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Jeep Gladiator Concept |
Multiple news sources are reporting that Jeep president
Mike Manley has stated that the world will finally have an answer "Pretty soon" to the big question about whether we will
finally see the return of a Jeep-based pickup truck model.
Pickup trucks are no stranger to the Jeep lineup:
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Jeep Forward Control
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Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler |
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Jeep M715 |
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Jeep J-Series Gladiator |
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Jeep Jeepster Commando |
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Jeep Honcho |
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Jeep Comanche |
I've reported
multiple times on the Jeep world's enthusiasm for JK and TJ based aftermarket pickup conversions. Mopar even offers their own
JK-8 conversion kit that you can buy directly from Jeep dealers and they have teased us recently with many several recent concept trucks such as the
Nukizer 715, the
J12, and the
Mighty FC:
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Jeep Nukizer 715 Concept |
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Jeep J12 Concept |
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Jeep Mighty FC Concept |
There's little doubt that Jeep fans are clamoring for a Jeep pickup. The big debate about the viability of a Jeep pickup comes from Chrysler's own Dodge Ram division: the fear is that Jeep pickup sales would cannibalize the sales of a half-ton Ram pickup.
However, now that the half-ton Ram 1500 has been castrated by its downgrade to a light-duty independent front suspension with little offroading ability, very few customers would ever cross-shop the two. And don't forget that a Wrangler-based pickup would be a significantly smaller vehicle than the enormous half-ton Ram. Toyota and Nissan are the brands that would lose the most sales; many Tacoma and Frontier buyers are looking for a heavier-duty vehicle with better off-road ability and durability. A Wrangler-based pickup would be the answer to their prayers.
Autoblog's report regarding when we'll know if there's a pickup in Jeep's future:
"Pretty soon." That's the answer Jeep
president Mike Manley gave to Australian site Car Advice when asked
about a decision on a Jeep pickup truck. And with the next-generation Wrangler planned for arrival in 2015 or 2016, this is the window for getting with planners. There's certainly plenty of lust for a Jeep pickup – just look at the strong sales of Mopar's JK8 kit.
Concerning a factory-fresh production version, part of the
considerations are whether to build a two-door, or a four-door that
could provide more space for people and cargo but wouldn't have the
Wrangler's same off-road might. Making a Wrangler variant that can't
live up to the stalwart Jeep's off-road standards is a concern for
Manley. The approach and departure angles of a four-door wouldn't be a
problem, but the length of a pickup would mean "your break-over angle
gets destroyed," said Manley, and in that case he wonders, "Then is it
really a Wrangler?" The two-door, however, would have "no issue at all."
Another idea would be to build a Jeep pickup on a Fiat platform, perhaps the one underpinning the next Liberty.
That could be a model distinct from the Wrangler line and, while still
possessing the off-road promise of a Jeep. Manley only spoke of that
hypotetically, though, saying he could "see the opportunity in the
future" for such a vehicle. It shouldn't be long before we know one way
or another.
We'll soon have an answer.
Concerning a factory-fresh production version, part of the considerations are whether to build a two-door, or a four-door that could provide more space for people and cargo but wouldn't have the Wrangler's same off-road might. Making a Wrangler variant that can't live up to the stalwart Jeep's off-road standards is a concern for Manley. The approach and departure angles of a four-door wouldn't be a problem, but the length of a pickup would mean "your break-over angle gets destroyed, said Manley, and in that case he wonders, Then is it really a Wrangler?" The two-door, however, would have no issue at all.Dodge dealer MA
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