The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
AUTO SHOW KICKS OFF
New, classic vehicles share spotlight at I-X Center
The official opening of the Cleveland Auto Show on Feb. 22 was still six hours away, but Taylor Langhals already was a busy man.
Inside the I-X Center in Cleveland, where this annual showcase of all things automotive runs through March 3, Langhals was briefing reporters on the features of the 2020 Jeep Gladiator.
The mid-size pickup truck with crew cab, 5-foot-bed and 7,650 pounds of towing capacity is, Langhals explained, the first pick-up in Jeep’s product line since 1992.
Langhals spoke about the rugged-looking vehicle from a position of authority. The 30-year-old
“My father worked at the Jeep plant in Toledo for 30 years.” — Taylor Langhals, lead exterior designer of the new Jeep Gladiator
native of Toledo and graduate of Detroit’s College for Creative Studies automotive design program is lead exterior designer of the Gladiator.
Moving around the perimeter of the gunmetal gray vehicle, Langhals discussed an array of features that includes removable doors and roof panels that transform it into the industry’s first convertible pickup
On top of that, Langhals added, the windshield folds down in front to give the driver a complete off-road experience that is a selling point of all Jeep products.
“This vehicle embodies the Jeep brand’s DNA,” Langhals said, referring to the current Fiat Chrysler Automobiles product line for Jeep that includes the Wrangler, Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, Compass and Renegade models.
The Gladiator will be added to that line and available for purchase in late spring. Its base price has not been established but most likely to be in the neighborhood of $30,000.
Taylor also is proud that the Gladiator will be manufactured at the south plant of the Toledo Assembly Complex.
“My father worked at the Jeep plant in Toledo for 30 years,” Langhals said, smiling.
FCA is one of 25 vehicle manufacturers with exhibits on the I-X Center floor. Show patrons can get up-close looks at all manner of offerings from the smallest passenger sedans to the largest crossovers, sports utility vehicles and trucks.
Price tags range from the vicinity of $15,000 to well into six figures. There are indoor and outdoor test drive areas.
The popular Classic Car showcase is installed in the exhibition area off the main floor.
This show’s line-up of specialty attractions includes two NASCAR racers,
the Mutt Cutts van from the “Dumb and Dumber” movies and time-traveling DeLorean from the “Back to the Future” movies.
Celebrity guests with scheduled autograph sessions include Cleveland Cavaliers players Collin Sexton (Feb. 26, 6 to 8 p.m.) and Matthew Dellavedova (March 1, 7 to 8 p.m.), four-time UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic (Feb. 27, 6 to 8 p.m.) and Cleveland Browns players Joe Schobert and Joel Bitonio (Feb. 28, 7 to 8 p.m.).