Gladiator Pictures

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Sat Apr 28, 2007 1:56 pm

chefdab wrote:

They sad thing is they say there isn't enough interest to build it yet on every Jeep board I visit, people keep saying they would love to have a Jeep truck. How's the saying go :"Build it and they will come"?

The question is how many will come?

But I agree with just about everyone here.

I think Jeep is missing out on a market, and a big one if they edge the truck in there right.

Start by offering the truck in a base model with the 3L CRD diesel. No frills, steel wheels, etc, which can appeal to someone wanting a midsize truck with some towing power for a work vehicle.

It would need to be offered in a 4dr version as well(they already have a 4door to base it from).

So now we have a truck that can be ordered as a strong work vehicle, but can also be ordered with frills and gadgets for the soccer-mom effect. I think there is a real market for a midsize diesel truck with some towing power or some soccer-mom power.

The husband can say to the wife:
"but honey, it can tow the boat, will be cheaper than a fullsize dodge/chevy/ford, get better gas mileage, the 4 door still has room for the kids, its not too big that you can't drive it to the store, has side impacts airbags, a GPS navigation, and those heated leather seats you've always wanted."

Like it or not its the above type of comments that decide how vehicles get purchased, by having a stripped down cheapy model they can get a base in the light work-truck market, and then by offering the goodies they get a base in the guy who wants a truck but is more than willing to get a midsize but still "wants" to tow alot.

KJMedic · **Posted:** Sun Apr 29, 2007 8:55 am

DZL_LOU wrote:

VM Motori will produce a 3.0L V6 that goes into the Cadillac CTS in 2008

Wonder if that is the same motor that is rumored to go into the Hummer H3 in 2010?

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Sun Apr 29, 2007 11:10 am

As I recall what killed it was that it was it's own stand alone platform rather thana shared one. I thought that they were reviewing existing platforms that they might build up something similar from.

KY Liberty · **Joined:** Sat Jul 09, 2005 1:46 pm **Posts:** 1195

Cowcatcher wrote:

As I recall what killed it was that it was it's own stand alone platform rather thana shared one. I thought that they were reviewing existing platforms that they might build up something similar from.

I thought that they said if they were going to build it that it would be built on the Ram platform.

chefdab · **Posted:** Sun Apr 29, 2007 1:44 pm

KY Liberty wrote:

Cowcatcher wrote:

As I recall what killed it was that it was it's own stand alone platform rather thana shared one. I thought that they were reviewing existing platforms that they might build up something similar from.

I thought that they said if they were going to build it that it would be built on the Ram platform.

Really, cause it sure looks alot like the JK from the front.

KY Liberty · **Joined:** Sat Jul 09, 2005 1:46 pm **Posts:** 1195

chefdab wrote:

KY Liberty wrote:

Cowcatcher wrote:

As I recall what killed it was that it was it's own stand alone platform rather thana shared one. I thought that they were reviewing existing platforms that they might build up something similar from.

I thought that they said if they were going to build it that it would be built on the Ram platform.

Really, cause it sure looks alot like the JK from the front.

Sorry, maybe it was the Ram frame they were talking about using. I'm still tempted to build a Brute from AEV. It doesn't look like the Gladiator is going to be available within the next couple years.

Neatus · **Posted:** Sun Apr 29, 2007 4:02 pm

People may very well buy the Gladiator but it would definitely cut into DCX Dodge truck sales. That is bad for business

In any case, I would but one as soon as it came out.

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Sun Apr 29, 2007 11:05 pm

Neatus.....and the Dodge Nitro won't cut into the Jeep Liberty buusiness?

If Chrysler thinks that way then they should not own Jeep and never should have and I can't wait for the new owner.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Mon Apr 30, 2007 1:51 am

Neatus wrote:

People may very well buy the Gladiator but it would definitely cut into DCX Dodge truck sales. That is bad for business

In any case, I would but one as soon as it came out.

If someone is going to eat your young, it's better that you do it rather than Toyota.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Mon Apr 30, 2007 2:32 am

JL Rockies wrote:

Neatus wrote:

People may very well buy the Gladiator but it would definitely cut into DCX Dodge truck sales. That is bad for business

In any case, I would but one as soon as it came out.

If someone is going to eat your young, it's better that you do it rather than Toyota.

Ya, but if the bean counters think the overall profits will go down by competeing with themselfs they wont do, problem is they stand to make less money by selling 50% of vehicle A and 50% of vehicle B, than they do by selling 100% of vehicle A. The problem is like you said, they would probably sell only 80% of vehicle A and toyota would eat the rest. I think bean counters tend to stop their analysis at their own product, and not consider what other manifacturers products will eat into sales. I think thats a pretty classic american car company mistake, which I think is apparent in how ford and GM are lagging behind currently.

Remember when the 4door TJ concept was out back in 97? I think the reason Jeep didnt push it then was because the cherokee was a strong seller and it would have eaten into that, of course they would have 10 years of consumer loyalty in people who want the "off-road" appeal of the wrangler(the soft top, SWB-ish feel to it) but had a kid to bus around and who who ready to replace a 10 year old vehicle with a new 4 door wrangler.

I think jeep is setting up a huge new following with the 4dr JK.....I think moving the 4dr JK platform to a 4 door truck based platform would put the truck into a good market, throwing in a diesel would only solidify it.

Video Guy · **Posted:** Mon Apr 30, 2007 9:19 am

What kind of Goodyear tires are those? Those rock! The tread pattern does not look like MT/R. Any ideas?

Gladiator Pictures

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