Rugged Gladiator something to 'Crowe' about

Jeep has unleashed it’s all new Gladiator utility, the latest iteration in a long line of Jeep “trucks” (they call them trucks) that began back in 1947 when Willys Overland introduced a one-ton truck with four-wheel drive based on the CJ-2A.

Jeep says the Gladiator is the most capable mid-size truck ever.

Powered by a 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine or 3.0-litre turbo diesel, teamed with an 8-speed automatic or 6-speed manual transmission.

It arrives in showrooms in the second quarter of next year.

With more than 40 years of rich heritage to draw from, Gladiator is the latest in a long line of Jeep trucks that includes:

Jeep Pickup: 1947-1965
A 118-inch wheelbase pickup that realised few product changes. It was Willys-Overland’s first attempt to diversify the Jeep brand from the CJ.
Jeep FC-150/170 Pickup: 1957-1965
These Forward-Control series Jeep vehicles were essentially work trucks – with an 81-inch wheelbase for the FC-150 and 103.5 inches for the FC-170. They received few changes during their lifecycle, though some 1959 and 1960 models featured full-floating front and rear axles, and some FC-170 models included dual rear wheels and a four-speed manual transmission.
Jeep Gladiator/J-Series Pickup: 1963-1987
Resembling the Wagoneer, Gladiator debuted in 1963 in either 120-inch (J-200) or 126-inch (J-300) form and featured a Dana 20 transfer case and Dana 44s front and rear. The Gladiator name was dropped in 1972.
Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler: 1981-1985
Introduced in 1981, the Scrambler was a Jeep similar to the CJ-7, but with a longer wheelbase. Known internationally as the CJ-8, it was available in either hard- or soft-top versions. Less than 30,000 Scramblers were built and are extremely popular among collectors today.
Jeep Comanche (MJ): 1986-1992
Based on the Cherokee platform and similarly equipped, the pickup received a six-foot bed in 1987. Later models offered Selec-Trac® or Command-Trac four-wheel drive.