Jeep Gladiator Dark Sky Announced

[Wheelin98TJ]

Some of that is the throttle mapping, not lack of power.

The Bronco has quite a bit more power than the 3.6L Gladiator, especially if you're comparing to the 2.7L V6.

Bronco 2.3L I4 = 300 hp and 325 ft/lbs (15 hp and 65 ft/lbs more than the 3.6L Gladiator)
Bronco 2.7L V6 = 330 hp and 415 ft/lbs (45 hp and 155 ft/lbs more than the 3.6L Gladiator)

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[ShadowsPapa]

The Bronco has quite a bit more power than the 3.6L Gladiator, especially if you're comparing to the 2.7L V6.

Bronco 2.3L I4 = 300 hp and 325 ft/lbs (15 hp and 65 ft/lbs more than the 3.6L Gladiator)
Bronco 2.7L V6 = 330 hp and 415 ft/lbs (45 hp and 155 ft/lbs more than the 3.6L Gladiator)

Yeah, note the "some".
I also wonder about power to the wheels. Drivetrains, transmissions being parasitic and all.
Not suggesting the Bronco still doesn't present more usable power, just wondering how it translates, hp to weight and so on.

 

[jeepguru]

Not quite getting the name. What is dark sky about it?

Because they used a dark colored JT at night. Their marketing is genius!! lol

 

[JmattNYC]

I think its cool and am just glad that jeep gives us some thing lol Wrangler gets all the real good stuff but we catching up!! Come up jeep you can do it and it doesn't have to rubicon/ Mojave exclusive.

Give the people the 5.7 already (2026), Give the 4XEers a dam 4XE LOL Give us a another diesel please. And Jeep you can keep that turbo hurricane High/Low/ Medium sideways, circle or backwards output. Am good.

As much as i always wanted a hemi in the JT to be honest thou for me the perfect Gladiator for me would be a steel bumper group with auto 4wd, 4:56/4:88 gears options, a dam factory trailer brake controller, ram tuned V6 305HPish. Base of a max tow and i would be more then happy. I would even take the so called "mild hybrid" e-torque like the rams if it really helps with "MPG, Braking & Off the line acceleration lol ". Bikini pearl or Hella yellow Freedom Edition!!

 

[JmattNYC]

Yeah, note the "some".
I also wonder about power to the wheels. Drivetrains, transmissions being parasitic and all.
Not suggesting the Bronco still doesn't present more usable power, just wondering how it translates, hp to weight and so on.

I believe they can amp up the power a bit in the V6 if they really want to without forcing a turbo on it.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I believe they can amp up the power a bit in the V6 if they really want to without forcing a turbo on it.

Without cutting mpg/emissions status?
If it was simple, wouldn't everyone be doing it with these?
They have to balance fleet numbers as well.
A few here have already griped about the poor mpg compared to others like Ford or Toyota. To get more HP takes either an increase in efficiency (these are bleeding edge as it is) and/or more fuel consumption.

The PUG was indeed designed for direct injection, which would improve things a bit, but I'm thankful these are NOT direct injection engines.
(I do have to wonder why they didn't follow through with that)

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Yeah, note the "some".
I also wonder about power to the wheels. Drivetrains, transmissions being parasitic and all.
Not suggesting the Bronco still doesn't present more usable power, just wondering how it translates, hp to weight and so on.

Even the 4 cyl Bronco has 65 ft/lbs more than the Gladiator. I’d say that’s quite a bit.

Looks like the 4 door Broncos are also a little lighter than a Gladiator. People posting scale weights 4,800-5,100 for soft top models.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Even the 4 cyl Bronco has 65 ft/lbs more than the Gladiator. I’d say that’s quite a bit.

Looks like the 4 door Broncos are also a little lighter than a Gladiator. People posting scale weights 4,800-5,100 for soft top models.

Not surprised they are lighter - they don't have to make a removable roof work, and save a lot of weight in other ways.

I guess, if people are THAT concerned, go Bronco!
I've never felt any of our Jeeps to be underpowered. I'm sure those who do a lot of trails, off-roading/crawling or towing in mountains would disagree, but they aren't the majority, and we know Jeep has to account for the majority.
(whether we like it or not)

When my JT tows at least as well, if not better than, my prior two pickups did, I'm sure not going to complain. Both of those were V8s.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Not surprised they are lighter - they don't have to make a removable roof work, and save a lot of weight in other ways.

I guess, if people are THAT concerned, go Bronco!
I've never felt any of our Jeeps to be underpowered. I'm sure those who do a lot of trails, off-roading/crawling or towing in mountains would disagree, but they aren't the majority, and we know Jeep has to account for the majority.
(whether we like it or not)

When my JT tows at least as well, if not better than, my prior two pickups did, I'm sure not going to complain. Both of those were V8s.

Maybe it stacks up ok against an older V8, but no chance against a newer V8.

 

[Borderline_homeless_look]

Maybe it needs an angry grill.

That’s funny!

 

[JmattNYC]

Without cutting mpg/emissions status?
If it was simple, wouldn't everyone be doing it with these?
They have to balance fleet numbers as well.
A few here have already griped about the poor mpg compared to others like Ford or Toyota. To get more HP takes either an increase in efficiency (these are bleeding edge as it is) and/or more fuel consumption.

The PUG was indeed designed for direct injection, which would improve things a bit, but I'm thankful these are NOT direct injection engines.
(I do have to wonder why they didn't follow through with that)

You remember when they was in talks with that compony Hamburger for pro charger or supercharger i cant remember. I am sure politics and vison got in the way especially with those Europeans execs in charge .Thanks goodness all that carb/cafe EV mandate BS are going down the tubes and some common sense coming.

I believe it is still possible to upgrade the old reliable 3.6 V6 and squeeze more power of out it with some updates to rods, cams, pistons, PCM tuning etc. With some R&D cash is and the right people behind it.

Your right about the whole MPG ruckus been watching it for years on this site lol I believe the most logical path for the hemi will be like the ram and paired with e-torque. Many people will not be happy. The jeep parent compony is lazy so they will do the same for the non 4XE versions of the 3.6 V6 and that will also have that e-torque option. Hopefully that technology is advance and all the bugs have been worked out. This will help with marketing and factory production cost because we all know they love to share things.

 

[Figmo]

Some of that is the throttle mapping, not lack of power.

I have wondered this very thing. Bronco's do have those "GOAT" modes and one of them is Sport Mode which (among other things) basically is what those Pedal Commanders do. I use it a lot.

Might be time to give pedal commander on the Jeep a try and see what it can do.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Maybe it stacks up ok against an older V8, but no chance against a newer V8.

Of course leave it to you to bring up decent points.
Yes, compared to a 2011 LS. That's old-tech vs. today.

some updates to rods, cams, pistons, PCM tuning etc.

I suspect as this thing is tuned so tight that it's actually running stoich quite often, you'd gain performance but stall out in the CAFE rules area - thus, we aren't likely to see it. Jeep struggles to meet those rules as it is.
Rods won't matter - unless you get into some boost. Our rods will handle more than they put out. The bottom ends are almost bullet-proof. Pistons? I also doubt any gain there. As long as they are keeping quench tight, chamber burns fast, and so on.........
About all I could see is cam/valve timing/lift, which would require total PCM changes.
They have the reciprocating mass down pretty low - in part to aid with ESS, but also other reasons.

 

[Badunit]

On my third and I can't say there are any handling issues at all.

You and I have had very different experiences. Mine was a squirrelly, wind blown, unbalanced mess with slop plus "too-tightly-adjusted-stickiness" in the steering. It required total concentration and no looking away from the road. With the changes/mods/upgrades I have made I think it is safe to say it handles pretty well now.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

You and I have had very different experiences. Mine was a squirrelly, wind blown, unbalanced mess with slop plus "too-tightly-adjusted-stickiness" in the steering. It required total concentration and no looking away from the road. With the changes/mods/upgrades I have made I think it is safe to say it handles pretty well now.

Apparently.

I was doing 85+ in 70 mph winds, with my wife saying "faster, faster! Get around that guy!" heading down I35 toward our exit toward home. We hit our own rural highways to find road barricades and construction materials blowing across the highway. My wife was scared to death and kept saying go go go.
I was zipping in and out like a maniac, taking corners as faster than I imagined a Jeep could do. I never once felt as if it was not in total control.
So far, all 3 of mine have been like that.
I am tempted to go longer LCAs on my Mojave, just because - I did that with my 2022 and it just "felt better" as far as wheel returning to center after a curve.
The 2022 I could literally be doing 65 heading north on I35 in northern MO/southern IA and let go of the wheel and it would track straight for quite a ways.

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