There are few things that represent off road quite like a Wrangler. The scaled back tough-guy look and the history have worked its way into a permanent slot in American car culture. It's a fact - when you think of off road, chances are the first vehicle you think of is a Jeep Wrangler -- with apologies to Land Rover. So when the time comes to add to the stable of Jeep Wrangler vehicles available for sale, Chrysler execs know that they must tread lightly -mess with the proven formula of Wrangler looks and rough terrain performance, and invite building an ordinary car -and tainting the carefully nurtured brand of the Wrangler name.

Shoot. They drove these things in World War II - mess with America's off road favorite, and invite disaster, and the Gladiator concept -which debuted at the 2005 North American International Auto Show sure does mess with it. For the most part, however, it does so with the right touch of style and toughness, though it sure is tough to look at the Wrangler as a truck.

Then again, that's not true for everyone. The Gladiator takes much of its design - and its name -from the 1962 full size pickup.

Another concept that might have one foot in the production window from Chrysler, the Gladiator is a sharp-looking vehicle that defies label, as it retains much of the Wrangler mechanics but includes fancy chrome accents and a bed that can expand to 8 feet in a 'classic'pull-the-back-window-out Avalanche-esqe mechanical design. Dubbed a "lifestyle" pickup, the Gladiator keeps the Wrangler's solid front axle, adds a side-mounted spare and a half-door on the passenger door that opens 180 degrees. The Gladiator also features an open-air canvas roof and removable doors. Other elements of the Gladiator include a Command Trac part-time 4x4 system, front- and rear-locking differentials, a front winch and skid plates.

The Gladiator is powered by a 2.8-liter, 4-cylinder common-rail turbo diesel engine that provides 295 lb-ft of torque and 163 horsepower. Managing that power is a 6-speed manual transmission and a part-time transfer case.

Sounds like a winner. But looking at a Wrangler as a lifestyle pickup sure will take a little getting used to, should Chrysler decide to build it.

By Brian Chee

Photos by Erik Hanson