SHIMUKAPPU, Japan — Japanese roads are packed with their share of eccentric automobiles. The look of pint-sized minicars, skinny tall vans and hybrids galore may take overseas visitors by surprise.
But another vehicle will soon cause even the locals to do a double take — American-style pickups.
Few and far between on this country's byways, pickups seem absolutely anathema to Japanese tastes. But Jeep wants to jolt the status quo with its Gladiator. Jeep plans to introduce the Wrangler-based truck to Japan toward the end of this year, becoming what is believed to be the first U.S. brand in recent memory to directly import that most American of American vehicle types.