Motor Trend has a first look at the Gladiator in the current issue (5/19). According to them, it's not an extended Wrangler frame, but a newer stronger frame. Also, the rear suspension was adopted ..at least in principle from the Ram 1500, if not the parts (i.e. coils). The fact that it has a solid Dana 44 up front means something. If nothing else, it might coax GM into bringing out their own Colorado-based 'Gladiator-killer' (which might even look like a Hummer [did GM sell or destroy Hummer tooling??]) ....possibly with a solid front axle.
FCA has been on a tear the last number of years refining the Ram pickup. As a GM-leaning guy, I had my sights set on a replacement GM pickup. After looking at the landscape of trucks, and wanting to get into a GM, I concluded Ram really had (and I think still HAS) the best product out there ...at least for me. Just a lot of little details they seem to get right. Not only that, FCA has been uber-aggressive on building marketshare one deal at a time. Ram owners will tell you (just puruse the Ram forums), that GM and Ford dealers don't seem to have the ability to deal as aggressively as Ram dealers. While a pick-up may be priced at $55k, it's not uncommon for Ram guys to pay $42k or less. Whereas they weren't getting nearly the deals from GM. For the moment that sort of dealing has been relaxed as the new Rams have been selling well. But historically that's what Ram owners have been seeing.
It remains to be seen wheather that will be the case with the Gladiator, but after the initial excitement is gone, they might go into the 'dealing' mode. Have to wait and see. I wouldn't be surprised at some point in the future Jeep brings out a more affordable Gladiator to boost sales. I'd like to see a regular-cab version.
If Land Rover had enough foresight they'd have resurrected the Defender and been a Jeep-killer. Obviously there's a market for it at the moment. By the time they get there, the moment will have probably passed.
