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Are you not entertained? Jeep's new Wrangler-based ute has reportedly been named, with a fan forum spotting the moniker Gladiator on an official FCA media site.
The news comes as a bit of a shock, given the world was expecting Jeep's new pick-up to be named the Scrambler. But while there has been no official confirmation yet, the Jeep Scrambler Forum is naming a "trusted source" who spotted the Gladiator name flash up on FCA's offical media site, taking a screen shot before it was reportedly taken down in a hurry.
Look for the "Gladiator" to be unveiled at the Los Angeles Motor Show, and details remain a little thin on the ground for now. But we do know that the new pick-up should prove capable off-road, with some heavily-camouflaged prototypes spied getting down and dirty on the Rubicon Trail in the USA back in August.
While the long-teased ladder-frame ute will soon be revealed, its Australian launch date remains unclear - though it is confirmed for our market. But with the incoming JL Wrangler’s USA launch expected early in the new year, we’d be surprised to see a Gladiator here before the end of next year. But when we do, we are expecting a Wrangler Unlimited-based four-door ute with the prerequisite one-tonne payload.
The new JL Wrangler will be offered (internationally at least) with a 2.2-litre diesel engine, a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol unit and a big V6 petrol. But which of those will make their way into the Gladiator is yet to be revealed. US dealership documents have pointed to a 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine, too, though that's likely only for the American market.
