Jeep Gladiator To Launch In Europe Next Year, Won’t Be Sold In Large Volumes

The Gladiator pickup truck will launch in Europe next year, Jeep’s European boss Jeff Hines recently told Autocar.

The covers were taken off the Jeep Wrangler-inspired pickup truck towards the end of November 2018; however, limited details were provided about where it would be sold. According to Hines, the pickup will land on the Old Continent in the first or second quarter of 2020 but won’t be sold in large volumes.

Unlike North America, which is obsessed with pickup trucks, European buyers traditionally prefer small vehicles better suited to their cities. A huge Jeep pickup truck is virtually the polar opposite of that, so the company’s decision does make perfect sense.

While the automaker has confirmed the Gladiator will be sold in Europe, it hasn’t specified what engine(s) will power it. At launch in the United States, it will be sold exclusively with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine with 285 hp and 260 lb-ft (352 Nm) of torque, but in 2020, local buyers will be offered a diesel with an eight-speed automatic transmission driving all four wheels. This diesel is expected to be an improved version of the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 used by the Grand Cherokee, producing 260 hp and 442 lb-ft (599 Nm) of torque.

The Gladiator sits on a 204-inch (5.18 meter) frame and has a huge, 137-inch (3.48 meter) long wheelbase, 19.4 inches (49.2 cm) longer than the four-door Wrangler. It also utilizes larger axles, brakes, and wheels than any current Wrangler.