A hi-po off-roader named ‘Hercules’ may be in the works.

Jeep’s new Gladiator hasn’t yet hit dealer lots but that hasn’t stopped the rumor mill from churning in earnest.

Sleuths over at the fan site Jeep Gladiator Forum are suggesting FCA is developing a high-performance version of the new pickup. Said to be under consideration for ‘market viability’, this fire-breathing truck could be just the ticket to create a halo trim for the new Gladiator.

According to the report, there are no supplier deals in place and the development that’s been carried out has been limited to one-off builds for testing purposes. Such a rig isn’t out of the question, as top brass made noise at the LA Auto Show about the possibility of a gonzo Gladiator during the truck’s introduction last year.

This is not without precedent. Ford punched its off-road performance ticket with the original F-150 Raptor, refining its idea over the years and making scads of money on every copy they sell. While it certainly isn’t the volume model, it stands as a halo for the rest of the F-Series lineup, one to which a good number of owners aspire. How many standard F-150 pickups have you seen with retrofitted Raptor-style grilles? Exactly.

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As for what engine might find its way under the hood of a Gladiator Hercules, consider that Jeep brought a Hellcat-powered Wrangler to the Easter Jeep Safari a couple of years ago. Plus, the whole of FCA is not exactly known for its subtlety – witness the psychotic Demon and the 1000hp Elephant engine shown at SEMA last year.

Over at Dakota Customs, JL owners can purchase a Hemi conversion kit for $11,708, a princely sum which does not include the new powertrain. Meanwhile, a company called Bruiser Conversions have already stuffed a V8 engine under the hood of a new JL Wrangler.

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What happens when the #bruiser R&D team gets their hands on a #JL #wrangler? They stuff an #ls3 under the hood and #fullyintegrate it with the OEM systems. Are you ready to #unleashyourjeep? Submit your contact info at Bruiserconversions.com, we're taking pre-orders now @spicerparts @genrightoffroad @tampajeepkrewe @jeepbeef @jeepbeach @tntcustoms @savvyoffroad @teraflexsuspension @jeep_wranglers @insta.jeepers @jeep.mania @infideljeepers @jeep @jeep_addiction @jeeps_with_attitude @dirtyjeeplife @jeepovereverything @jeepyard @jeepersden @jeepher @instajeepthing @its_a_jeep_thing_ @jeepondaily @jeepporn @jlwranglers

A post shared by Bruiser Conversions (@bruiserconversions) on Feb 2, 2018 at 3:13pm PST

Of course, all that power would have to be funneled through somewhere, meaning Jeep would likely also have to beef up other parts of the Gladiator in order to handle the power. One should remember that the Gladiator is already more than just a Wrangler with a pickup bed, though. And FCA has no shortage of V8 engines from which to choose.

Hercules! Hercules!