“Hercules” Jeep Gladiator Being Tested

A High Performance Gladiator Truck Could Battle Ford's Raptor
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Through our insider sources, our friends over at the Jeep Gladiator Forum have learned that FCA is in the midst of developing a high-performance off-roading Jeep Gladiator “Hercules” model to compete with the likes of the Ford Raptor.

We’ve confirmed that the vehicle is currently being evaluated for market viability so it has not been fully green-lighted just yet. As such, there have been no supplier contracts yet and prototypes are being built as one-offs for testing purposes.

Indeed, FCA’s public statements have hinted that this model is coming. Mark Allen, head of Jeep design, recently alluded to a future high speed off-roading Jeep in an interview from the LA Auto Show.

In the meantime we’ve rendered up our vision of what a high performance Hercules Gladiator could look like, giving the standard Gladiator Mopar beadlock wheels wrapped in larger tires, Mopar front skid plate, Mopar black grille, lift kit, steel front bumper, rock rails, ram air hood, larger fender vents and vented high fenders.

 

WOW that is nice.

 

Wonder what the power plant would be? maybe that straight 6 turbo motor that is in development.

 

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Just look at the Challenger SRT Demon, and the 1000-hp Hellephant crate motor, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that a super-Gladiator could be built.

This is coming into reality!

 

If they use the right powertrain, that won't be competition for the Raptor...it will be a beat down!

 

If anyone can top the Raptor I would say it would be a Jeep Wrangler/Gladiator. Just look how capable they are stock off road. Of course that is more in crawl conditions but they know how to build a capable vehicle off road and what enthusiast want. I think the Gladiator could make a great platform to make a high speed off roader

 

Jeep has been making off-roading vehicles for centuries. I believe they have a good chance against the Raptor.

 

Not seeing it myself. There really has never been a performance oriented (offroad) Jeep. Sure, you can go WAY back to the old CJ platform that has some versions equipped with the 304, but really those weren't performance models. You can maybe even stretch to the ZJ 5.9L and later SRT WK models, but those had little in offroad performance over other models, just more street cred.

Sure there is the Rubicon package, but that is a slow crawl based upgrade - not way it would compete with a Raptor (or even a ZR2). The entire body-on-frame, solid axle design is really limited these days to only sufficing for a crawler. Jeep needs to look at the rigs built for Ulta4 or King of the Hammers to see where the new JL/JT needs to go to become a real performance offroad rig that will beat down the Raptor.