If Jeep decides to fulfill its customers’ needs, the Gladiator might be offered in the future with the same V8 engine as the flagship new Wrangler.
For many years, Jeep enthusiasts have been calling for a V8-powered Wrangler and late last year, the carmaker answered the call and announced the Wrangler Rubicon 392, which is powered by a 6.4-liter V8 producing 470 hp and 470 lb-ft (637 Nm). Prices start at $73,500 but despite that high price, demand has been strong. Given the similarities between the Wrangler and the Gladiator, it seems only logical the V8 will also be offered in the pickup.
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During a recent interview with Muscle Cars & Trucks, Jeep Gladiator senior brand manager Brandon Grimus acknowledged that there is demand for a V8 Gladiator.
“If you scour the forums, there are tons of people that I’m sure would love to buy a V8 Gladiator,” he said.
Grimus went on to explain how in recent years, Jeep has tried to fulfill every wish of Wrangler customers and by that logic, it may decide to do the same with the Gladiator.
“If you look at what we’ve done with Wrangler lately, it’s like we’ve gone through this wish list from every Jeep fan in America,” he said. “Whether it’s a diesel or V8, or a Jeep pickup, we’ve just been checking all of these boxes and finally delivering to these customers the products they’ve been asking for.”
Slotting a 6.4-liter V8 under the hood of the Gladiator would be no more difficult than the Wrangler and given the history of FCA-now-Stellantis installing big V8s into everything it can think of, a V8 Gladiator seems very likely.
