RAM News

Ram do Brazil, the South American-based arm for the renowned pick-up truck brand, has officially pulled the covers off its new mid-size ute and confirmed its name - the Ram Rampage.

Among the online white-noise continues the theme of `we don’t make anything in this country any more’. It’s the great post-car-making dirge that keeps online trolls and nay-sayers busy for hours on end.

Ram has at last confirmed it will bring a true rival to the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger to market, with the Dakota to act as a little brother to the mega-popular Ram 1500.

An American rival to the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger could be revealed as early as July, with Stellantis-owned Ram teasing a combustion-powered ute that could be related to the anticipated Dakota pick-up.

The CEO of car brand conglomerate Stellantis, which owns Ram, Jeep, and brands like Peugeot and Fiat, has joined the chorus of critics to the changes surrounding the European Union's imposed ban on fossil fuel-powered vehicles by 2035.Stellantis CEO Carlo

In a move that could see cars like existing Jeep 4x4s or Ram 1500 trucks continue to run into the future as near-carbon-neutral vehicles, the parent company of those and brands like Peugeot and Fiat, Stellantis, has announced it is investigating the use of e-fuels for existing engines.

Ram has confirmed work on a mid-size ute that will take on models like the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger, with the brand's Brazilian arm releasing a teaser video detailing the model's design process.

Ram has finally lifted the lid on its incoming Dakota mid-size ute, and the details reveal the long-awaited model will leapfrog the current-generation Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger and instead take aim at the all-new dual-cab from Kia and Hyundai.

Ram has begun lifting the lid on the incoming Dakota mid-size ute, with the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger rival expected to offer ICE and electrified powertrains, and it could arrive in right-hand drive from the factory for Australia.Ram boss Mike Koval showed an all-electric concept to the brand’s US dealers in March, which drove suspicions that the long-awaited ute would be an EV only offering.But Mr Koval told Australian media that wouldn’t be the case, with an electric-only powertrain limiting the truck’s popularity in global markets. Instead, the model would be offered with a choice of engine or motor, with ICE and EV both on the table.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."The Dakota - although that name is yet to be confirmed - would form a key plank in Ram’s new global strategy, in which the brand will dedicate more engineering space to markets outside America.And that could include producing the Dakota in left- and right-hand drive from the factory, foregoing the need for the successful remanufacturing process that currently takes place through Ram Trucks Australia and Walkinshaw in Melbourne.When asked if the Dakota would be offered in left- and right-hand drive from the factory, Mr Koval replied: “It would always be the idea”.“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.”So, onto the name. While Dakota is reportedly firming, Mr Koval says no decision has been made on what the truck would be called. "Obviously the Dakota name carries a lot of heritage. It's very special to us. I'll say if and when, we'll see. At the moment it's not, because it's just in concept phase. But we'll see," Mr Koval says."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."

The Ram 1500 REV has been confirmed for Australia, with the all-electric pick-up truck to arrive in our market soon after the model's US launch in late 2024.