Antonio Filosa, the big kahuna of Jeep at Stellantis, confirmed what everyone and their dog knew about what's in the offing for the 2025 Jeep Gladiator. The recently discontinued 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 will be indirectly succeeded by a plug-in hybrid setup built around the 2.0-liter GME, a four-cylinder turbo we already know from the Wrangler 4xe and the Grand Cherokee 4xe.
The road from rumor to confirmation begins with a Facebook cover photo from June 2021, a cover photo depicting the interior of the Rubicon 4xe. But which model? Based on the bed light switch to the right of the steering wheel, the answer is Gladiator Rubicon 4xe. As expected, the social media team immediately took down said cover photo.
Fast forward to November 2023, and Stellantis ratified a new labor contract with the United Auto Workers. The contract in question lists plenty of investments for US-based production facilities, including $1.5 billion for the Toledo Assembly Complex in Ohio by April 2028. The JL Wrangler and JT Gladiator will continue production into 2028, but until then, a PHEV upgrade for the Wrangler 4xe is due for 2025. Coincidentally, the document lists the Gladiator 4xe as well.
Given the aforementioned, Jeep is expected to reveal the fuel-sipping truck in the latter part of 2024. The plug-in powertrain should be shared with the 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe, which is believed to a more powerful electric drive unit and more kilowatt hours for the high-voltage battery. At press time, Wrangler 4xe features Korean battery cells.
The supplier in question is Samsung SDI America Inc. from Auburn Hills, with Auburn Hills also serving as FCA US LLC's home. Wrangler 4xe is equipped with two electric motors, of which only the motor sandwiched between the 2.0-liter turbo and eight-speed automatic transmission provides electric propulsion. The starter-generator electric motor up front is connected to the crankshaft pulley and replaces the conventional 12-volt starter.
Photo: Jeep on Facebook
Located under the rear seats, the 400-volt battery comprises 96 lithium-ion cells amounting to 17.4 kilowatt hours. The cells use nickel manganese cobalt graphite chemistry, and they're encased in an aluminum housing for protection. Jeep says that all high-voltage electronics and wiring between the battery and electric motors are waterproof, therefore resulting in a fording depth of 30 inches (76 centimeters) for the Wrangler Rubicon 4xe.
At full chatter, the plug-in system produces 375 horsepower and a HEMI 392-matching 470 pound-feet (637 Nm) of torque. Jeep further advertises the Wrangler 4xe with an EPA-rated 20 miles per gallon (11.8 liters per 100 kilometers) for the gas engine alone, 49 MPGe for gas and electric, and 22 miles (35 kilometers) of zero-emission range.
Because the Gladiator is heavier than the Wrangler, the plug-in system would theoretically offer worse gas mileage and electric driving range. Speaking of Gladiator-Wrangler comparisons, the mid-size pickup would also cost a bit more in 4xe flavor than the 2024 model year Jeep Wrangler 4xe.
The configurator shows a starting price of $50,695 for the Wrangler Sport S 4xe, whereas the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6-powered Wrangler Sport S is $40,690 plus $4,500 for the automatic. Otherwise put, going plug-in hybrid in the Wrangler amounts to a little over 5,500 bucks at the moment of reporting. Regarding the pickup truck, Gladiator Sport S with the standard manual transmission is $41,990.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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