For years, fans have asked Jeep to build a shorter wheelbase version of the Gladiator. Now it appears the company is finally preparing to make it happen.
Buried within Stellantis’ recent FaSTLAne 2030 presentation was a teaser image that immediately caught the attention of enthusiasts everywhere. Labeled “Wrangler Scrambler,” the image appeared to show a compact two door pickup based on the Wrangler platform, essentially reviving the spirit of the original Jeep Scrambler from the 1980s.
The upcoming truck is expected to ride on the same JL Wrangler-based architecture as the current Gladiator, but with a dramatically shorter body and wheelbase. Instead of the Gladiator’s four-door configuration and long cargo bed, the new Scrambler would likely combine a two-door Wrangler cabin with a compact pickup bed designed for gear, motorcycles, camping equipment, and lightweight overland setups.
The result could be one of the most trail capable pickup trucks ever offered from the Jeep factory.
The shorter wheelbase alone would provide major advantages off road. Breakover angle, maneuverability, and tight trail performance would all improve compared to the current Gladiator, which has occasionally been criticized for its overall length on technical terrain. A smaller truck would also appeal to adventurers who want pickup utility without the bulk and weight of a midsize four door truck. Timeline details remain uncertain, but industry sources expect the vehicle to arrive sometime between 2027 and 2028 as part of Jeep’s next major product expansion under the FaSTLAne 2030 roadmap. The company has not officially confirmed the production name yet, although “Scrambler” carries enormous historical significance within the Jeep community.
What’s in a name
Originally produced from 1981 to 1986, the Jeep CJ 8 Scrambler combined the classic CJ platform with a small pickup bed and stretched wheelbase. Today, original Scramblers are among the most collectible classic Jeeps on the market, with clean examples regularly selling for as much as a brand new Jeep.
Engine options for the modern version are expected to mirror much of the current Wrangler and Gladiator lineup. The turbocharged 2.0 liter four cylinder remains a strong possibility, along with the plug in hybrid 4xe powertrain that has become one of Jeep’s most successful recent products. Stellantis’ twin turbo Hurricane inline six could also eventually appear in higher trim levels, delivering substantially more torque and power than the outgoing Pentastar V6.
AI-renders of a potential two-door Jeep pickup.
SRT for the win
During the FaSTLAne 2030 presentation, Jeep effectively confirmed that an SRT variant is in development. While official specifications remain secret, nearly everyone expects the truck to receive the 6.4 liter 392 HEMI V8 already used in the Wrangler Rubicon 392. That alone would create one of the most outrageous factory off road trucks ever built.
Even more intriguing is the possibility of forced induction. Rumors continue circulating that Stellantis has explored supercharged applications for future Jeep performance models. A supercharged Scrambler producing well over 500 horsepower would place the truck in direct competition with vehicles like the Ford F 150 Raptor R while offering far more serious trail capability in a much smaller package.
AI-renders of a potential two-door Jeep pickup in SRT trim.
For overland travelers and backcountry explorers, the idea makes enormous sense. A compact two door pickup with removable doors, solid axles, locking differentials, aggressive approach angles, and factory V8 power could occupy a unique space in the market. Smaller than a Gladiator, more practical than a Wrangler, and potentially far more capable than either in certain terrain, the Scrambler could become one of Jeep’s most important vehicles in decades.
Unlike many modern concept vehicles, this one appears much closer to reality than most people expected. I’m crossing all my fingers and toes on this one.
NOTE: The only official image we have so far has the Scrambler well and truly covered, so I asked ChatGPT to have a go at designing what the base model and an SRT model could possibly look like.
Read more: Stellantis Lays Out €60 Billion Strategic Plan
Images: Stellantis, Jeep
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