The Jeep Gladiator will now reportedly join its Wrangler sibling in offering the 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine as an option.

According to The Citizen, its largest engine to date has been the venerable 3.6-litre Pentastar V6.

Big block V8

Known by its cubic inch moniker 392, the V8 has been exclusive to the three-door Rubicon-spec Wrangler since its debut five years ago, producing 350kW/637Nm.

The first-ever bent-eight Wrangler’s largest engine was a 4.2-litre straight-six used in the original YJ, made between 1986 and 1995. The resumption of Hemi production earlier this year, largely for Jeep’s sister brand, Ram, will now include the Gladiator as only the fourth Stellantis North America product to have an eight-cylinder engine, the others being the Wrangler, Ram 1500 and Dodge Durango.

Supposedly discontinued two years ago at the behest of former Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares, but brought back this year by the conglomerate’s North American operations head, Tim Kuniskis, the internally named Apache unit has also been mentioned as possibly being expanded to other Jeep derivatives.

This is according to the company’s CEO, Bob Broderdorf, who confirmed the V8 not only for the Gladiator but also for more versions of the Wrangler, as reported by Australia’s CarExpert.

“We will extend the availability of the 392 Wrangler and, in fact, we will tap the power and performance of the Hemi across Jeep products as new projects are already underway,” Broderdorf was quoted as saying.

“Wrangler and Gladiator fans, and Hemi fans in general, don’t worry – we got you.”

392 for South Africa?

Meanwhile, Stellantis South Africa has indicated that the Wrangler 392 is being investigated for the local market as an alternative to the current 2.0-litre turbocharged Hurricane petrol model.

At its annual media connect event last month, the firm announced it is also looking into bringing back the Pentastar V6, which was dropped in favour of the forced-assisted four-cylinder as part of the facelift Wrangler’s arrival last year.

For now, an official reveal of the Gladiator 392 remains unknown, but more information is expected soon.

With South Africa mentioned as a possible market for the Wrangler 392, and the facelift Gladiator already approved for introduction next year, the V8-engined Gladiator could well be considered for local sale once it becomes a reality.