Morgan Olson, the American manufacturer behind the walk-in ‘step van’ delivery vehicle, has caused a bit of a stir with the unveiling of its new Kestrel work truck built atop a Jeep Gladiator.
Unveiled alongside Morgan Olson’s established C250e electric delivery truck at this year’s National Postal Forum (nope, we were unaware this was a thing either…), the Kestrel, while considerably smaller than the step vans, is said to feature the same “uncompromising commitment” and “long-lasting performance.” Particularly significant, as the Kestel, as explained in an official statement, can be modified for us not only as a delivery truck but also by police and medical teams.
- Base Trim Engine
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3.6L V6 Gas
- Base Trim Transmission
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6-Speed Manual
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Four-Wheel Drive
Unsurprisingly, this reveal has drawn many comparisons between the Kestrel and the U.S. Postal Service’s decade-long collaboration with Jeep – most notably with the DJ-5 – which drew to a close during the 1980s.
5,000-Pound (-ish) Kestrel Still Powered By Naturally-Aspirated V6
Notably, with Morgan Olson keen to keep the Gladiator’s cab comforts and safety features intact, everything fore of the B-pillar has been unaltered. Behind that, though, it’s all change, as the rear bench and the bed have been ripped out to make way for a multipurpose, aluminum service box. Even with multi-level shelving and shutter doors on both sides of the box, the aluminum build is said to keep the Kestrel’s curb weight somewhere around the 5,000-pound mark, on par with the entry-level Willys and/or Sport production models.
The Jeep’s 3.6-liter V6 has also apparently gone untouched, though the original 285-horsepower and 260-lb-ft-of-torque output could handle the demands of the project, since much of the original weight will have been shed, and any additions will likely closely balance the scales.
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The 137-inch wheelbase is said to have stayed the same as the factory-spec Gladiator (JT platform), although, interestingly, the Kestrel is apparently eight inches shorter. Maximum payload is said to be around 1,700 lbs, around 600 lbs more than the Sport, the High Tide and/or the top-tier Mojave. Things change quite dramatically when it comes to pricing, too, as a poster on the Jeep Gladiator Forum suggests the Kestrel, given the development costs involved, could set potential fleet owners back upwards of $80,000, more than $25k over the Mojave and close to double the Willys’ MSRP.
Could Be Adjusted For Use By Emergency Services
One of the main reasons behind the development of the Kestrel, according to Morgan Olson’s Joe Rudolph, is the growing need from larger corporations in the U.S. for “smaller applications for their delivery and service needs,” i.e., more fuel-efficient fleet vehicles. Hence the customizable box, which could be adjusted for use by “law enforcement, fire departments, and other first-line responders” (the V6 could potentially receive a tweak depending on the industry).
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Interestingly, the flexible nature of the Gladiator, which can be configured in both left-hand and right-hand drive, means the Kestrel could be made available both in the United States and internationally, should the delivery truck make production.
The Kestrel name, incidentally, was inspired by the bird of prey, specifically for its “bold and agile” looks, and its prominence for “precision and efficiency.”
H/T: TheDrive
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