Jeep Gladiator needs no introduction. It was one of the most anticipated products and it didn’t let anyone down. What makes it even more special is that being an FCA product, or should I say Stellantis product, there is no dearth of customization options. But, here’s one example that probably sets the benchmark for Gladiators.

Presenting to you, courtesy of AutotopiaLA, the Jeep ‘Possessed’ Gladiator. It is big, brawny, and comes with mods that can make purists go weak in the knees

It Looks Absolutely Monstrous

The Jeep was purchased by the present owner at a Barrett-Jackson auction. The engine swap was done by Dakota Customs. This Possessed Gladiator is finished in a black exterior shade with red elements and accents all around. It rides quite high off the ground, thanks to a 6.5-inch lift kit. This has allowed for 40-inch Toyo Open Country mud-terrain tires to be equipped around 20-inch red Zephyr beadlock wheels with Dynatrac center caps. The bumpers are stock and come with a Warn winch and tow hooks, being a Launch edition model. There is a full-size spare tired mounted on a custom carrier in the bed.

There aren’t a whole lot of changes made to the interior. The seats and dash are draped in black leather with contrast red stitching, mimicking the same theme as on the outside. Since this is a Launch Edition Gladiator that was based on the Rubicon trim, it has the same embroidered on the backrest of the seats. The headrests come with the Demon logo stitching.

It Makes Three Times The Power Of A Stock Gladiator

The stock Gladiator comes with a 3.6-liter, V-6 Pentastar engine that makes 285 ponies and 260 pound-feet of torque. It has been thrown out in favor of the mighty 6.2-liter, V-8 Demon Challenger crate engine. This mill churns out 850 ponies and 770 pound-feet of twist. It also comes with a 2.7-liter supercharger and a water intercooler system for it. In the Dodge Demon, it produces 14.5 psi of boost and we think the same is produced here too. The owner says it delivers just six miles per gallon on the highway!

Almost Every Mechanical Component Is New

While it sounds like a simple plug-and-play since the engine fit under the hood without any issues, there were a lot of other changes made. The tuner worked on it upgraded the transmission (most likely Dakota Customs itself) to handle all the power. It also features a King steering stabilizer, custom-built 1350 front and rear drivelines, and new Adams drive shafts.

The stock front and rear axles are swapped with a Dynatrac Pro Rock Hardcore Plus XD60 axle set. Huge changes have been made to the suspension system as well. The EVO 6.5-inch Enforcer Overland Stage IV suspension lift kit is complemented by new King coilovers. JKS ACOS front adjustable spacers also find their way in here. Apart from this, 72.5-inch wide-track Eaton E-locker differentials and a 5.13 axle ratio further make this truck unique and special. The steering assembly is replaced with a heavy-duty setup sourced from Dynatrac. It even comes with a new exhaust system that wouldn’t make it street-legal in California, thanks to the stringent emission norms.

Final Thoughts

The price of this Gladiator wasn’t revealed, but we did a little digging and found that the ‘Possessed’ Gladiator was sold for $198,000 in the Barrett-Jackson Fall Auction in 2020. This makes it three times more expensive than the standard Jeep Gladiator Launch Edition. We don’t know 0-60 mph time, but the Dodge Demon with this engine and power specs takes just 2.3 seconds to complete the sprint! So, are we looking at a sub-four-second time here?

Anyway, let us know your thoughts about the Jeep ‘Possessed’ Gladiator in the comments section below.