle? I would guess less than 2%. Afterall, most Jeeps sold today don't have a solid front axle. How many Wrangler buyers care about a solid front axle? I would guess than 10%. How many Gladiator buyers care about a solid front axle? I would guess less than 5%.

This says consumers clearly want a car-like ride and its limitations mean that's just not possible with SFA.

Bingo.

In my opinion, the Wrangler needs to keep the SFA. It was never designed to be an on-road luxury vehicle, and the world has accepted that.

Stellantis has banked on the fact that the Gladiator has shared many of the same parts with the Wrangler, so it makes sense that it would also have the solid front axle. But if Jeep decides to move the Gladiator over to another platform that supports an IFS, then I think Jeep would be trying to target a different audience. The new Jeep would most likely maintain a utilitarian look while improving on-road performance and offering more creature comforts. This would include a quieter cab, more luxury options, and a more comfortable cab space.

As much as I love the Gladiator in its current form, I would also love a modern square body (Jeep Comanche DNA style) with an IFS. I think both Ram and Jeep could differentiate their midsize trucks enough to reach different markets.

 

[BourbonRunner]

How many Jeep buyers care about a solid front axle? I would guess less than 2%. Afterall, most Jeeps sold today don't have a solid front axle. How many Wrangler buyers care about a solid front axle? I would guess than 10%. How many Gladiator buyers care about a solid front axle? I would guess less than 5%.

Probably close but if you look at the forums it's a substantially higher number. Nothing wrong with it but forums skew it.

In my opinion, the Wrangler needs to keep the SFA. It was never designed to be an on-road luxury vehicle, and the world has accepted that.

If they did that they may as well cease production entirely.

But if Jeep decides to move the Gladiator over to another platform that supports an IFS, then I think Jeep would be trying to target a different audience.

I still think both the SFA and IFS could exist side by side on different trims.

As much as I love the Gladiator in its current form, I would also love a modern square body (Jeep Comanche DNA style) with an IFS. I think both Ram and Jeep could differentiate their midsize trucks enough to reach different markets.

It would be pretty cool to have a modern square body. But make it look like a J10, not a Comanche. I'm partial though. One winter storm at 15-16 I co-piloted one plowing snow. It was an experience.

And if they do that and don't make a Honcho...

 

[Jeeper44mag]

How many Wrangler buyers care about a solid front axle? I would guess than 10%. How many Gladiator buyers care about a solid front axle? I would guess less than 5%.



Bingo.

In my opinion, the Wrangler needs to keep the SFA. It was never designed to be an on-road luxury vehicle, and the world has accepted that.

As much as I love the Gladiator in its current form, I would also love a modern square body (Jeep Comanche DNA style) with an IFS. I think both Ram and Jeep could differentiate their midsize trucks enough to reach different markets.

We will agree to disagree on this. True, there are bucket loads of "mall crawler jeeps" out there, but I suspect *most* Jeep purchasers are returning customers who know exactly what they're getting into, and the SFA is a huge part of that ruggedness, even if it's mostly an image for many of them. Change from a SFA, and you lose the core buyer who is largely responsible for the "outdoor image" associated with Jeeps. Lose that, and you soon lose most of your sales. Almost nobody buys a Wrangler or Gladiator because a soccer mom owns one.

Most of us returning customers would look elsewhere if we didn't want a SFA.

 

[Jeeper44mag]

It would be pretty cool to have a modern square body. But make it look like a J10, not a Comanche.

OMG...... a 2 door J-10 styled diesel powered Gladiator with a full 6 or 6.5" bed.... I'd buy one if it had a SFA. That would be cool AF.

 

[BourbonRunner]

OMG...... a 2 door J-10 styled diesel powered Gladiator with a full 6 or 6.5" bed.... I'd buy one if it had a SFA. That would be cool AF.

Now you're talking. But I betcha it'd get an IFS.

 

[biodiesel]

It would be pretty cool to have a modern square body. But make it look like a J10, not a Comanche. I'm partial though.

I'd be okay if they took some DNA from the J10. The J10 was a full-sized truck, so that's why I was leaning more towards the Comanche reference. It won't happen, but I'd love to see Jeep make a full-sized truck.

 

[BourbonRunner]

I'd be okay if they took some DNA from the J10. The J10 was a full-sized truck, so that's why I was leaning more towards the Comanche reference. It won't happen, but I'd love to see Jeep make a full-sized truck.

I thought you meant styling, not size. As if they were to completely go away from the commonality with the Wrangler.

Anyway, I think if they did a mid-size that pulls that DNA in and didn't look like a Wrangler would be pretty cool. I think sometimes we forget that Jeep made a lot of vehicles other than the OG MB derivatives.

 

[djthumper]

Price, power plant, and the lack of a 2-door option. I would have owned a Gladiator day one if they had a 2-door or 2-door extended cab.

If they did a 2-door it would probably be based on the Wrangler 2-door, which wouldn't be too bad.

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