After 30 long years, Jeep’s new pickup, the Gladiator, is finally here, and it’s great. To kick things off, Jeep will offer a Launch Edition that you’ll only be able to pre-order on April 4th (4/4, or as Jeep is now christening it, 4×4 day). The Gladiator Launch Edition is basically a loaded Rubicon, and Jeep will only build 4190 examples, each carrying an MSRP of $62,310.
That’s a lot of money, of course, but it’s about the same as a non-Launch Edition Gladiator Rubicon with every option thrown at it. The Launch Edition will be offered with five exterior color choices—Black, Bright White, Billet Silver Metallic, Firecracker Red, and Granite Crystal Metallic—while the interior will feature black leather with red accents. As standard, you get a six-speed manual, while an eight-speed auto is available as an option.
Here’s the full equipment list from Jeep:
“Standard features include LED head and taillights, an 8.4-inch touchscreen, a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system, keyless entry, Forward Facing TrailCam camera, Blind-spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Path detection, ParkSense rear park assist system, Advanced Brake Assist, Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning Plus, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop, Trail Rail Cargo Management System, spray-in bedliner and [the] Trailer Tow Package.”
Being a Rubicon, the Gladiator Launch Edition also comes with Falken 33-inch all-terrain tires, Dana 44 solid axles, a “Rock-Trac” transfer case with 4:1 low-range gearing, electronic front, and rear differential locks, and an electric sway bar disconnect.
So, $62,310 is a lot of money, but it certainly gets you a lot of stuff.
You might be wondering why Jeep will offer 4190 examples of the Gladiator Launch Edition since it’s a seemingly random number. It’s because 419 is the area code for Toledo, Ohio, where the Gladiator and Wrangler are built. Every Gladiator has “? 419” embossed in the bed liner as a tribute to Toledo and the workers at the Jeep factory there. Each Gladiator Launch Edition will have an aluminum badge on the tailgate indicating that it’s one of 4190.
If you buy a Gladiator Launch Edition, you can also enter Jeep’s “Find Your Freedom” contest, where the brand will give you a $100,000 salary to go explore the world for a year with your truck. You’ll have to submit a video and be chosen for that, though.
You can place an order for a Gladiator Launch Edition on Jeep’s website today, at which point a “Gladiator Concierge” will pair you with a dealer to finish your order and place a deposit for the truck.
And if you want a different Gladiator, the configurator is up on Jeep’s site, complete with pricing info.
Original article by Chris Perkins at Road and Track