During the Easter Jeep Safari we got to take a glimpse at one Jeep Gladiator Concept that will knock your socks off.
This head-turning concept was specially designed for off-road adventures and features some hellish power.
The Jeep M-715 Five-Quarter deserves all of our praise and if we can be frank, also causes us to drool from several orifices.
The Jeep M-715 Five-Quarter Concept
The designers at FCA were quite innovative when they came up with the M-715 Five-Quarter design. They started with an original 1968 M-715 and then outfitted it with the 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine. This motor pumps out 707 horsepower, causing this off-roader to become quite an animal on the trail.
Jeep then replaced all of the sheet metal parts with carbon fiber counterparts. They also installed a six-foot custom aluminum bed and fitted a 3.5-inch convertible soft-top. In addition, you will notice the useful rock rails, new lights and modified Gladiator Rubicon steel bumpers.
Beneath the skin
The pickup chassis was overhauled and the automaker also swapped the leaf springs for heavy-duty link/coil suspension. If that’s not enough, the Dynatrac Pro-rock 60 front axle was pushed forward another two inches. The rear Dynatrac Pro-rock 80 axle is a stalwart choice as well.
To further equip this vehicle for off-roading, there are 20-inch beadlock wheels installed plus 40-inch tires. The Jeep engineers really thought of it all.
They even created a concealed compartment under the truck bed. Rivian who?
The truck bed floor is created from machined aluminum and wood. Quite frankly, it looks amazing with that transparent tailgate. There is also nothing lacking inside the truck either, except for maybe the headrests. Instead of carpeting, this pickup comes equipped with bedliner, which is a great call for us dirty types.
Is It Perfect?
It’s easy to get caught up in the hype of this Jeep Gladiator Concept, but when you look closely, you can find a few faults.
First of all, the center console that houses the transfer case and transmission shift levers is a big piece of metal. We would have preferred to see the shifters mounted to the floor and that space freed up.
We also would have preferred to see a bench seat in this classic-inspired Jeep. It would have also been better with a manual transmission, windows that open normally and a functional tailgate.
With that said, this concept won’t become a production Jeep. It was all in fun and we enjoyed the experience, but are a little disappointed that we can’t look forward to something exciting and powerful such as this from FCA.
The best thing about this concept
The thing that makes us happiest about this supercharged retro-throwback Jeep Gladiator Concept isn’t the stunning exterior, the cunning off-road abilities, or even the fact that this vehicle somehow combines metal, aluminum, carbon fiber, and wood and does it all with the grace and presence of a true work of art.
Our favorite thing about this concept is that it came from an OEM.
Though it looks like something a mad scientist concocted in their workshop, this is as much a real Jeep as a regular Jeep is. Without the production numbers, of course.
It’s truly an exciting time in the automotive industry when you have OEMs making not just retro throwback inspired designs, but ICON-style machines that are wholly vintage but wholly modern at the same time.
Hats off to Jeep and FCA for green lighting the most exciting thing to wear a Jeep badge in decades. We can only hope that energy trickles down to the consumer market.
Hot take: Jeep should build the Gladiator Concept in low volumes to compete with the likes of ICON.
What are your thoughts?
Tell us what you think about the Jeep Gladiator Concept that was revealed at the Easter Jeep Safari. Is it something you could see yourself driving? Does it make you any more interested in the new Jeep pickup of a similar name? Let us know!
What are your thoughts?
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