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Jeep unveiled a series of vehicles here at the 2020 Chicago Auto Show, and arguably the most interesting one is this.
It's the Gladiator Mojave, the brand's very first desert-rated 4 x 4. If trail rated Jeeps excel at scampering over boulders and fording rivers, desert rated models are designed for high speed running and tackling sand dunes.
Now, this sort of makes the Mojave, well, kinda like a Ford Raptor but with live axles at each end.
Front and rear, the Mohave's body is supported by rugged Dana 44s.
There's also a Command-Trac four-wheel drive system, as well as a two-speed transfer case, and a standard electronically locking rear differential.
Keeping you from getting hung up on obstacles is a best in class 11.6 inches of ground clearance.
It's probably a little bit hard to see from this angle.
But the Gladiator Mojave does come with new Fox two and a half inch internal bypass shock absorbers with external reservoirs to keep that all important fluid nice and cool when you are bombing through the desert or just waiting in the drive thru at Starbucks, which is what most of you are probably gonna be doing.
Under the hood, just one engine is offered.
Fortunately, it's a familiar friend up 3.6 litre pentastar v six that get to 285 horsepower and 260 pound feet of torque.
Neither a turbocharged four cylinder nor a diesel is offered.
Ouch Fortunately, you do have a choice of transmission.
You can get this Desert Runner with either a six-speed manual gearbox or an eight ratio automatic.
Unfortunately, pricing for the Mojave has not been released.
But I'm gonna guess this thing will start probably around $45,000.
Which is where the Gladiator Rubicon kicks off.
