Supersize me! Forget the Rampage, our 2024 Ram Dakota to be bigger and brawnier to take on the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux - reports

The Ram Dakota is expected to be bigger, tougher and more capable than the already revealed Rampage, according to new reports that point to the ute sizing up to better take on vehicle's like the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and US-spec Toyota Tacoma.

When the Ram Rampage was revealed for South American markets, it appeared the brand's new ute would take a more lifestyle approach, making it more a competitor for vehicles like the Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick.

But reports out of the USA point to the brand's incoming Dakota being a true competitor to Australia's top-selling utes, growing bigger and tougher to better take the fight to the leaders of the mid-size dual-cab category.

Read More About Ram

This is Ram's new ute! 2024 Ram Rampage name and design revealed, but will it come to Australia? 2024 Ram Rampage debuts, but will this mid-size dual-cab ute make it to Australia to take on Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux? 2024 Ram Dakota: Engines, launch timing, pricing and everything else we think we know about the all-new Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger ute rival

That's according to US outlet Motor Biscuit, which reports that not only is the new Dakota expected to be unveiled this year, but that it will also be bigger than expected.

As to what might be powering it, the jury is still out, but some US outlets are pointing to a petrol-powered plug-in hybrid powertrain that could outpunch most other diesel dual-cabs on the torque front.

Specifically, the powertrain already at work in the Jeep Wrangler 4xe, which pairs a 2.0-litre petrol engine with twin electric motors for a total 280kW and more than 630Nm.

All should be revealed soon enough, with Ram's most senior executives telling CarsGuide that the Dakota is coming - although the name is yet to be confirmed.

"I will say this - we've been talkling about it forever. This is the Ram leadership team that is going to execute. We will be the team that delivers it," Ram's global boss, Mike Koval, told us at the NY Auto Show this year.

When asked if, given ICE remains a core part of Ram’s strategy, the new ute would keep a foot in both powertrain camps, Mr Koval replied: “Yes, because I don't want to limit my opportunities.”

“I would be doing the team a disservice if I didn’t (offer ICE). I want to be able to sell it in every market around the world."

And in even better news, Australia is all but locked in for launch, too, with the executive saying that future product would be global in its ambitions, with left- and right-hand factory production also on the cards.

“When I got to the brand in 2016, I would say 96 percent of the engineering focus was on North America. That’s changing. Every new vehicle, starting with the (Ram 1500 REV), and everything beyond it, I will make it international in scope. Or I’ll try to.”