For the concept that debuted in 2005, Jeep stretched Wrangler's wheelbase by 22 inches and substituted a special extended-cab body with a cargo bed measuring four-feet wide by five-feet eight inches long.

Is there a Wrangler-based pickup in Jeep's future? Could be, if Chrysler's new "dream team" decides to build something like the recent Gladiator concept.

What We Know About the 2009 Jeep Gladiator

Somewhere in the sprawling Auburn Hills, Michigan home of newly independent Chrysler LLC sits a 2005 concept design, the Jeep Gladiator pickup. It's among the assets that led private-equity firm Cerberus Capital Management to take a majority stake in the beleaguered American automaker last August. The storied Jeep brand itself is another. Considering Chrysler's longtime habit of turning concept dreams into showroom realities--including a few that have doubled Jeep's model count in just the last year--it's tempting to think the Wrangler-based Gladiator, or something like it, will soon be on sale.

It might very well be, but a 2009 Jeep Gladiator is not yet a done deal. A lot depends on decisions now being made by the Cerberus-installed managerial "dream team" led by CEO Bob Nardelli, the former chief at Home Depot, and marketing whiz Jim Press, who made headlines by joining as co-president after becoming the highest ranking American exec at Toyota. These and other new hires know that Cerberus investors expect bottom-line improvement over the next two to three years. That's why they're tearing up the old product plan and drafting a new one that stretches 10 years out instead of the usual five. What will it look like? While no outsider can know for sure, the Gladiator would seem to have at least an even chance of making the list.

There are several reasons. First, Jeep pickups go back a long way. The original World War II Army Jeep was a kind of mini-pickup, and parent Willys-Overland sold a larger postwar Jeep in pickup and station wagon models. The Gladiator name has a history too, dating to the pickup spin-off of the early-1960s Wagoneer SUV. After American Motors acquired Jeep in 1970, the Gladiator gave way to the early-1980s Comanche, based on Jeep's then-new compact Cherokee SUV (all of which Chrysler inherited with its 1987 takeover of AMC). Trouble is, Gladiator was always a drop in the sales bucket next to Big Three's pickups. So was the Comanche. Some may also recall the short-lived Scrambler, another early-1980s "line extension" based on the then-current Jeep CJ-7. Nevertheless, Chrysler has been trying to mine fresh gold from the Jeep brand--hence the addition of the Commander, Patriot, and Compass SUVs--and that's probably still true.

A second factor favoring a 2009 Jeep Gladiator is that it would be fairly easy and inexpensive to do. After all, the concept involved little more than stretching the Wrangler's separate frame--albeit by a whopping 22 inches in wheelbase--and substituting a special extended-cab body with a cargo bed measuring four-feet wide by five-feet eight inches long. The concept provides a small rear "access" door on the passenger side that can't be opened independently. It also mimics the Chevrolet Avalanche with a folding rear seat and a "midgate" that can be lowered to form an eight-foot 11-inch load deck with the tailgate down.

Otherwise, the concept is mostly Wrangler, so a 2009 Jeep Gladiator presumably would be too. Suspension, brakes, steering, traditional part-time four-wheel drive, even the basic dashboard assembly are all off-the-shelf components. The concept's interior has seats for four only, simple trim for hose-out easy cleaning, a navigation system, fold-back canvas sunroof, and special weatherproof upholstery for auto-show pizazz. Still, none of this is so far out that it couldn't show up in showrooms. The same holds for the concept's engine, a European-sourced 2.8-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel that could likely meet tougher U.S. smog standards by the time sales begin. Of course, the powertrain chart would also show Wrangler's standard 3.8-liter gasoline V6, six-speed manual transmission and optional four-speed automatic.

The one thing that could rule out a 2009 Jeep Gladiator is that small pickups typically don't make much money per sale. Still, Chrysler's new brain trust could see this as another potentially hot-selling "segment buster" like the Chrysler PT Cruiser, where sheer volume more than pays back the up-front investment. Given the surprising sales strength of the four-door Wrangler Unlimited, we think they just might be willing to take a chance on Gladiator.

The Gladiator name has a history dating to the pickup spin-off of the early-1960s Wagoneer SUV.

The concept Gladiator wore an outside spare tire on the left side of the cargo box, a visual link with past Jeep pickups, and this could well carry over to a production model. The same goes for the concept's lockable left-side access hatch. It's situated low on the body ahead of the rear wheel and allows for tossing small cargo into the back-seat area.

Buying Advice for the 2009 Jeep Gladiator

It's not yet approved, as far as we know, but the 2009 Jeep Gladiator would be a unique small truck in combining pickup hauling ability with the Wrangler's vaunted off-road ability and nostalgic style. That could make it as popular as the four-door Wrangler Unlimited--and just as hard to get, at least in the first year or so.

2009 Jeep Gladiator Release Date: Sales could begin in summer or fall of 2008, assuming a 2009-model timetable.

First Test Drive: Again assuming an '09-model debut, media previews would likely be staged in spring or early summer of 2008.

2009 Jeep Gladiator Prices: We'd guess Gladiators will be equipped and thus priced much like comparable Wrangler Unlimiteds, which implies a base-sticker range of roughly $21,000-$29,000.

The Gladiator concept's interior has seats for four and simple trim for hose-out easy cleaning.

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