Jeep's Latest Gladiator Is A Throwback To Something That Never Existed

1 week, 4 days ago - 24 November 2025, Carbuzz

Jeep doesn't want you to call it a comeback. But the brand is trying to sell more cars. And one of those strategies, at least with the off-roaders, is going to be "buzz models." Jeep announced we would be getting monthly "airdrops" of new buzz vehicles for the 2026 Wrangler. And Jeep just extended that to the 2026 Gladiator with a new buzz model, the Gladiator Willys '41.

Mopar triple-hoop grille guard
The Gladiator Willys '41 is a special edition trim for the 2026 Jeep Gladiator. Jeep describes it as "a rugged tribute to the brand's military heritage." Since there was never a mass-produced Willys Jeep truck running around in the early days of World War II, Jeep says this Willys '41 Gladiator is a homage to a later vehicle, the Kaiser Jeep M715, which did a brief tour during the Vietnam War in the late 1960s.

The Willys '41 adds off-road components, including the vented hood from the Mojave trim, mud-terrain tires, steel front and rear bumpers, and a Mopar triple-hoop grille guard. The trim also adds some appearance features, including 17-inch Olive Drab painted wheels, tan seat inserts with Mantis Green cloth-wrapped mid-bolsters, and a retro-inspired hood decal.

How Much Does The Jeep Gladiator Willys 41 Cost?
The Jeep Gladiator Willys '41 starts at $47,840 MSRP. The mandatory $1,995 destination charge brings the price to $49,835. The Gladiator Willys '41 is a $2,610 premium over the standard Willys. It slots into a substantial price gap in the Gladiator lineup between the Willys ($45,230) and the Gladiator Rubicon ($52,000).

That is the question. The Trump administration effectively eliminated Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) fines. And in a bid to sell cars across its brand lineup, Stellantis is bringing back the Hemi V8. Ram returned the Hemi to the 1500 pickup lineup. The Jeep Wrangler kept its Hemi V8 for the 2026 model year for the new Wrangler Moab 392.

Jeep has not confirmed a V8-powered Gladiator 392 is coming. But back in August, Jeep CEO Bob Broderdorf told Wrangler and Gladiator fans not to worry because "the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 will have a home at Jeep." When CarBuzz asked for clarification about a Gladiator 392, a Jeep spokesperson told us to "stay tuned." And we are still staying tuned.

We don't know the precise tuning Jeep would give the 392 engine if fitted to the Gladiator. But in the Jeep Wrangler Moab 392, the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 delivers 470 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, well above the current V6 Gladiator's 285 hp and 260 lb-ft. The engine could be tweaked to deliver more towing capacity in the Gladiator. The Wrangler Moab 392 tops out at just 3,500 pounds.