Jeep’s long-awaited Gladiator model is currently experiencing solid sales in the US, with roughly 2,500 sold in May alone with the average price tag of $56,403. At the same time, is working on making the Gladiator available to the European market. According to Jeff Hines, head of Jeep’s European operations, “it will land in quarter one or quarter two in 2020.”
First revealed to the world at the Los Angeles Motor Show in late 2018, Jeep’s Gladiator marks the return of the brand to the pick-up truck segment and a new lease on life for the brand. As a result, they are eyeing a global rollout with the Middle East scheduled not far into the future.
While bringing a vehicle like Gladiator to Europe may seem strange to outsiders, the Jeep brand has been thriving on the continent. Sales have been steadily increasing over the past few years, specifically their Renegade and Compass models.
Despite the promise of wide availability by the beginning of 2020, European consumers were granted the opportunity to get firsthand experience new Gladiator prior to its wide release to dealerships. Earlier this month on July 12, the Jeep Owners Group (JOG) held their yearly Camp Jeep convention in the Italian city of San Martino di Castrozza, offering members from across Europe the pristine backdrop for 2019’s wider action-packed program. This event constituted the European Premiere of the Gladiator.
The biggest change, when compared to the American market, would be the drivetrain. As of this writing, the truck will be retailed in Europe equipped with a 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel engine. It will be partnered with an eight-speed automatic transmission as well as an AWD system. It is also expected to come with all the features it now sells with in the U.S., including a towing capacity of up to 725 KG.
In the United States, Jeep offers the Gladiator in four variants – Sport, Sport S, Overland, and Rubicon. However, the rugged machine will be released with 3 models across the Atlantic: Sport, Overland, and Rubicon. Industry experts claim this is the most logical decision since stateside the Overland and Rubicon trim levels represent the majority of Gladiator sales.