2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo on 2040-cars

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2020 Jeep Gladiator has lots of Mopar parts ready for launch

The 2020 Jeep Gladiator is here, and we've only had to wait a day to see how you can modify it with official Mopar parts. Some of the parts that will be available were already fitted to one of the Gladiators on the floor at the L.A. Auto Show. Jeep Wrangler owners aren't shy at modifying their beasts, and we can probably expect the same amount of enthusiasm from those who own the Gladiator as well. Many of the Mopar parts will be available right as the Gladiator goes on sale. Let's hope the best ones, like the 2-inch lift kit, rock rails and tube doors, make it there for launch. The steel tube doors sure give the Gladiator more character than other trucks on the market. Off-road LED lights, winch-capable steel bumpers and 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels should enhance its off-roading capability. Different storage solutions are also included in the available parts like bed-mounted cross rails, ramps, roof rack/carriers and tonneau covers. If you wanted your Jeep truck to look different from the rest, Mopar is offering side graphics, hood graphics and Katzkin leather seats. A cold air intake and Mopar catback exhaust are the only two power modifications available at the moment. Jeep claims they add power and torque but don't give any figures. Those are just the highlights as far as accessories go. FCA says there will eventually be over 200 different parts available. If you want more Gladiator news, we've got you covered. Check out the full details on the pickup here, and more background on the truck's name and purpose here. Related video:

In Michigan, car hackers could face life imprisonment

Car hackers may not want to mess with vehicles in and around the Motor City. A pair of Michigan lawmakers introduced legislation Thursday that would punish anyone who infiltrates a vehicle's electronic systems with penalties as harsh as life imprisonment. Senate bill 927 says that "a person shall not intentionally access or cause access to be made to an electronic system of a motor vehicle to willfully destroy, damage, impair, alter or gain unauthorized control of the motor vehicle." Offenders will be deemed guilty of a felony, and may be imprisoned for any number of years up to life in prison. The proposed legislation is one of the first attempts nationally to address the consequences for car hacking, which has become a top concern throughout the auto industry. Critics have accused executives of being slow to respond to the threats, which were first known as long as six years ago but gained attention last July when a pair of researchers remotely controlled a Jeep Cherokee. In January, the industry established an Information Sharing and Analysis Center to collectively evaluate security measures and counter breaches. But the Michigan bill isn't noteworthy only because of the life penalty prescribed; it's noteworthy for what's missing in its details. Language in the bill doesn't delineate between independent cyber-security researchers and criminals who intend to inflict harm or havoc. Under its provisions, it's possible Charlie Miller, pictured below, and Chris Valasek, the researchers who demonstrated last summer that the Cherokee could be remotely commandeered and controlled, could face life behind bars. Provisions of the legislation that prevent a person from "altering" the motor vehicle could ensnare car enthusiasts or gearheads who tinker with electronic systems to boost performance, increase fuel efficiency or add aftermarket features. In that context, Senate Bill 927 seems like the latest measure in a running feud between independent researchers, gearheads and big automakers. Car companies don't like third parties poking around their electronic systems and would prefer the researchers not reveal security weaknesses. Researchers, on the other hand, say many carmakers are either slow to fix or unwilling to repair security holes unless they're able to publish their findings.

Jeep rocks the Wrangler Red Rock concept in Vegas [w/video]

The SEMA show may have once been all about dropping rides to the floor, but these days it's at least as much about jacking them up on lifted suspensions. And few show cars – or trucks, we should say – managed to embody that spirit at this year's tuner exposition quite as well as the Jeep Wrangler Red Rock you see here. The concept started out life as a Wrangler Unlimited, but instead of four doors, it has none. Or any roof, for that matter. Just a roll cage and a windscreen. What it does have are 17-inch wheels wearing 35-inch BF Goodrich tires and fitted to a suspension lifted by two inches. It also has a reinforced tailgate, power winch, tow hooks... everything, in short, that you could want or need for off-roading, and little more. As you can see, it also looks the business, with a custom hood, body-color grille, matte-finish bumpers, and a brown leather interior. Handsome as it is, though, its rugged beauty runs more than skin deep: lift off the sheetmetal and you'd find electronic locking differentials, a transfer case, and solid axles fore and aft. A more extreme take on the existing Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Hard Rock edition, the Red Rock show truck was done up to honor the organization behind the Easter Jeep Safari that's a favorite among the legions of the Jeep faithful. And while it remains a concept only for the time being, a production version is slated to follow in time to celebrate the event's 50th anniversary next year. Related Video: