Manoli Katakis 
The Jeep Gladiator comes from the factory ready to go where most pickup trucks could never dream of. Rocky trails, deep streams, muddy fields, and of course, the wide open desert. Almost immediately, in fact, Jeep Gladiator customers took their lifestyle pickup truck to the dunes, and they quickly realized one thing: it needed more capability. Something closer to the dune-jumping Ford F-150 Raptor, if you will. Enter the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Mojave.
The first-ever Jeep Gladiator Mojave looks to play in the sandbox with specially-tuned Fox 2.5-inch internal bypass shocks with external reservoirs, industry-exclusive Fox front hydraulic jounce bumpers, a reinforced frame, a one-inch front suspension lift with a front skid plate, a half-inch increase, stronger axles with cast-iron steering knuckles, aggressive front seats with integrated upper bolsters and standard 33-inch Falken Wildpeak All-terrain tires.
The genius behind the Fox shock system is that they contain internal passages that allow military-grade suspension fluid to bypass the shock piston through regulated ports as it moves through the suspension travel. The result is a predictable ride over normal off-road driving conditions, with the ability to ramp up damping force in extreme use.
The enhancements were enough to for Jeep to give the 2020 Gladiator Mojave its inaugural “Desert Rated” certification.
The 4×4 capability of the Jeep Gladiator Mojave features a two-speed transfer case with a 2.72:1 low-range gear ratio, and reinforced Dana 44 front and rear axles with a 4.10:1 axle ratio and standard electronic-locking rear differential. If things get a little rocky, the Jeep Gladiator Mojave features a best-in-class approach angle of 44.7 degrees, a breakover angle of 20.9 degrees, a departure angle of 25.5 degrees and a best-in-class ground clearance of 11.6 inches.
Additionally, Fox jounce bumpers soften impacts and prevent bottoming out in harsh off-road situations at high speed. At the same time, the suspension aims to deliver a comfortable ride over gravel and broken pavement.
33-inch Falken Wildpeak All-terrain tires are standard, while Falken Wildpeak Mud-terrain tires are optional. Adding additional capabilities is an Off-Road Plus button, which adjusts throttle, transmission shift points and traction control for both Baja dune running, as well as during low-speed rock crawling. The Off-Road Plus drive mode on Mojave will also feature, for the first time on Jeep, the ability for drivers to lock their rear axle at high speeds while in 4-High as a rolling update later this year.
Despite the mail-slot hood, which may elude to a Hemi or Hellcat V8 engine, the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Mojave sticks with the tried-and-true 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine delivering 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. A six speed transmission remains standard, while the ZF-sourced eight-speed transmission is optional.
Look for pricing of the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Mojave to be announced soon. For now, behold the pretty pictures.
