Gladiator Doesn’t Just Bring FCA Back To The Midsize Truck Segment…
It Also Expands FCA's Convertible Portfolio!
In recent years, nameplates like Sebring, P.T. Cruiser, Crossfire and Viper were what came to mind when you thought of Mopar-based convertibles. With the passenger car segment shrinking in North America and people continue to move to crossovers, SUVs and pickup trucks, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and their Jeep brand are expanding their open air offerings.
The popular Jeep Wrangler continues to be the staple for America’s love of open top freedom in a utility package. But now since the introduction of the 2020 Jeep Gladiator pickup, the Jeep brand is offering a unique option for pickup buyers who haven’t been offered anything from the Mopar brands since the early 1990s.
That first true convertible pickup truck was the 1989 to 1991 Dodge Dakota Sport Convertible. Like the 2020 Jeep Gladiator, the Dakota Sport Convertible was a mid-size truck that offered open air convenience while not straying from being used a daily driving pickup truck. The Dakota Sport Convertible came only in a two-door configuration. It came powered by a 3.9-liter V6 making 125 horsepower. The package also included options like Sport appearance graphics, aluminum-wheels, cloth seats and AM/FM cassette player which could be paired with your choice of 4×2 or 4×4 drivetrains.
Almost 30 years later, the all-new 2020 Jeep Gladiator builds on the Dakota Sport Convertible’s history. Powered by a 285 horsepower 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, the new Gladiator only comes in four-door configuration. No need to worry about only bringing one person with you along for a ride. Not only can you bring your friends with you, Gladiator offers a nine speaker 552-watt Alpine sound system with a 12-channel amplifier, an optional 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen with Navigation, standard 4×4 capability and your choice of a hard-top option, a soft-top option or both.
While Dakota Sport Convertible owners were limited to just one trim level, Gladiator owners can configure their trucks from affordable (Sport), to luxurious (Overland) to rugged (Rubicon).
So while the all-new 2020 Jeep Gladiator might expand the FCA truck lineup into the mid-sized pickup segment which it has been absent from since 2011, the Gladiator also expands FCA’s convertible lineup!
2020 Jeep® Gladiator Open Air Image Gallery:
