Jeep acknowledges big demand for 392 Gladiator V8

[rr11]

I had a 74 CJ5 with the 304 it was great, that said. I still have a 05 TJ with the 4.0 and I think its a better engine than the 3.6 in my Gladiator. I know its a older design butt it's much easer to work on. I would like a V8 but with all that's going on in Washington I thank I6s have a better shot at mass production and at a better price than a V8.

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[MPMB]

Respectfully - I think you might be underestimating the importance of rising CAFE standards. It is driving so much change in the auto industry: aluminum body panels, lighter frames made from high-strength steel, start-stop technology, and of course hybrid engines, and full EV. Auto companies are squeezing every possible mpg they can from existing platforms as they simultaneously develop new technologies (at enormous cost). What else explains the lack of a 5.7 option in the Gladiator?

The fact that Dodge is the last car company making vehicles with big engines puts them in a bind when offering - what I will call - an "average V8"-powered vehicle. The SRT lineup and the 392 offerings have to be offset by something. The number of SRT-versions, Trackhawks, Chargers, and Challengers with big motors - in addition to a good number of V8-powered GCs and Ram trucks - puts CDJR in a horrible position to get their CAFE numbers up. The newly-released Jeep Durango and forthcoming Wagoneer won't help CAFE numbers either.

In my quick read of CAFE standards, I didn't see how the standards are applied - if it's brand centric or over the entire entity (GM standard vs. a Chevy standard, a GMC standard, a Buick standard).

For every Raptor, there's a hybrid Fusion. For every GT, there's an E-Mach. For every Corvette, there's a Bolt. DCJR have a lack of hybrids and EVs. Yet they continue to launch big engine vehicles.

The option to swap from a 3.6l to a 5.7l is about $3400 (depending on model, I assume, I saw one number). Ordering a 5.7l from Mopar is $6500. When a popular convenience package is $2k (random, non-specific number), I doubt buyers would scoff at a $3400 more-power-option. A 5.7l is an affordable choice for buyers.

History has shown that a V8 swap into a Wrangler (and by extension, now a Gladiator) is no fool's errand. I have a buddy who years ago threw in a SBC into his Wrangler, and a co-worker who drove his dad's CJ with a SBC 400. So we all know a V8 fits; it always fit. But why, in the past 30-40 years, has Jeep never offered a V8 in a Wrangler until now?

It's not CAFE standards holding Jeep back, although it likely plays as one of many limiting factors.

1. Can "everything" fit and remain reliable to 200k miles?
2. Will the market accept and purchase X number of 5.7 Jeeps (X being ROI goal)
3. What will we need to offset the V8 Jeep to maintain/exceed CAFE numbers?
4. Can we afford to offer the CAFE offset vehicle?
5. Will a V8 Jeep cannibalize sales within the DCJR family of autos, possibly lowering profit margins?
6. Aftermarket support?
7. Effect of 150# or more on the nose (5.7 is a heavy b*tch at 500-520 pounds, the 3.6l around 325-350 pounds) for off-road handling and overall MPGs.
8. Will buyers accept the weight penalty for roughly 100hp (296 vs. 395)?
9. Does Jeep put in the GC-spec'd 5.7l or the Ram-spec'd 5.7l?
9. Can our supply chain support an additional production model?


And how about an old anti-CAFE article from C&D: https://www.caranddriver.com/featur...e-average-fuel-economy-law-is-d-u-m-b-column/

 

[Solidaxle]

At least Jeep is being honest admitting that people want to buy the 392 and not the 4XE.

 

[billetbones]

I know for sure I"m getting a Gladiator so now I'm definitely going to wait patiently for either the Hybrid or a V8!

 

[Bbannongmu]

I would love a V8 Gladiator and would definitely “settle” for a 5.7 if offered. As awesome as the 392 sounds and performs, I can’t justify an over $75k price tag for a vehicle.

 

[Jeffg]

Hey Jeep, please give us a 5.7 Hemi for a reasonable price like in the Ram, instead of just the apeshit but largely impractical for many of us 392. I promise you an option like that will sell like hot cakes. Much as I love my Mojave, I’ll trade it tomorrow for one PRECISELY like it with a 5.7.

I sooo agree. Jeep sells a ton of vehicles including gladiators where I live in the mountains of Colorado. The V6 is underpowered for highway driving up the mountains, where is my previous ram 5.7 ate up the road.

 

[DTJB]

Yeah, I would send mine down the road in a heartbeat for a v8 (5.7 or 6.4), but I just searched autotrader to get an idea of the wrangler 392 price.... $75k - $90K ... F&@king really? I won’t pay that much for a wrangler or a gladiator with a v8... I don’t have that kind of cash to go that deep into one... I’d just as soon buy a charger for mine and be happy about it. Of course I’m the guy who’s still disgruntled at the fact that some of these gladiators are selling for $70k +.... that is just wild in my mind. Obviously if it were a reasonable option price then I’d be all for it.

 

[Klutch]

Not sure we'll ever know the real reasons why Jeep resisted selling V8 Wranglers for so long. I think the V8 Dakota clearly demonstrated a mid-size truck or SUV with a V8 works well and sells well.

 

[legacy_etu]

I read within the last week that ZF received a huge order from Jeep for the ZF8 transmission with a hybrid option. That I assume means the transmission used in the Wrangler 4xe and also means (if true) that Jeep is about to roll out the 4XE line into the Grand Cherokee and other models. To me this is totally believable given where regulations are going and with the current administration...........this is the only way V8's ca continue to exist, they being offset with a hybrid sale.....or two.

 

[MPMB]

Not sure we'll ever know the real reasons why Jeep resisted selling V8 Wranglers for so long. I think the V8 Dakota clearly demonstrated a mid-size truck or SUV with a V8 works well and sells well.

Thank you housing crisis for killing mid-size trucks. It also didn't help that the price points were too close to full-size trucks.

Dakota sales numbers in US:

Calendar year	US sales
1999[13]	144,148
2000	177,395
2001[14]	154,479
2002[15]	130,712
2003	111,273
2004[16]	105,614
2005	104,051
2006[17]	76,098
2007	50,702
2008[18]	26,044
2009[19]	10,690
2010[20]	13,047
2011[21]	12,156
2012[22]	490

By comparison, Ford FREAKING RANGER! numbers same period:

Calendar year	US sales
Ford Ranger sales (1985-2012, 2019-)[52]
1999[55]	348,358
2000	330,125
2001[56]	272,460
2002[57]	226,094
2003	209,117
2004[58]	156,322
2005	120,958
2006[59]	92,420
2007	72,711
2008[60]	65,872
2009[61]	55,600
2010[62]	55,364
2011[63]	70,832
2012	19,366
2019[64]	89,571
2020[65]	101,486

 

[Papa Tim]

Sign me up and put me in line for a hemi Gladiator Rubicon. I love my Gladiator Rubicon Launch Edition, but I also love horsepower. I would sign the contract today if it were available!

 

[Caraholic]

I’ve always found so much to love about mid sizers. ill Bet Ford never recovered that many sales in the f150 after they killed the ranger. I know Tacoma musta doubled straight away in sales……
if only Jeep would package the gladiator just a wee bit better….
I mean it’s not like they’re not making a killing at all on these……..

 

[Caraholic]

Sign me up and put me in line for a hemi Gladiator Rubicon. I love my Gladiator Rubicon Launch Edition, but I also love horsepower. I would sign the contract today if it were available!

Yea agreed- the only hold back would turn out that now it becomes a base of 50k and a few options then makes it 65 k. We’re talking heavy duty diesel money here or multiple other attractive products competing in that price point. They’ll sell many if they can right size the price to reflect the historical over pricing then huge truck discounts. Covid era excluded

 

[snide]

Yes, I would like a Hemi in the Gladiator. 5.7 or 6.4. Either one will work for me.

 

[Ravensrock]

I

I sooo agree. Jeep sells a ton of vehicles including gladiators where I live in the mountains of Colorado. The V6 is underpowered for highway driving up the mountains, where is my previous ram 5.7 ate up the road.
[/QUOTE

I sooo agree. Jeep sells a ton of vehicles including gladiators where I live in the mountains of Colorado. The V6 is underpowered for highway driving up the mountains, where is my previous ram 5.7 ate up the road.

Good point.
I traded my RAM 5.7 for a Mojave this spring.
2 weeks ago I bought a 16ft travel trailer and my Gladiator is struggling to pull the 4k pounds through the mountains of Idaho.
I have an AFE air filter and exhaust to improve the engine's breathing potential which is helping but I'm still averaging 10-11 mpg round trip.
I also shift manually with the auto transmission because full auto keeps the rpm's way too high.

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