Filed under: Concept Cars, Trucks/Pickups, Jeep
Jeep passes on producing Gladiator concept
Though Jeep's lineup will grow to include eight models by year's end, a small pickup based on the Gladiator concept will not be one of them. Introduced at the 2005 Detroit auto show, the Gladiator concept was based on a unique platform though would have likely shared underpinnings with the new Jeep Wrangler Unlimited if produced. The Chrysler Group's COO Eric Ridenour told Ward's Auto, however, "It wasn't profitable". Ward's points out that while some Jeep enthusiasts might be disappointed their favorite brand won't be fielding its first pickup since the Comanche was cancelled back in 1992, the decision not to produce the Gladiator shows analysts that Chrysler is practicing some restraint amidst its current product blitz.
The small pickup segment has been virtually abandoned by automakers as models like the Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon, Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier have grown large enough over the years to be considered midsize trucks and adopt five- and six-cylinder powertrains. The small pickup segment is still dominated by the Ford Ranger, a vehicle that hasn't been significantly redesigned in over a decade. Is Jeep passing up on a golden opportunity or has the small pickup segment permanently run out of gas?
[Source: Ward's Auto]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Blake 5:27PM (8/21/2006)
THOSE IDIOTS.
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rwdmtparkingonly 5:35PM (8/21/2006)
Sweet, abandon a body on frame, live rear axl pickup with modern 4 and 6 cylnder engines and a large number of shared wrangler body panels but build two Dodge Caliber knock offs, one of which is retarded looking. Jeep is missing a strong niche for vehicles that are fuel efficient and compact but also have traditional rugged/durable features.
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K-man 5:36PM (8/21/2006)
I agree with you Mr. Neff.
They should build this (less the dubs) on the new Wrangler platform:
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/02/tokyo-auto-gallery-jeep-scrambler-redux/
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PBCrunch 5:44PM (8/21/2006)
I dont think a truck with the aerodynamics of a brick wall would get even respectable gas mileage.
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p 5:44PM (8/21/2006)
what's with Jeep? they'll make a cute (and ugly) car based Compass (that doesn't even come with a compass), but they won't make a truck?
is a minivan too far off?
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jim 5:45PM (8/21/2006)
Blake you are right on the money. These guys could screw up a soup sandwich...Patriot, Compass, Commander....all needed by their standards. A flat fendered modern day version of an old Williys with some attitude and soul not required. Guess aev-conversions.com will finally have clear sailing w/ the Brute conversion they offer. It was @ 2 SEMA shows and was a hit both years...check out their site if you are rerally jonesing for a unit in that category.
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Erik 5:49PM (8/21/2006)
Great, they green-light the friggin' Compass and won't build the Gladiator? Wonderful. Per the compact trucks, humm let's think. People are trading in their large SUVs for small SUVs, and trading in their large cars for compacts. You think maybe they might want to trade in their larger trucks for a compact pickup? Humm, I wonder. Compact trucks first became popular following the original gas crisis int he 70's, I would think they would be popular during this one too. Don't get me wrong, the Ranger is a great truck, but I think one of it's main selling points is it's size and fuel economy - it has no real competitors! If someone (Jeep?) could get a fresh, modern, and truely compact truck to market, it could really rack up some sales...
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David 5:51PM (8/21/2006)
The Gladiator was not necessarily going to be a compact pickup, as the concept was based on a Ram chassis. This vehicle would not have shared enough components with any existing vehicles to make its low production numbers economically viable.
I'm sure there will be many people that are angered or outraged that Jeep has decided not to produce this vehicle, at least for now, but how many of them would have actually purchased one?
If you really want a Jeep pickup you'd either already have an AEV Brute or you'd wait for someone to modify a new 4-door Wrangler Unlimited into one.
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Jaymez 5:57PM (8/21/2006)
The four cylinder Wrangler is rated at having a worse fuel economy rating than my V8 Chevy truck. If anyone wants fuel economy, don't look at the American arm of DCX.
Even with that said, it's a shame this isn't being produced. I'd consider buying one. The Wrangler is one of the few compacts I'd consider. I happen to think the Wrangler's price it way too high given how little you get for the money. Adding a bed to the back for cargo capacity and suddenly $20K doesn't sound like too much money.
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Gardiner Westbound 6:46PM (8/21/2006)
Chrysler probably made the right decision in not producing the Gladiator. It reminds of the late 60s Jeep Commando, a great utility vehicle with more creature comforts and cargo capacity than the standard Jeep. Though I liked mine, ny recollection is they didn't sell well.
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Jay 6:47PM (8/21/2006)
Moments like this make you realize just why Chrysler's Firehouse blog is only open to the press and not to the general public.
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JON 7:07PM (8/21/2006)
Too bad.I really liked it.Such a great elaboration on strong Jeep themes .Would have made a great lifestyle niche market vehicle.I'm with poster # 5 I just don't get it either.Seems like the're dilluting the ruggedness of the brand with generic please-everyone type cars.
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kracker 7:11PM (8/21/2006)
i am a jeep person at heart, but between this decision, the compass, and a 2wd wrangler, my devotion is being tested.
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snakesausage 7:13PM (8/21/2006)
Idiots! Idiots! Idiots! I have been waiting for them to announce the green light since the 2005 auto show! I am one of those guys that have been and was willing to put off purchase of my next truck and wait for this. What a bunch of IDOTS! I am distraught… I cannot believe that anyone in their right mind would not build this beautiful truck. This is unbelievable! The product planners should be fired… This was destined to be a hit!
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Sean 7:17PM (8/21/2006)
Jeep started acting retarted when they left the XJ Cherokee behind, the outgoing 1984-2001 Cherokee XJ still looks good, even today. they could have reatined the basic shape, and modernized the powertrain, and interior. hell, even the althoguh the 4.0L is one good motor. that XJ only weighed 3,000LBS. with the inline 6, 4wd version. my bother in law owns a 1999 Cherokee Sport, there is just something about the XJ that was right on...and stupid DCX decided a sissy liberty needed to be born...geez..Jeep had a unibody, 4wd, that weighed less than a honda accord..I haven't paid much attention to Jeep went soft. Anyone notice the Commander was trying to go Cherokee XJ in the design Q's? Stupid Boys, Jeeps are NOW for Girls/
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rwdmtparkingonly 7:20PM (8/21/2006)
The current jeep four has horrible fuel economy, but it might date back to American Motors. Right now the official word is that the wrangler will only have a v-6, but there are a lot of rumors that jeep will offer a 4 cylinder. Highway mpg will never be amazing but city could be decent enough to put combined mpg in the high 20s. I might have heard that the concept was based on a Dakota, which would make this expensive, and less efficient, but they don't need that much size and they already have that market with the dakota, so basing it directly on the wrangler would work. Some companies might offer aftermarket conversions, but I don't think that indicates how sucessful a factory offering would be anymore than aftermarket convertible versions of cars do. This might be the least popular Wrangler variant, but it would be incredibly cheap to tool, would toughen the brands image, and seems particularly galling when they are making the Compass.
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Sean 7:20PM (8/21/2006)
I guess the old boxy Cherokee is a Cult car?
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Sean 7:28PM (8/21/2006)
is Jeep Dropping the 4.0L inline?, if so, why?
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NMT 8:04PM (8/21/2006)
They built the ugly, slow Caliber but a business case couldn't be made for this very stylish, yet functional vehicle? All of the competition in this segment is boring in comparison.
The Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma, Dodge Durango have no class, no style, and no history. The Jeep Gladiator could have been the MINI Cooper of midsize trucks. The styling is classic, the layout is functional, and if they could make it affordable it's hard to believe you couldn't sell those.
I definitely would have considered buying one if it could be priced around 25k but still have the style of the concept.
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snakesausage 8:23PM (8/21/2006)
Do these people read the blogs and forums? I have checked for more news on when production would start about every week because I thought that it was a no-brainer. During those searches for more news I have ran across quite a few blogs and forums that have several hundred posts on “how cool this truck is” and “when would it be built”.
I believe that this is a huge mistake by the product planners. I don’t believe that if it were offered with the diesel it would have been a niche vehicle, it would have been as one other poster stated, like the mini which has in fact outsold many of the other offerings of DCX that are considered mainstream.
I was really devastated when I opened Autoblog and saw this.
Signed,
Distraught ex-future Gladiator owner
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