It’s been around 26 years since Jeep’s last pickup truck, so the release of the 2020 Jeep Gladiator has been eagerly anticipated by many. The Gladiator is no standard pickup, though, as it adds the functionality of a flatbed to a body that has more in common with the familiar Jeep Wrangler than any other pickups on the market, making it something closer to a mid-sized SUV-pickup.
Students in automotive training will be interested to know more about Jeep’s unique new offering for some insight into the vehicles, features, and systems that they might encounter in their automotive career. Read on to learn how the Jeep Gladiator is setting itself apart.
The Gladiator Body Is a Twist on the Classic Wrangler
The front half of the Gladiator, with its four-door crew cab, looks very similar to Jeep’s popular Wrangler SUV, but while the frame is similar to the Wrangler’s, there are some important differences to note. The wheelbase has been lengthened by 49 centimetres to allow enough space for the 1.5-metre bed. This makes it the longest of all of Jeep’s vehicles, but it still fits comfortably in the mid-sized truck range, meaning it can make it through forests and other off-road areas that a full-size pickup could not. It can also ford up to 76 centimetres of water.
The Gladiator also has solid front and rear Dana 44 axles available in two track widths and a unique rear five-link coil suspension, designed to combine towing and cargo capacity with a smooth ride when the truck isn’t carrying extra weight.
Check out the Jeep Gladiator in this short clip:
Students in Mechanic Courses Will Be Interested in the Gladiator’s Powertrain
Powering the Jeep Gladiator will be a 3.6-litre gasoline V6 engine with a standard six-speed manual transmission, or optional eight-speed automatic transmission, making 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque.
Students in mechanic colleges should take note that starting in 2020, there will also be a diesel option, powered by a 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6. It’s a bit less powerful than the gas option, with only 260 horsepower. What it loses in horsepower, however, it gains in torque, with an impressive 442 pound-feet.
Either engine will run its power through a four-wheel drive system offering an 84:1 crawl ratio for tough terrain, making it a great option for off-roading. It will also feature electronically controlled modes to help drivers through deep sand or over rocks.
The Gladiator also has an impressive towing capacity of 7,650 pounds, the highest of any other truck in the mid-sized segment. The payload capacity, while not the highest in its class, is a respectable 1,600 pounds.
The Jeep Gladiator Has a Range of Other Features
The 2020 Jeep Gladiator will have a range of other features that students in mechanic courses should know about as well. Particularly noteworthy for those interested in off-roading is the forward-facing camera that will provide drivers with a view through the hood, to detect and avoid objects below their sightline.
Other features include adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, standard touchscreen and smartphone compatibility, and push button start. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported, and a removable wireless Bluetooth speaker that fits into the rear storage will be available as well.
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