Jeep isn’t done spreading the V8 gospel across its range, according to a recent report. One of its top executives pointed out there’s a big demand for a V8-powered Gladiator, and we already know the engine fits in the Wrangler.
“If you scour the forums, there are tons of people that I’m sure would love to buy a V8 Gladiator,” affirmed Brandon Grimus, the Gladiator line’s senior brand manager, in an interview with enthusiast site Muscle Cars & Trucks.
While that’s not a firm commitment to stuffing the 6.4-liter between the Gladiator’s fenders, it’s a statement that shows Jeep is keeping tabs on its fan base’s wish list. And, luckily, making a V8-powered Gladiator is reasonably simple. The pickup is very closely related to the Wrangler, which was designed with an eight-cylinder engine in mind from the get-go. Released in late 2020, the Wrangler 392 develops 470 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. It’s the first factory-built V8-powered Wrangler (though CJs were offered with a V8), and it takes 4.5 seconds to reach 60 mph from a stop. We called it “a loud, boisterous, badass example of fan service” after driving it.
