2005 Jeep Gladiator Concept

"Jeep Gladiator is an authentic statement of Jeep brand heritage that explores what shape and features a modern Jeep pickup might have," commented

Those extremely familiar with the brand will recognize the new concept's name from the full-size pickup model from 1962. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada)

Trevor Creed, Senior Vice President, Chrysler Group Design.

Those extremely familiar with the brand will recognize the new concept's name from the full-size pickup model from 1962. Yes, you may not remember, or have even known Jeep once made a pickup truck, the last two being the J-series full-size models with the final vehicle in this class being the compact mid-'80s Comanche.

And building a Jeep pickup truck doesn't only make sense because the brand has a history of producing light trucks, but also because its Dodge cousin already builds two, one of which would make a great donor.

But while the Gladiator looks as if it could be built off of the new Dakota platform,

The Gladiator rides on a unique body-on-frame architecture, and rather than being powered by one of DaimlerChrysler's gasoline engines, under the hood is the Italian-built 2.8-litre inline four-cylinder turbodiesel that currently motivates the diesel-powered Jeep Liberty CDI. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada)

which would give it V6 and V8 power, dynamic handling and serious off-road capabilities, it's not. Instead it rides on a unique body-on-frame architecture, and rather than being powered by one of DaimlerChrysler's gasoline engines, under the hood is the Italian-built 2.8-litre inline four-cylinder turbodiesel that currently motivates the diesel-powered Jeep Liberty CDI. Considering how well this oil-burner has done in the marketplace, getting it into more vehicles seems like a natural progression. Of course, like the Liberty, the gasoline-powered 3.7-litre V6 would be a logical fit in a production Gladiator, as would any of Jeep's V8s, if the engine bay would allow.