Could the Jeep Gladiator be picking up steam and heading for production? I think I read on MIKE'S TOTALLY FREE JEEP NEWS NOW that the production version of the Gladiator "might" be revealed at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show in January.

Anyone hear anything additional?

I would be ecstatic if it did go into production. I love the look of it.

It was posted on Mikes Totally Free Jeep News that the Gladiator is gaining steam for production as a 2009 model. Here is a link (http://www.jeepnewsnow.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1135) for those that want the article.

There is also another forum for the Jeep Gladiator (http://www.jeepgladiator.org)
It still looks like it's in the development stages, but I joined and posted some messages anyways. Though I am the only one that has posted so far :rolleyes: . One of my posts there links to some specs about the Gladiator.

It looks like it beats the Wrangler in everything except departure angle. But those specs should be taken with a grain of salt because the concept version of the Gladiator comes with 33" tires and the stock Rubicon only comes with 31" tires...

I am excited!!

I guess just to formally answer HoosierMud's question, most of the other articles I read said that the Gladiator is so complete for a concept vehicle, that it is a good indication that it will be produced.

I have pretty much heard nothing but praise for it in all of the comments people have posted at other sites.

I have waited a long, long time for Jeep to put another truck out on the roads!


On a side note, I would have liked to see the Rescue come to life too (just as it is in the concept version).

I love the look of the Rescue, too. Although it does look similar to the new Wrangler Unlimited 4-door, so maybe that was the original reason for the Rescue, to test out a 4-door Wrangler without it actually being a Wrangler (i.e. no removable top).

I would say that the Rescue would be stepping on the toes of the new Unlimited, but I just took a look at the size and saw the Rescue has a 7" longer wheelbase and is 6.1" wider, so it's definitely much bigger.

I am assuming the Rescue then would compete against the H2. Since the inception of the H3, I have been seeing fewer and fewer H2s on the roads. So perhaps the demand for ridiculous sized SUVs is dwindling? Maybe it doesn't make sense then to produce it.

It will be interesting to see how many fire/rescue units actually acquire the Wrangler Unlimited. I can see it as more practical for many communities than a H2 or H3.

The +50K price tag on the H2 could have a lot to do with it... especailly combined with the mpg's it gets.

Though I do like the diesel conversion I have seen on the web that gets mid 20s... for another chunk of change of course, at which point you are not saving any money any more.

I doubt the size is that big of an issue. I actually prefer the larger vehicle. It's the price and mogs that kill it for me.

What I was implying was that many hummer owners probably traded the H2 in for an H3 (since I am seeing fewer H2s than a couple years ago). When you start talking about vehicles over $50k, I really don't think price is an issue for most of the owners. And if someone bought an H2, I highly doubt they were expecting to get stellar gas mileage.

I like bigger vehicles, too. The thing that bothers me about them is that many of the drivers don't know how to drive them (I seem to recall a similar discussion on SUV rollovers...).

Anyways, I don't like Hummers (yeah, I said it, you know what I mean so don't take it out of context :p)

On a sort-of-related note, anyone see the end scenes of the movie Cars with the SUV Off Road Training class? That was a hilarious diss to Hummers. I loved it.

...I like bigger vehicles, too. The thing that bothers me about them is that many of the drivers don't know how to drive them (I seem to recall a similar discussion on SUV rollovers...)...
Too many people think that SUVs drive just like cars... if memory serves, that's the same tactict that was used to kill the sales of the Suzuki Samuria back in the 80's.

...On a sort-of-related note, anyone see the end scenes of the movie Cars with the SUV Off Road Training class? That was a hilarious diss to Hummers. I loved it.
Which movie? Which class?

Which movie? Which class?

Disney/Pixar's film "Cars" which came out this summer. It's a movie personifying cars. It's actually pretty good.

There are a few animated skits after the movie is over (before the credits). One of which is the old military Jeep having an "SUV Off Road Training Class".

WARNING: Don't read the rest of the post if you don't want to know what happened in this scene....

He is talking to the other SUVs -- one of which is an H2. The Jeep tells them to go ahead and try what he taught them, and the H2 just stays there acts all scared. When the Jeep asks him (in a drill sergeant-type way) what the problem is, the H2 says "I'm scared. I've never been off road before!"

Disney/Pixar's film "Cars" which came out this summer. It's a movie personifying cars. It's actually pretty good.

There are a few animated skits after the movie is over (before the credits). One of which is the old military Jeep having an "SUV Off Road Training Class".

WARNING: Don't read the rest of the post if you don't want to know what happened in this scene....

He is talking to the other SUVs -- one of which is an H2. The Jeep tells them to go ahead and try what he taught them, and the H2 just stays there acts all scared. When the Jeep asks him (in a drill sergeant-type way) what the problem is, the H2 says "I'm scared. I've never been off road before!"

"Aw man! I'm gonna get dirt in my rims!"