Ram is ready to rock the Ranger and HiLux: All-new Dakota mid-size ute reveal just weeks away, and it's looking like it will be a beast - reports

Ram's long-awaited mid-size ute could be mere weeks away from its concept unveiling, with international reports pointing to a dealer showcase in March that will reveal much more detail about the brand's Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max rival.

It has been in the product pipeline for years, but the new model – expected to be called the Dakota or 1200, depending on the market – will be shown to dealers for the first time next month, if the latest reports prove accurate.

Once that occurs, the leaks will surely follow, and Ram's mid-size ute entrant will finally begin to reveal itself.

Read more about the Ram Dakota

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"We've always said we know that on a global basis, probably the biggest area, the biggest white space opportunity for our brand to grow, has been the mid-size pick-up," Ram CEO Mike Koval Jr told Automotive News.

"We're looking at it, believe me, I am. We'll see, but I am thinking about bringing it and giving our dealers a sneak peek."

Now US reporting points to that dealer unveiling occurring next month, ahead of an estimated launch either late this year or in 2024.

What we don't know yet is what might be powering it. We do suspect that the 1200 and Dakota will actually be different utes, with the former being a smaller prodcut powered by a pair of four-cylinder engines – one petrol and one diesel – but neither would produce the kind of outputs expected of utes in our market, or in America.

The Dakota, however, is tipped to be a proper HiLux-sized ute, and if Ram should dig into the engines available in the Stellantis group, it could even put the frighteners on the new Ford Ranger Raptor and its 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 which delivers 292kW and 583Nm.

The company has revealed a twin-turbo six-cylinder petrol engine that is heavily tipped to make its way to the brand's pick-up truck portfolio.

The new 3.0-litre inline six petrol engine is part of a new Hurricane engine family, and will be offered in Standard Output and High Output forms. In standard guise, you can expect around 300kW and 610Nm. In High Output, the new engine will target 375kW and 645Nm.

All should be revealed soon enough, so watch this space.