Jeep has seen some big changes recently, with FCA now joining Stellantis. This joining forces made Stellantis the fourth-largest automaker in the world. This powerhouse corporation isn’t wasting any time. It has its eyes set on building the next generation of Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators. Honestly, the news should come as no surprise, but Jeep 4x4s might be joining Rivian with all-electric off-roaders sooner than expected. 

Is there an all-electric Jeep Gladiator?

Not yet. For the time being, the only electric Jeep is the Wrangler 4xe hybrid. It’s cool, and it’s close, but it is not the same thing. According to CarBuzz, the 4xe sports a turbocharged 2.0-liter gas engine paired with two electric motors powered by a battery. The result is an eco-friendly yet powerful Jeep that makes 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. 

However, Stellantis is displeased by this and makes it clear that it intends to give the Jeep Gladiator a major update in the form of an all-electric powertrain in the near future. Jeep Global President Christian Meunier spoke very assuredly about the future, saying Jeep would “for sure” make an electrified Gladiator. 

The Wrangler 4xe could be a Gladiator 4xe in a flash

For all intents and purposes, the Jeep Gladiator is a stretched-out Wrangler with the back half partially cut off. So, it would be silly to think that the 4xe powertrain wouldn’t be coming to the Jeep truck soon. 

The electric truck is the grail currently. Automakers are scrambling to be the first to reach the summit of electric-truck mountain. The Tesla Cyber Truck, Rivian, and the Hummer EV all promise to be wildly successful models. It would only make sense for Jeep to start by giving the Gladiator a piece of that pie by giving it the 4xe powertrain and ultimately designing an all-electric version. 

What engine is in the Jeep Gladiator? 

Currently, the only powertrain option for the Jeep pickup is the 3.6-liter V6 with 285 hp and 260 lb-ft. Of course, that will not be the case for much longer. More than likely, the 3.0-liter diesel motor will come to the Gladiator later this year. There is also the monster 392 V8 coming to the Wrangler that I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw it pushing the Gladiator around before too long. 

According to CarBuzz, Meunier confirmed that the possibility of other powertrain transfers like a diesel Grand Cherokee is not going to happen. These bigger SUVs will remain gasoline and electric. 

What’s important to note about the 4xe compared to the other powerplants; the 4xe makes the same amount of torque as the monster 392 V8 but is, of course, much more eco- and pocket-book friendly than the Mopar monster. 

The electric truck has come a long way in a short while

Remember, only a few years back, the idea of an electric truck or off-roader seemed pretty silly. The leaps in range and power have made the idea not only less silly but enticing. As I said previously, Tesla and Rivian are clawing to dominate the ET (electric truck) market. Even Ford is in on the race; by 2022, it plans to present us with the E-150. 

If Jeep could get on the ball here and include the hybrid with the Gladiator, that would be a great start. Shortly thereafter, the WranglEr and Glad-E-ator better be coming to us quickly. The world will want them.