Jeep Is Making An ‘Extreme Military-Grade’ Gladiator
The Wrangler-pickup hybrid is getting a military-spec makeover from the company behind the Hummer.
Just when we thought the Jeep Gladiator couldn’t get anymore awesome, the rugged auto brand has announced that an “Extreme Military-Grade Truck” (XMT) based on the popular Wrangler-pickup hybrid is in the works.
The Jeep Gladiator XMT was created in collaboration with AM General—the same heavy vehicle contractor that brought the HUMVVEE to the civilian market under the Hummer brand.
Exactly how AM General plans to equip the 4×4 for tactical applications is unclear, though we know that it will be offered to military customers either a gasoline or diesel engine. The Gladiator is already a leader in the midsize pickup segment, with 7,650-pound towing and 1,650-pound payload capacities when equipped with the base 3.6-liter V6.
It also has locking differentials, skid plates, tow hooks and can hit impressive approach, breakover and departure angles straight from the factory. As CNET notes, a photo of the concept shows a topless and door-less beige model with chunky tires and a blacked-out bullbar in front of the grille.
“As with the iconic, proven and versatile Humvee, AM General can also apply its manufacturing and engineering expertise to convert the Gladiator XMT into mission-specific and purposeful light-weight tactical trucks based on customer requirements,” a press release reads.
“Whether the need is to have a rugged personnel transport carrier or a command and control truck, the company has demonstrated through the Enhanced Tactical Kit (ETK) offerings on Humvee, its ability to deliver solutions that are customer-driven, and cost-effective.”
If AM General moves forward, the first Jeep Gladiator XMTs could roll off the assembly line as early as 2020. In the meantime, feel free to gawk at Hennessey Performance’s 1000-horsepower Jeep Gladiator “Maximus.”
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