by Matt Konkle
Torque Editor-in-Chief
It has a Pentastar. It has a diesel. And now it seems Jeep’s Gladiator truck will also feature a hybrid option for those interested in an electrified version.
Jeep's global president, Christian Meunier, recently said a hybrid Gladiator was “for sure” in the works, according to Australian automotive publication GoAuto.
While that statement seemed to counter Stellantis’ official position that an electrified Gladiator was not currently being considered, the newest automaker did not dispute the GoAuto quote, saying in a statement "We are committed to making Jeep the greenest SUV brand. All Jeep models will carry an electrified option in the next few years and will modernize the brand as it strives to become the leader in green, eco-friendly premium technology."
Stellantis did not offer any specifics on a hybrid Gladiator in its statement.
Previous Jeep owner Fiat Chrysler completed its merger with France’s PSA Group a few weeks ago — forming Stellantis, now the world’s fourth-largest automaker.
Jeep is currently nearing release of its plug-in hybrid Wrangler, dubbed 4xe, which is set to reach showrooms over the next several weeks. And as many front-end Wrangler components, including powertrain, are shared with Gladiator, it is not hard to conclude that Stellantis would also want to infuse electrification into its popular Gladiator.
After all, with the Wrangler version offering up to 25 miles of electric-only range as well as nearly 400 miles of total range, it would certainly cater to the daily-driving crowd. Additionally, the Wrangler 4xe powerplant expects to push out 375 hp along with a stunning 475 lb-ft of torque — all of it immediately available. So those who tow or spend time slow-speed off-roading would see a major performance increase.
Jeep said last year that it expects to achieve these power gains in the 4xe model via an electric motor mounted at the front of its 2.0L turbocharged inline-four cylinder gasoline engine, as well as another electric motor at the front of its eight-speed automatic transmission.
Jeep has said both electric motors are powered by a 400-volt, 17-kWh, 96-cell lithium-ion, nickel manganese cobalt battery pack that is encased in an aluminum housing and will sit beneath the back seat. It is accessible, the brand said, by flipping up the Wrangler 4xe's redesigned bottom seat cushion.
While Jeep heavily touts the Wrangler 4xe’s electric aspect, drivers will be able to swap to gas or hybrid power depending on the driving conditions. It will accomplish this through three separate driving modes: Electric, Hybrid and eSave — all of which can be activated via buttons mounted to the instrument panel.
The Jeep’s Electric mode operates solely on electric power until the battery reaches a minimum state of charge, or the driver desires even more torque—which will then engage the 2.0L gasoline engine.
In Hybrid mode, the Wrangler 4xe will gain power from both gas and electric sources, but a computer will prioritize battery power until it reaches a minimum state of charge.
The third mode, eSave, basically relies on the gasoline engine for propulsion, thus saving the battery's charge for later use.
Another plug-in hybrid Wrangler 4xe feature that would translate well for Gladiator is regenerative braking that blends the traditional friction brakes with the maximum amount of regenerative braking from the electric motor when the brake pedal is depressed. Jeep said this should extend the life of the vehicle’s brake pads. Additionally, Jeep said the four-wheel-drive system will assist in maximizing energy recovery when braking and all that electricity created will feed back to the battery pack to maintain or increase its state of charge.
The 4xe Wrangler even has a Max Regen feature that, when engaged, allows for more assertive regenerative braking when the vehicle is coasting (zero throttle input) which generates more electricity for the battery pack. When selected, this Max Regen feature remains enabled until the driver manually chooses to disengage.
For those interested in a Gladiator 4xe, but want to use the vehicle off-road and are wary about the electrified component, Jeep said the Wrangler 4xe will be just as happy in the dirt and on the rocks as its gasoline-only version.
All non-Rubicon 4xe Wranglers contain a pair of next-generation Dana 44 axles, 20-inch wheels, Selec-Trac two-speed transfer case with a 2:71 low-range gear ratio, full-time four-wheel drive, 10.8 inches of ground clearance, and the ability to ford up to 30 inches of water. Additionally, Jeep said all its 4xe's high-voltage components are sealed and waterproof. Also available are a Trac-Lok limited-slip rear differential that provides extra grip and capability in low-traction situations, such as driving over sand, gravel, snow or ice.
Rubicon editions add the Rock-Trac 4x4 system that includes a two-speed transfer case with a 4:1 low-range gear ratio, Tru-Lok electric front- and rear-axle lockers, electronic sway bar disconnects, 17-inch wheels on 33-inch tires and an impressive crawl ratio of 77.2:1.
At present, Gladiator is offered with the Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 powerplant that generates 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. A 3.0-liter Ecodiesel V6 engine, with 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque, should arrive sometime later this year.
