Heads up, 4x4 junkies: The Willys is now officially back in Jeep’s lineup as a special model in the Gladiator range. And yes, it has all the off-road capabilities that come along with both the Jeep and Willys names.
This is the new Jeep Gladiator Willys, the newest addition to the carmaker’s stable in the US. The new go-anywhere machine boasts a limited-slip rear differential, Rubicon cab rock rails and shocks, and 32-inch BFGoodrich mud terrain tires.
It’s supposedly the most off-road capable Jeep truck ever. It’s a fitting trait, as the Willys is the world’s first-ever mass-produced four-wheel-drive vehicle, after all. It promises to impress in five key consumer-oriented performance categories: traction, ground clearance, maneuverability, articulation, and water fording.
Under its Willys-themed hood is a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 gasoline mill that generates 285hp and 352Nm of torque. Inside, it gets all-weather slush mats and a seven-inch radio with connective services. Other exterior highlights include the heritage 4WD tailgate decal and the 17-inch aluminum wheels.
“Building on the widely popular Wrangler Willys, we’re thrilled to announce the Willys model is joining the Gladiator lineup as another way for Jeep to connect with our customers,” said Fiat Chrysler Automobiles North America head of Jeep Brand Jim Morrison. “Gladiator Willys models harken back to the original Jeep lineup while offering an aggressive look and additional increased capability.”
The Gladiator Willys is now available in the US starting at $35,265 (about P1.7 million). Two variants are available: Sport and Sport S. This is the latest inclusion to the ever-growing list of special-edition models in Jeep’s lineup, and it joins the 80th Anniversary models that the company unveiled back in September.
So, what do you make of the new Jeep Gladiator Willys?
