Key Takeaways
- Jeep Gladiator 4xe hybrid will debut next year.
- The Wrangler’s 4xe powertrain may be used, but towing capacity could be weak.
- Potential for Ram 1500 components to support hybrid system, but nothing confirmed yet.
Jeep fans were thrilled yesterday to learn that the hot-selling Tuscadero paint finish that returned to the Jeep Wrangler lineup this year would be coming to the Gladiator pickup for the first time, and now they have another reason to celebrate: the long-awaited Jeep Gladiator 4xe plug-in hybrid will finally arrive next year. The news was announced on LinkedIn in posts by Jeep’s global CEO, Antonio Filosa, and its North American boss, Bill Peffer.
An exact date was not announced, and we don’t yet know what colors will be offered on this, but assuming the Gladiator 4xe borrows the setup from the hybrid Wrangler, we already know a lot.
2024 4xe Powertrain
The Wrangler 4xe is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, along with a starter-generator electric motor on the accessory drive belt that adds 44 hp and 39 lb-ft. In place of a torque converter automatic transmission, a traction motor is fitted, adding 134 hp and 181 lb-ft. All in, you get 375 ponies and 470 lb-ft of twist.
It’s important to remember that these figures may be adjusted slightly if Stellantis chooses to fit a larger battery pack into the longer wheelbase of the Gladiator or finds ways to optimize the existing 17.3 kWh unit that gives the Wrangler PHEV 22 miles of all-electric range. This battery capacity is also what you get in the Grand Cherokee 4xe.
4xe Styling Cues
Like the Wrangler 4xe, we expect to find a charging port for that battery pack on the left flank, blue tow hooks front and rear, blue decals, and blue interior accent stitching. It remains to be seen if an entry-level variant with cloth upholstery will be offered or if only more premium finishings will be offered.
After all, this may look Wrangler-like, but it has the rear end of a Ram 1500 pickup, which makes it more capable and more expensive. As such, we wonder if the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 from the 1500 could be combined with the Wrangler 4xe’s transmission e-motor. If so, it would likely be able to improve on the Wrangler PHEV’s 3,500-lb tow rating. There’s also a possibility that an all-new setup will be created, but we’ll have to wait for more details from Jeep before any of this can be confirmed.
Related
Everything You Need to Know About Hybrid Cars
Understanding hybrid car tech and why it’s beneficial
#Jeep #Gladiator #4xe #PlugIn #Hybrid #Finally #Coming #Year
