gladiator
gladiator

Gladiator: Jeep’s gold-plated, sword carrier

Riley Riley

Given that Australia’s biggest selling car is a 4×4 ute, Jeep is sitting on a goldmine with its all-new Gladiator.

Arriving in May, Jeep Australia has announced a limited run of just 100 Jeep Gladiator Launch Edition vehicles.

It’s built on the fully-bombed Rubicon, with the addition of limited edition badging and design accents.

“Australia is the first right hand drive market to receive the Gladiator, which is a one of a kind lifestyle truck offering an open air experience,” Director, Brand & Product Strategy, Guillaume Drelon, said.

“For the first time in Australia, adventurers can experience the heritage and dependability of a Jeep truck.

“The first Jeep truck, the Willy Overland, was built in 1947, but the Jeep trucks were never made available in Australia, until now with this special Launch Edition Gladiator.”

The Launch Edition is powered by a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine with 209kW of power and 347Nm of torque.

It’s hooked up to an eight-speed automatic transmission, with a maximum payload of 620kg and maximum tow capacity of 2722kg.

The Launch Edition will be available in three colours — Diamond Black, Bright White and Firecracker Red — with body colour fenders and body colour hard top.

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It comes with unique 17-inch Mid Gloss Black Aluminium Wheels, matchless aluminium Launch Edition tailgate badge, enhanced by a leather- wrapped instrument panel with Rubicon red stitching.

Carrying over from the Rubicon option list is a Rubicon steel front bumper, black leather trim seats, heated front seats and steering are all standard.

Launch Edition also comes with the Lifestyle Adventure Pack cost option as standard, which includes the Cargo Management Group with Trail Rail System, lockable rear underseat storage bin, roll-up Tonneau cover, spray-in bedliner, auxiliary switch bank (4 programmable switches), 240-amp alternator, 700-amp maintenance free battery and a wireless Bluetooth speaker.

Off road credentials include Rock-Trac 4×4 system, heavy duty third-generation Dana 44 axles with a “4LO” ratio of 4:1. A 4.10 rear axle ratio as standard as well as Tru- Lock locking differentials.

It also offers improved articulation and total suspension travel with help from a segment-exclusive electronic sway-bar disconnect, and an impressive crawl ratio of 77.2:1.

Inside the cabin is Jeep’s fourth-generation Uconnect system with 8.4-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system.

Enhanced technology and safety features including keyless entry, Forward Facing TrailCam camera, Blind-spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Path detection, ParkSense rear park assist system, Advanced Brake Assist, Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning Plus, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop, Trail Rail Cargo Management System and spray-in bedliner.

The order books are open and Jeep Gladiator Launch Edition could be yours from $86,450.

 

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