LATEST NEWS FROM THE 4X4 WORLD
JEEP’S NEW UTE LANDS WITH HIGHER THAN EXPECTED PRICE.
Jeep has announced the Jeep Gladiator pick-up will go on sale in Australia in May in Overland and Rubicon spec-levels priced at $75,450 and $76,450 respectively. There will also be a limited run of 100 Launch Edition models based on the Rubicon-spec Gladiator and priced at $86,450.
All Australian-delivered Gladiators will be powered by Jeep’s 3.6-litre petrol V6 Pentastar engine that makes a claimed 209kw of power and 347Nm of torque, which will be mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Unusually for the ute segment, no diesel variant will be offered, but the Gladiator is unlike most other utes thanks to its live axles front and rear, removable hardtop roof and doors, and foldable windscreen. The Gladiator Overland will be equipped with Jeep’s Selec-trac Active On-demand 4x4 system with a 2.72:1 low-range reduction and Dana 44 axles with a 3.73:1 axle ratio. The Rubicon will get the Rocktrac Active On-demand II 4x4 system, with a 4:1 low-range reduction and Dana 44s with a 4.1:1 axle ratio for an overall crawl ratio of 77.2:1.
The Rubicon will also score a front electronic swaybar disconnect to improve axle articulation, front and rear locking differentials, and an Off-road+ Button. The Off-road+ setting would tailor the various electronic control systems for higher speed sand driving when activated in high-range, and lowspeed rock crawling when activated in low-range. The Rubicon will also be equipped with upgraded Fox-branded two-inch diameter shock absorbers.
Both model grades come with LED headlights with DRLS, under-rail bed lighting, integrated tie-downs, a foldable windscreen and removable doors. The Overland model features body-colour hard-top and fender flares, whilst the
Rubicon features a black hard- top roof and black fender flares. Standard kit on the Overland includes Mckinley Leather Seats with Overland logo, heated front seats and steering wheel, 18-inch alloy wheels, Forward Collision Warning Plus, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop, Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Path Detection, remote proximity keyless entry, nine-speaker Alpine audio system, Uconnect 8.4-inch infotainment system with navigation and Apple Carplay/android Auto.
Standard Rubicon gear includes alloy wheels with 255/75R17 tyres, forwardfacing Trailcam off-road camera, selectable Tyre-fill Alert, and more.
Missing on Au-spec JT Rubicons will be the high line front fender flares, 33-inch tyres and heavt duty axles, just like we copped on the JL Wrangler Rubicon. .