Jeep May Revive Gladiator Name for New Pickup

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV plans to call its upcoming pickup truck the Gladiator, according to JeepScramblerForum.com.

The online fan site says the name was inadvertently posted on FCA’s media site briefly over the weekend. Jeep declined to comment.

Based on the Wrangler SUV, the all-new model will be unveiled later this month at the Los Angeles auto show. Sales are expected to start next spring.

Jeep used the Gladiator name on a 1960s-era pickup and a popular 2005 concept truck (pictured) that sparked interest in reviving such a vehicle. Scrambler, which was rumored to be the leading contender for the name of the new model, was used in the 1980s on certain versions of the CJ Wrangler SUV. JeepScramblerForum notes that it will change its name if the Gladiator moniker is confirmed.

The new midsize truck will feature a small pickup bed and Jeep-like off-road driving capabilities. Styling cues will be borrowed from the Wrangler.

FCA announced plans for the pickup at the 2016 Detroit auto show. Jeep’s most recent pickup model was the Comanche, which was phased out in the early 1990s.