Jeep Gladiator Hercules Getting Ready To Go Raptor-Hunting?

There could be good news on the horizon for fans of high-performance off-road pickups: Jeep is reportedly planning a Raptor-like version of the all-new Gladiator, which might be called “Hercules.”

The folks from the Jeep Gladiator Forum claim insider sources told them FCA is considering a high-performance version of the Gladiator pickup. According to the forum, the vehicle “is currently being evaluated for market viability so it has not been fully green-lighted just yet.”

As a result, no supplier contracts have been signed yet and Jeep is building prototypes for testing purposes. Accurate or not, the truth is there have been some public statements from FCA hinting at such a model.

In an interview at the LA Auto Show last year, Jeep design boss Mark Allen suggested a future high-speed off-roading model is in the works. “We’re known for a few good things off-road, you’ll see us expand into high-speed off-road, you’ll see us expand in other ways for Jeep. The truck is going to be a big help for us to get people to think of us as other than just SUVs,” Allen told Autoline After Hours.

He didn’t get into details, but the direction Jeep could take with the Gladiator is pretty straightforward, just like Ford has done with the Ranger Raptor and Chevrolet with the Colorado ZR2 Bison.

If the project gets the green light, the Gladiator Hercules will definitely adopt a more rugged look and new hardware. Expect a lift kit, Mopar beadlock wheels shod with larger off-road tires, steel front bumper, rock rails, skid plates and more.

These speculative renderings courtesy of the Jeep Gladiator Forum also give the truck a Mopar black grille, ram air hood, larger fender vents and vented high fenders. What do you think, does it look ‘bad’ enough to take on the Raptor?