The days of "affordable" are slipping away quickly with how many safety features and engineering have to go into every truck now. Not to mention technology that they need to have to keep up with the Jones'. Think about a square body Chevy. Did it have: blind spot monitoring, backup cam, a 400 horsepower V8 from the factory, power windows (in most cases), collision mitigation tech, air bags, ABS, heated seats, ventilated seats, panoramic sunroof, etc etc? No. All that stuff costs money. And really, if you adjust for inflation, you're actually getting more for your money today.
I own a 99 Dakota V8 CC best damn truck I have ever owned I use it daily for my lawn care business. Now I am looking to just get myself a smaller pickup just to make runs to Home Depot or take my equipment in to get serviced.
1994 Dakotah lifted on 33-12.5-17 pro comp Steels and Mickey thompson Baja tires with a rhino lined frame and paint job with a bolt in the hood to latch my hunting dog on and roll around in the woods for bear season. Higher sided bed than Toyota and Nissan at the time so a dog box was more spacious for the hounds
ALL manufacturers FROM Around the World are selling small pickups regular cab to Crew cab in the rest of America's and the rest of the World for awhile now
I can see it easily having the straight six as it would give it more power than even the Ranger Raptor. What I'd like to see is a PHEV version with bed AC outlets for cheap around town driving, and the ability to power tools, etc. at a work site or while camping. Just like the Ranger PHEV that they need to offer here.
@l10…. After Tavares there is new management for Stellantis and all the American brands too. Specifically, for RAM that new CEO is the old manager Tim Kuniskis who left because of disagreement with Tavares. They will set prices as before the Tavares era.
With how popular the Maverick has been you'd think that some of the automakers would have jumped on that. Stellantis has some powertrains to go into a US market small truck segment. They have the 2.0t and the 3 cylinder PHEV powertrain. GM has the 2.0t. They had the Malibu hybrid system a few years back. Granted both the 2.0t and the old Malibu hybrid system should be given more power. They even have the new 2.5t that would be perfect for a small GM truck. Honestly surprised Hyundai brought a small truck in before Toyota. For a mid-size Ram truck, they could put in the old Pentastar v6, but should differentiate from the Gladiator. Maybe hybridize the engine, then install the SO Hurricane and call it the RHO. This will compete with the Ranger Raptor. Granted everyone in the segment aside from the Frontier and Gladiator. Others are running turbo 4 cylinders as the base engine or only engine. Maybe the Pentastar can eat some sales away from the Frontier I don't know.
Midsizes are way overpriced too. RAM is not know for reliability, I don't see too many people rushing over to buy another overpriced midsize truck. A midsize is necessary in the lineup but is unlikely to save Stellantis. They're aware of that. I'm curious to what else they're doing
Honestly if they just made a truck version of the pacifica hybrid i think it would sell like crazy. Let it tow 5k and have a payload of like 4k and still get close to 30mpg. It would be bigger than the maverick so normal people could fit in the back seat. And it would get superb mpg. Knock the price down to start at like 29k and go up to around 44k for a hybrid. Keep it relatively normal inside and not like a wagoneer or whatever and they would sell. Id buy one. I wanted the Pacifica PHEV powertrain in a ram classic.
I would buy the RAMPAGE in a heartbeat! They are very popular in Brazil and look like a million bucks inside and out. My neighbor has a new Gladiator in Tuscdero (Hot Pink), and it is beautiful. The only thing about the Gladiator is the solid front axle, which I don't want for ride quality.
Like I've always been saying. Manufacturers can lower their MSRPs all day long but if they don't "sanction" or punish dealerships that add massive markups, it will still be nothing but declining sales.
Ram will be advertising that mythical 'fleet model' that starts at $24,995, but all your dealership will have is the alloys-and-ass-warmers versions for $43,000...with a $5,000 "market adjustment". 😂😂
@ I'm well aware that the maverick falls under the compact pick up category. However, the original comment applies to the compact pick up category. Look at the mid-size trucks on the market, they do not have slanted rear windows. That's mostly a compact pick up thing.
Tacoma & Frontier both do NOT have that disgusting slanted rear window line. Only the GM twins & Ranger have that. & I agree, it looks ridiculous. Destroys the look of the truck.
RAM absolutely needs to bring back the midsize/compact pickup. The brand is somewhat languishing right now, and it'd be a much needed boost. Dakota would be an excellent name. It has heritage. People have nostalgia for that name. Use that. Another brand that could really benefit from bringing a midsize pickup into the fold? Mitsubishi. Word has it that Mitsubishi and Nissan are working on a pickup to be manufactured in Mexico. If true, huge news. It'd probably double Mitsubishi's sales in the USA. Thanks for the Andre's Garage segment, it's really one of my favorites.
What we need is a range extended EV like the BYD Shark and the upcoming Scout Terra. Or like the Ram Charger. And if they come in at a price similar to the BYD Shark, it will be a killer truck.
I own a 2012 Ram 1500 Laramie with the Hemi. It has the paint with the silver on the bottom of the doors and around the wheel edges and a deep dark blue up top and I always get compliments on how nice my truck is. I love this Ram, I have owned this truck the longest out of every other vehicle I have owned, and I have owned a lot of vehicles. It has been very reliable, I have only had one minor issue, and that was just the hood sensor which did not affect anything other than being able to remotely start the truck. I am sure this new midsize truck will feel cheaper than mine and be way overpriced for what it is. My advice is to find a truck that has a real non turbo engine from 10 or so years ago with lower mileage and buy that while they are still around and available. You will be way happier in the long run!😊
It's not too little too late if they do it correctly. The original Dakota was "late" to the party, but it offered features and capability that Ford and GM didn't. V8 engines, long bed options, etc. in a smaller overall package. The new midsize will need to offer more than Ford or GM.
Silverado EV is neither Body on Frame, nor Unibody; it is a skateboard design, where the battery pack itself acts as a frame due to it’s rigid and robust design.
Mid-size has many choices. Get the compact truck, Rampage, in to compete with the Maverick. I would pick the other mid-size choices over a RAM, unless it came with the new RHO Hurricane engine under $50k.
GM's Canyon and Colorodo was gone for almost 3 years, Dakota and Ranger left in 2011. The Ranger came back in 2019. And then looks like could be re-entered in the market.
We do need one. I would get one 100%. Have a Limited trim with the I-6, or the plug-in 2.0L Turbo, which is not for me and you will sell many. I have S.O, I-6 in my Laramie now and its amazing. The new RAM 1500 is incredible truck.
The funny thing about Dodge, they had a Rampage concept almost two decades ago that would equal to the Ford Maverick now. Just revive and rebuild that old concept into a functional truck and call it the Rampage, Dakota or what ever.
It's about time!! A no brainer for Product Planning. The Dakota should have never been cancelled. Third Gen. (2005-2011) was NOT a pleasing design. So ugly that sales tanked. My 2001 still looks current (timeless design) and is still running strong with a 153K miles. Hate to give it up. Too bad the Dakota bodies were subject to really bad rust/corrosion. But it still looks decent from 100 ft. away. Wish they made a Dakota fiberglass replacement body.
The hyundai santa Cruz is to be mentioned in the small truck lineup along with ranger the canyon the tacoma but the stout might be delayed every other manufacturers that used to offer small pick-up might be watching the competition greetings from southern Ontario Canada 🇨🇦 😊
The Rampage is very interesting, its based on a Fiat small pick up for the brasilian market, I drove one in Portugal, I like it, the suspension is great.
Ram put all their eggs in one basket with that hurricane 6 cyl turbo. The tried and true Hemi is gone which is ironic since they kept the classic truck around for four years after the gen 5 came out. I’m really happy I got mine in 2020 and almost paid off!
That was stellantis not ram that did that. Stellantis didn't sell enough asthmatic tiny engines to offset the large v8 emissions and it was becoming impossible to sell those V8s because government fines would have put them out of business.
Rampage could be done, but I would love to see the Jeep Comanche as the compact truck (what Rampage is, based on Compass platform, like the Hornet et cetera, give it the 2L Turbo out of the Wrangler), while Ram gets the Dakota as the more 'traditional' mid-size truck as an alternative to the 'lifestyle' midsize that is the Gladiator. BUT both of them have to offer something the other guys don't have, and not be unobtanium price-wise. Because the reason the Maverick sold well was because it wasn't exceedingly expensive.
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We've been waiting how long for a new cab on the HD? It would literally take a couple days to swap in the cab already made for the 1500. Then they'd have truck of year cash cow
I had a 1997 and 2002 Dodge Dakota trucks. I now own a 2019 Honda Ridgeline. When I was financially ready to buy a new truck in 2019, Dodge did not have a new one available. The Ridgeline was the closest in size. I really like the Dodge truck look, but will stick with the Ridgeline. Why? The Ridgeline has better gas mileage, AWD, very comfortable, and most of all the swinging tailgate and trunk! Awesome features!
My red dragon Santa list is a 6 seater, hurricane SO with dual injection and a dipstick, and a seven speed manual. Also physical headlight and HVAC controls cause I'm an old person and can't seem to enjoy the subtle thrill of almost crashing my vehicle navigating a touchscreen.
Full-size trucks are outrageously expensive. Going mid-size will not create a cheap truck, only one slightly less-outrageously expensive. Make a compact truck. There used to be a half-dozen choices, until full-size trucks became cheap enough to drive them out of the market. This is no longer the case. Compact trucks sell like hotcakes everywhere else, there's a case to be made that they can fulfill most of the needs of a typical pickup truck buyer.
They can take the Ram 1500 platform, tweak it a bit and build the Dakota. It worked out well for Nissan building the Frontier on a modified Titan platform, plus it shares cost. I would love to see an off-road version of the Dakota as well. A stripped down model coming in at 18k all the way up to the top model.
Agree, they need to come out with a body on frame Hemi powered Dakota and offer a low optioned work truck style with the V8. Making the V8 exclusive to the upper trims is the modern truck market cancer.
@cuda… How is my pointing out that Ford offers V8 in the work truck trim “the wrong group”? You made a generalized statement that limiting V8 to upper trims is the truck market equivalent of cancer. I pointed out that your generalization is not correct because it’s not true at Ford for sure and although I didn’t check it’s most likely not true for GM either. Heck it’s not even true for RAM because they stopped offering V8 altogether outside of the HD lines (irrespective of trim in the 1500) and in the HD RAMs you can only get V8 and Cummins diesel, again irrespective of trim. 😃
All makers need a small truck. Hybrid and turbo 4. Ford has set the standard and NOBODY has kept up. Too bad. I want either a small or midsize. Just not sure which is more important. Towing or fuel mileage. Or both. Now Ford has it. Everyone else better hurry.
Remember the Dodge Dakota. It was a midsize truck equipped with the 5.9 L magnum V8. A big V-8, in a midsize truck! Make it happen Ram! Put a Hellcat in it!
Doesn't need to be midsize, can also be small like Maverick. CHEAP is what it has to be, regardless of size. Give us a truck that is available for around $30K.
@ Built cheap and cheap MSRP are not the same thing! LOL! Ford Maverick XL hybrid initially released at sub 20K MSRP was cheap. I know even the Mav has gotten more expensive, but around $30K decently equipped instead of $50K for a truck would be nice.
The American brands really don’t care about the midsize market. They would much rather you move up to full size and they rarely advertise and subsidize their midsize trucks.
RAM needs to build an AFFORDABLE, ECONOMICAL Small Sized WorkHorse Truck !!!! NO ONE is building a Ford Ranger, Chevy S-10 or Dodge Dakota type truck with a 4 cylinder and manual Transmission,. THAT is what the market NEEDS!! A CHEAP NO NONSENSE WORK TRUCK!
Gents, I love your videos! But remember the difference between a lifestyle truck you guys like such as the Gladiator compared to a mid sized truck us workers want....an affordable on frame durable truck with a six foot bed that is easy to put stuff into and get out of. Not a lifted vehicle, not a big offroad setup, not a hybrid or complicated vehicle and offered in basic trim with a simple reliable powetrain. And good payload. Tell the CEO to go to a union meeting, not your white collar office, and they will give him the requirements. The closest thing to what many of us want is a more affordable version and better paload Nissan 6 foot bed crew cab frontier. Keep your tacos and ranger raptors for mall shopping. You really don't understand the worker market at all. Value driven and practical...not lifestyle driven
The major issue with the Gladiator is it’s under powered. Try and pull 7000lbs behind the current V6 over any long distance - it would be excruciating even if there weren’t any hills.
In 2026 Ford will have Superduty Ranger, RAM needs this similar model even if its on old chassis, i reckon if come RHD from USA to Australia will keep cost down RAM have good chance in more sales. But Maverick version is needed to get customers to step into mid size truck.
My guess for cost savings they'll just offer this JR RAM with their long in the tooth natural aspirated 3.6. The best option would be the straight 6 especially if turbo charged like Ford offers with the 2.7 twin turbo V6. I doubt they will be a player if they offer lackluster and unrefined powertrains. They also need to offer normally options, Standard. Add simple touches standard and make people 2nd guess themselves when shopping their vehicle with the competition. Offer more options rather then just a one option model. So regular, extended and four door platforms. If not they will not survive over what is already being offered on the midsized truck market.
Guys was a my local RAM/ Jeep and Dodge dealer to get my wife Jeep work done on a recall. But did talk the one of the mechanics in the Manager at the dealership also the owner they have a racing team at this dealership. It’s call southland Dodge racing team. But anyway they’re saying ram is bringing back a 2 small truck. also a small truck took compete with Ford Maverick. their hearing from Dodge that they are working on hemi four-cylinder engine taking half of the Hemi. Looking at bringing back 318 Hemi back.
@@abilityboatworks5024 that would reduce its power by roughly 50% given its current design. They would have to totally redesign the intake, exhaust, and cams etc.
Some markets already get the Ram 1200, competing against Ranger and Colorado. There’s also a Ram 700, a compact pickup too The Ram 1200 was a Peugeot Landtrek, but stellantis chose to put all pickups under the Ram brand instead. Good news, it has a Mitsubishi engine. Work vans are put under the Peugeot brand, so there was a Ram van and now it’s Peugeot. It sucks the US doesn’t get many vehicles that kinda make sense. You don’t get Cupra at all, no León hot hatch for you. You don’t get the Toyota Hilux, the Ram 1200, Suzuki Jimny, no Peugeot, no Renault… for many years the rest of the world had Ranger and the US didn’t, including a Ranger Raptor. And it’s not like it was a third world only truck, it was made in Australia and it was sold in Mexico, why couldn’t they put it in the US too??? these are all cars that Mexico does have by the way. More examples: Ford Territory (SUV sitting above the Escape and below the Explorer), Dodge Journey, Dodge Attitude, and I’m not mentioning the small third wold cars. These are all decent cars Mexico does get everything the US have too. Rivian might be the only one that doesn’t come to Mexico yet Many of these have nothing to do with China, so it’s not that. The ones that are Chinese would never make it to the US, but don’t know why the others don’t…
Im at a trade show in vegas called SHOT show, a group of security contractors who are also into automotive stuff? one guy has a new colorado with a 5.3L erod swap, and rocking an ss badge, among other stuff. Another has a new Ranger Raptor, with a 5.2L swap... and so on. Those guys have a very nice set of vehicles in their private collections. But what if dodge offered a 5.7L small truck, and jeep gladiator? cause folks do want that. Or chevy and gmc having a 5.3L option. Ranger a 5.0L option. Why? cause if it wasnt wanted folks wouldnt do it themselves I guess. One guy is building his own new body tacoma, but with an older 5.0L v8 from a LEXUS. His own xrunner... hope we can get stuff like that in future. And here I am excited to finish my toyota diesel swap/stick conversion on my 2001 s10, thats coming from my new imported from philippines "champ" Tamaraw. Which is LHD. We are building a v8 stick lowered Champ for my private collection too, hoping to have done in time for Hot Rod power tour hehe.
I’ve been WAITING for a NEW Dakota for as LONG as those procrastinations have been around….. At this point I’d probably snatch up a rampage if they can bring that production here quickly..the only pause I’d have about either is that they will probably follow their rivals and not bring back the extended cab .. let along an V-8 …. It’s unfortunate that they kept pulling these out of production , Style-wise they look better than the competitors
TFLnow did RAM say they "confirmed they were making a midsized truck" like your title says or did someone at RAM confirm "they need a midsized truck"? So RAM did not confirm they were making a midsized truck?
Please give America a 2 door, unibody option. If you make a 2 door pickup you don't have to pay for 4 door crash testing and we don't have to pay for heavy back doors and windows. Plus, if you make it EV or Series PHEV with AWD, there's no transmission hump! You can the the most use out of a bench with a fold down arm rest. Wanna make an affordable pickup? Make it a 2 door EV or series PHEV. A solar bed cover and/or sunroof would be a nice option too. Call it Rampage, Dakota, whatever, just make it in the good ol' USA please!
Ram Dakota should make a comback for the midsize and the Rampage for the compact side. Come on RAM I just did the work for you! Build it! GM is sleeping at the wheel too for compacts.
Damn shame they did away with the RAM Classic! Hopefully they do bring the RAM Rampage to the US. I would LOVE it if they brought back the RAM Ecodiesel back as well (with the deficiencies fixed of course). I'm leaning towards a GMC 1500 Diesel because of it for now.
These guys need to just make an affordable half ton truck, not an expensive midsize that is just cheaper than a half ton but still overpriced.
Go build it
The days of "affordable" are slipping away quickly with how many safety features and engineering have to go into every truck now. Not to mention technology that they need to have to keep up with the Jones'. Think about a square body Chevy. Did it have: blind spot monitoring, backup cam, a 400 horsepower V8 from the factory, power windows (in most cases), collision mitigation tech, air bags, ABS, heated seats, ventilated seats, panoramic sunroof, etc etc? No. All that stuff costs money. And really, if you adjust for inflation, you're actually getting more for your money today.
even Ford is going their best to make the Maverick unaffordable now. WTF
I own a 98 Dodge Dakota single cab. Still going strong at 275K miles. I use it as a work truck pretty much everyday.
I own a 99 Dakota V8 CC best damn truck I have ever owned I use it daily for my lawn care business. Now I am looking to just get myself a smaller pickup just to make runs to Home Depot or take my equipment in to get serviced.
318 V8?
@ Yes manual as well !!!
1994 Dakotah lifted on 33-12.5-17 pro comp Steels and Mickey thompson Baja tires with a rhino lined frame and paint job with a bolt in the hood to latch my hunting dog on and roll around in the woods for bear season. Higher sided bed than Toyota and Nissan at the time so a dog box was more spacious for the hounds
Yup , had a 98 too! Had that worthless 4 cylinder in it, but the cab and body were one of my favorites
We don’t want :
Direct injection fuel system
Turbo
CVT transmission
Deactivation cylinders (AFM)
Stop-star engine system
Electronic parking brakes
I couldn’t agree with you more!!!
THIS.... you nailed it!
So a frontier?
100% F#@K electric parking brakes that require you to plug into the OBD2 port to work on.
They should make 2 trucks, midsized body on frame called Dakota and compact unibody truck called rampage, exactly how both used to be
Take the Dodge Hornet frame and powertrain and make it into the Rampage to compete directly with the Maverick and to a lesser extent the Santa Cruz
I saw a Ram 700 single cab from Mexico on the highway here in Texas the other day. It actually looks pretty cool!
YEP SEEM THEM TO UP IN THE JOSEPHINE AREA IN NTX. SUPER COOL!
ALL manufacturers FROM Around the World are selling small pickups regular cab to Crew cab in the rest of America's and the rest of the World for awhile now
Ram 700 is a rebranded Fiat Strada, probably the Brazilian's most famous small pick-up. It was created in 1996 and It is now in ITS third generation.
I just hope that if it is called the dakota that it has 4,6,& 8 cylinder options but that gonna be a pipe dream
Ain't gonna have a v8. It probably won't even have a 6. Will most likely be a turbo 4
@NWI_Steel sadly yes
I can see it easily having the straight six as it would give it more power than even the Ranger Raptor.
What I'd like to see is a PHEV version with bed AC outlets for cheap around town driving, and the ability to power tools, etc. at a work site or while camping. Just like the Ranger PHEV that they need to offer here.
@IronmanV5 physical dimensions (i.e. short hood) of a compact truck probably wouldn't fit an inline 6
@ Look up the spy photos online. the 6 should fit.
Chrysler should never stopped making the Dakota.
Exactly, I own the last Dakota 2011 and they should have not discontinued it. What a mistake!!!!
I don’t think it’ll be “too little too late” as long as they price it below the competition!
Dude, this is Stellantis. They won't.
@l10…. After Tavares there is new management for Stellantis and all the American brands too. Specifically, for RAM that new CEO is the old manager Tim Kuniskis who left because of disagreement with Tavares. They will set prices as before the Tavares era.
All truck companies need a small truck too. To compete with the Ford Maverick. Toyota needs to bring us a version of the Stout.
The Tacoma used to be a compact truck.
Maverick?? Lmao
With how popular the Maverick has been you'd think that some of the automakers would have jumped on that. Stellantis has some powertrains to go into a US market small truck segment. They have the 2.0t and the 3 cylinder PHEV powertrain. GM has the 2.0t. They had the Malibu hybrid system a few years back. Granted both the 2.0t and the old Malibu hybrid system should be given more power. They even have the new 2.5t that would be perfect for a small GM truck. Honestly surprised Hyundai brought a small truck in before Toyota.
For a mid-size Ram truck, they could put in the old Pentastar v6, but should differentiate from the Gladiator. Maybe hybridize the engine, then install the SO Hurricane and call it the RHO. This will compete with the Ranger Raptor. Granted everyone in the segment aside from the Frontier and Gladiator. Others are running turbo 4 cylinders as the base engine or only engine. Maybe the Pentastar can eat some sales away from the Frontier I don't know.
Maverick is a 1/2 ton truck 🛻 they need to make a 7ft two door 23,999 maverick truck 🛻
@@chrisb9478 The problem with the Maverick is it's not as profitable.
Here in Brazil we have it and It is pretty good. Rampage with Hurricane 4 engine, 272 hp
Midsizes are way overpriced too. RAM is not know for reliability, I don't see too many people rushing over to buy another overpriced midsize truck. A midsize is necessary in the lineup but is unlikely to save Stellantis. They're aware of that. I'm curious to what else they're doing
Honestly the only thing that’s gonna save Ram and Dodge is bringing back the hemi across the board
💯 that the heart of Ram; we don't need EVs or turbos gas. We need a strong reliable engine on a budget friendly truck for the regular working Joe.
Carlos Tavares dismantled the engine plant and supply chain so the hemi can't come back any more. He made sure of it.
Just use the 6.4 hemi that is currently going in the 2500 trucks across the board, no need to build a 5.7 and 6.4. 😁
@HiPlains… They definitely make 6.4L HEMI engines because I got one recently in my 2500 PW.
@@HiPlains1 Tavares is gone, they built it once they can build it again.
Honestly if they just made a truck version of the pacifica hybrid i think it would sell like crazy. Let it tow 5k and have a payload of like 4k and still get close to 30mpg. It would be bigger than the maverick so normal people could fit in the back seat. And it would get superb mpg. Knock the price down to start at like 29k and go up to around 44k for a hybrid. Keep it relatively normal inside and not like a wagoneer or whatever and they would sell. Id buy one. I wanted the Pacifica PHEV powertrain in a ram classic.
I would buy the RAMPAGE in a heartbeat! They are very popular in Brazil and look like a million bucks inside and out. My neighbor has a new Gladiator in Tuscdero (Hot Pink), and it is beautiful. The only thing about the Gladiator is the solid front axle, which I don't want for ride quality.
Like I've always been saying. Manufacturers can lower their MSRPs all day long but if they don't "sanction" or punish dealerships that add massive markups, it will still be nothing but declining sales.
Ram will be advertising that mythical 'fleet model' that starts at $24,995, but all your dealership will have is the alloys-and-ass-warmers versions for $43,000...with a $5,000 "market adjustment". 😂😂
Why are all midsize trucks have the slanted rear window? Follow the look of the full size and make the rear windows look similar
Not all of them do. The maverick has normal rear windows. But fully agree that it is an ugly look when it's slanted.
@@FishingThePNW The Maverick isn't a midsize.
@ I'm well aware that the maverick falls under the compact pick up category. However, the original comment applies to the compact pick up category. Look at the mid-size trucks on the market, they do not have slanted rear windows. That's mostly a compact pick up thing.
Tacoma & Frontier both do NOT have that disgusting slanted rear window line. Only the GM twins & Ranger have that. & I agree, it looks ridiculous. Destroys the look of the truck.
RAM absolutely needs to bring back the midsize/compact pickup. The brand is somewhat languishing right now, and it'd be a much needed boost. Dakota would be an excellent name. It has heritage. People have nostalgia for that name. Use that. Another brand that could really benefit from bringing a midsize pickup into the fold? Mitsubishi. Word has it that Mitsubishi and Nissan are working on a pickup to be manufactured in Mexico. If true, huge news. It'd probably double Mitsubishi's sales in the USA.
Thanks for the Andre's Garage segment, it's really one of my favorites.
Would consider one if they came out with a phev with 40 miles of Ev range and then a gas generator
What we need is a range extended EV like the BYD Shark and the upcoming Scout Terra. Or like the Ram Charger.
And if they come in at a price similar to the BYD Shark, it will be a killer truck.
I like it to have a low range transfer case if possible
I own a 2012 Ram 1500 Laramie with the Hemi. It has the paint with the silver on the bottom of the doors and around the wheel edges and a deep dark blue up top and I always get compliments on how nice my truck is. I love this Ram, I have owned this truck the longest out of every other vehicle I have owned, and I have owned a lot of vehicles. It has been very reliable, I have only had one minor issue, and that was just the hood sensor which did not affect anything other than being able to remotely start the truck. I am sure this new midsize truck will feel cheaper than mine and be way overpriced for what it is. My advice is to find a truck that has a real non turbo engine from 10 or so years ago with lower mileage and buy that while they are still around and available. You will be way happier in the long run!😊
Just got the 25 Ridgeline Black Edition with vented seats, best on road truck hands down! This will hold me over until this story line unfolds 🙂
It's not too little too late if they do it correctly. The original Dakota was "late" to the party, but it offered features and capability that Ford and GM didn't. V8 engines, long bed options, etc. in a smaller overall package. The new midsize will need to offer more than Ford or GM.
Silverado EV is neither Body on Frame, nor Unibody; it is a skateboard design, where the battery pack itself acts as a frame due to it’s rigid and robust design.
Ram needs a truck smaller then the maverick. Two doors , four wheel drive
A slant 6 with a turbo😅
Mid-size has many choices. Get the compact truck, Rampage, in to compete with the Maverick.
I would pick the other mid-size choices over a RAM, unless it came with the new RHO Hurricane engine under $50k.
They ditched the Dakota just as the Colorado, Canyon, and the Ranger were ramping up. Bad decision, it seems.
GM's Canyon and Colorodo was gone for almost 3 years, Dakota and Ranger left in 2011. The Ranger came back in 2019. And then looks like could be re-entered in the market.
We do need one. I would get one 100%. Have a Limited trim with the I-6, or the plug-in 2.0L Turbo, which is not for me and you will sell many. I have S.O, I-6 in my Laramie now and its amazing. The new RAM 1500 is incredible truck.
There is so much room for growth in this country for smaller trucks.
The funny thing about Dodge, they had a Rampage concept almost two decades ago that would equal to the Ford Maverick now. Just revive and rebuild that old concept into a functional truck and call it the Rampage, Dakota or what ever.
An other FIAT !! The TORO 😂😂😂
It's about time!! A no brainer for Product Planning. The Dakota should have never been cancelled. Third Gen. (2005-2011) was NOT a pleasing design. So ugly that sales tanked. My 2001 still looks current (timeless design) and is still running strong with a 153K miles. Hate to give it up. Too bad the Dakota bodies were subject to really bad rust/corrosion. But it still looks decent from 100 ft. away. Wish they made a Dakota fiberglass replacement body.
The hyundai santa Cruz is to be mentioned in the small truck lineup along with ranger the canyon the tacoma but the stout might be delayed every other manufacturers that used to offer small pick-up might be watching the competition greetings from southern Ontario Canada 🇨🇦 😊
The Rampage is very interesting, its based on a Fiat small pick up for the brasilian market, I drove one in Portugal, I like it, the suspension is great.
THAT would be a big seller!!
@@roguedolphin I agree. They are trying to sell it in Europe, I hope they do, the Diesel version is brilliant!
Ram put all their eggs in one basket with that hurricane 6 cyl turbo. The tried and true Hemi is gone which is ironic since they kept the classic truck around for four years after the gen 5 came out. I’m really happy I got mine in 2020 and almost paid off!
That was stellantis not ram that did that. Stellantis didn't sell enough asthmatic tiny engines to offset the large v8 emissions and it was becoming impossible to sell those V8s because government fines would have put them out of business.
It call update that v8
Rampage could be done, but I would love to see the Jeep Comanche as the compact truck (what Rampage is, based on Compass platform, like the Hornet et cetera, give it the 2L Turbo out of the Wrangler), while Ram gets the Dakota as the more 'traditional' mid-size truck as an alternative to the 'lifestyle' midsize that is the Gladiator. BUT both of them have to offer something the other guys don't have, and not be unobtanium price-wise. Because the reason the Maverick sold well was because it wasn't exceedingly expensive.
If they made a Dakota, Ranger, S-10 like they did in the 80s then yes we need them. Simple easy to drive or repair no bloated computer crap.
The automakers must have blinders on (?) a small truck like that would sell millions today!!!!
At the Stellantis plant in Córdoba Argentina,It was announced that a midsize RAM with a 2.2 diesel
The Dakota is back?
Ram did file a trademark for a it back in 2020. So it's possible.
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We've been waiting how long for a new cab on the HD? It would literally take a couple days to swap in the cab already made for the 1500. Then they'd have truck of year cash cow
I had a 1997 and 2002 Dodge Dakota trucks. I now own a 2019 Honda Ridgeline. When I was financially ready to buy a new truck in 2019, Dodge did not have a new one available. The Ridgeline was the closest in size. I really like the Dodge truck look, but will stick with the Ridgeline. Why? The Ridgeline has better gas mileage, AWD, very comfortable, and most of all the swinging tailgate and trunk! Awesome features!
My red dragon Santa list is a 6 seater, hurricane SO with dual injection and a dipstick, and a seven speed manual. Also physical headlight and HVAC controls cause I'm an old person and can't seem to enjoy the subtle thrill of almost crashing my vehicle navigating a touchscreen.
Full-size trucks are outrageously expensive. Going mid-size will not create a cheap truck, only one slightly less-outrageously expensive. Make a compact truck. There used to be a half-dozen choices, until full-size trucks became cheap enough to drive them out of the market. This is no longer the case. Compact trucks sell like hotcakes everywhere else, there's a case to be made that they can fulfill most of the needs of a typical pickup truck buyer.
BINGO!!! The Market DEMANDS an economical small work horse type truck!! BUILD IT Right and sell Millions.
I hear they (Ram) was coming out with a Ram 1200 as a smaller model! Don’t know if it’s true or not. Whats your source saying?
I use to love the Dakota. Size of the 2001 tho vs later models that shrunk . Been rumors for yrs now that it was coming bk .
They can take the Ram 1500 platform, tweak it a bit and build the Dakota. It worked out well for Nissan building the Frontier on a modified Titan platform, plus it shares cost.
I would love to see an off-road version of the Dakota as well. A stripped down model coming in at 18k all the way up to the top model.
Agree, they need to come out with a body on frame Hemi powered Dakota and offer a low optioned work truck style with the V8. Making the V8 exclusive to the upper trims is the modern truck market cancer.
You can get the V8 in the work truck trim at Ford.
@ wrong group
@@cudataliidk if that gone happen
@cuda… How is my pointing out that Ford offers V8 in the work truck trim “the wrong group”? You made a generalized statement that limiting V8 to upper trims is the truck market equivalent of cancer. I pointed out that your generalization is not correct because it’s not true at Ford for sure and although I didn’t check it’s most likely not true for GM either. Heck it’s not even true for RAM because they stopped offering V8 altogether outside of the HD lines (irrespective of trim in the 1500) and in the HD RAMs you can only get V8 and Cummins diesel, again irrespective of trim. 😃
Actually with the tariffs, if it’s done right and made in this country, the timing might be perfect
All makers need a small truck. Hybrid and turbo 4. Ford has set the standard and NOBODY has kept up. Too bad. I want either a small or midsize. Just not sure which is more important. Towing or fuel mileage. Or both. Now Ford has it. Everyone else better hurry.
I AGREE the market demands a small work horse economical truck that is INEXPENSIVE. BUILD IT and SELL MILLIONS!!
Remember the Dodge Dakota. It was a midsize truck equipped with the 5.9 L magnum V8. A big V-8, in a midsize truck! Make it happen Ram! Put a Hellcat in it!
Doesn't need to be midsize, can also be small like Maverick. CHEAP is what it has to be, regardless of size. Give us a truck that is available for around $30K.
Their entire lineup is built cheap.
@ Built cheap and cheap MSRP are not the same thing! LOL! Ford Maverick XL hybrid initially released at sub 20K MSRP was cheap. I know even the Mav has gotten more expensive, but around $30K decently equipped instead of $50K for a truck would be nice.
They updated the HD not done a whole refresh
Would like to see something at 186 inches or less like the old D50 so it would fit in a tight garage - gosh I miss that thing.
They need small unibody to offset cabs
That truck with the I6 would be a very hot seller.
is that the Ram Ridgeline? 😂
Ram waited too long to get a mid-size truck in the works? How did they not see the need earlier? 🤤
They really did. They were focused on profits of all the high value models instead of focusing on value for the customers.
From my understanding they now have a different CEO than the did have.
The American brands really don’t care about the midsize market. They would much rather you move up to full size and they rarely advertise and subsidize their midsize trucks.
Because there idiots 🙄
RAM needs to build an AFFORDABLE, ECONOMICAL Small Sized WorkHorse Truck !!!! NO ONE is building a Ford Ranger, Chevy S-10 or Dodge Dakota type truck with a 4 cylinder and manual Transmission,. THAT is what the market NEEDS!! A CHEAP NO NONSENSE WORK TRUCK!
I wished the body lines didn’t slant up. It seems like everyone is doing that making the back windows curve up. Hopefully they will change it
The Dakota of the past costed more than the full size. They just don't know how to build an affordable vehicle that's not junk.
Gents, I love your videos! But remember the difference between a lifestyle truck you guys like such as the Gladiator compared to a mid sized truck us workers want....an affordable on frame durable truck with a six foot bed that is easy to put stuff into and get out of. Not a lifted vehicle, not a big offroad setup, not a hybrid or complicated vehicle and offered in basic trim with a simple reliable powetrain. And good payload. Tell the CEO to go to a union meeting, not your white collar office, and they will give him the requirements. The closest thing to what many of us want is a more affordable version and better paload Nissan 6 foot bed crew cab frontier. Keep your tacos and ranger raptors for mall shopping. You really don't understand the worker market at all. Value driven and practical...not lifestyle driven
The ONLY reason baby trucks are popular is because of the price of full size trucks. Full size truck owners literally look down on them.
And midsize truck owners don't care.
Frame based, compact, with an efficient powertrain. That's all I want.
Needs to look like a mini TRX and a simple powertrain like a Nissan frontier!
I didn't know the rampage existed until right now. But I would 100% buy one if it was available in the US.
The original Rampage was a direct competitor to the Chevy El Camino & Ford Ranchero.
RAM seems to be discounting their full size trucks substantially. In line with a lot of higher and mid grade midsize offerings.
The major issue with the Gladiator is it’s under powered. Try and pull 7000lbs behind the current V6 over any long distance - it would be excruciating even if there weren’t any hills.
I don’t know why you can’t make rampages that are set up for use in the US? Surely they can do that faster than 2 years
In 2026 Ford will have Superduty Ranger, RAM needs this similar model even if its on old chassis, i reckon if come RHD from USA to Australia will keep cost down RAM have good chance in more sales. But Maverick version is needed to get customers to step into mid size truck.
My guess for cost savings they'll just offer this JR RAM with their long in the tooth natural aspirated 3.6. The best option would be the straight 6 especially if turbo charged like Ford offers with the 2.7 twin turbo V6. I doubt they will be a player if they offer lackluster and unrefined powertrains. They also need to offer normally options, Standard. Add simple touches standard and make people 2nd guess themselves when shopping their vehicle with the competition. Offer more options rather then just a one option model. So regular, extended and four door platforms. If not they will not survive over what is already being offered on the midsized truck market.
Guys was a my local RAM/ Jeep and Dodge dealer to get my wife Jeep work done on a recall. But did talk the one of the mechanics in the Manager at the dealership also the owner they have a racing team at this dealership. It’s call southland Dodge racing team. But anyway they’re saying ram is bringing back a 2 small truck. also a small truck took compete with Ford Maverick. their hearing from Dodge that they are working on hemi four-cylinder engine taking half of the Hemi. Looking at bringing back 318 Hemi back.
They have a midsize truck. Its called the gladiator. It costs 70k dollars.
Imagine the hurricane in a mid size. Won’t happen but it would be awesome
Could they put it in without the turbos and just keep the straight six naturally aspirated?
@@abilityboatworks5024 that would reduce its power by roughly 50% given its current design. They would have to totally redesign the intake, exhaust, and cams etc.
What the U.S. needs is a 2 door regular cab pickup truck with a bed big enough to use.
AS YOU CAN SEE NO MORE... ONLY FORD MAKES REGULAR CAB TRUCKS
That's pretty much for fleet. Most people don't want a single cab long bed.
It’s called a Nissan frontier
@@JOHNJ0HN9111 GM still makes them too. But the short bed doesn't come with a V8 anymore. The long bed does though.
@nottoday7495 he said regular cab. Nissan doesn't have a regular cab in the US
Offer a NA version of the new inline 6 and a manual for an attracive starting price and stack from there. I would pre-order 1 if they did this.
How about a two-door base 1/2 ton truck with a manual transmission? With colors other than white, black or gray?
Some markets already get the Ram 1200, competing against Ranger and Colorado. There’s also a Ram 700, a compact pickup too
The Ram 1200 was a Peugeot Landtrek, but stellantis chose to put all pickups under the Ram brand instead. Good news, it has a Mitsubishi engine. Work vans are put under the Peugeot brand, so there was a Ram van and now it’s Peugeot.
It sucks the US doesn’t get many vehicles that kinda make sense. You don’t get Cupra at all, no León hot hatch for you. You don’t get the Toyota Hilux, the Ram 1200, Suzuki Jimny, no Peugeot, no Renault… for many years the rest of the world had Ranger and the US didn’t, including a Ranger Raptor. And it’s not like it was a third world only truck, it was made in Australia and it was sold in Mexico, why couldn’t they put it in the US too???
these are all cars that Mexico does have by the way. More examples: Ford Territory (SUV sitting above the Escape and below the Explorer), Dodge Journey, Dodge Attitude, and I’m not mentioning the small third wold cars. These are all decent cars
Mexico does get everything the US have too. Rivian might be the only one that doesn’t come to Mexico yet
Many of these have nothing to do with China, so it’s not that. The ones that are Chinese would never make it to the US, but don’t know why the others don’t…
Im at a trade show in vegas called SHOT show, a group of security contractors who are also into automotive stuff? one guy has a new colorado with a 5.3L erod swap, and rocking an ss badge, among other stuff. Another has a new Ranger Raptor, with a 5.2L swap... and so on. Those guys have a very nice set of vehicles in their private collections. But what if dodge offered a 5.7L small truck, and jeep gladiator? cause folks do want that.
Or chevy and gmc having a 5.3L option.
Ranger a 5.0L option.
Why? cause if it wasnt wanted folks wouldnt do it themselves I guess. One guy is building his own new body tacoma, but with an older 5.0L v8 from a LEXUS. His own xrunner... hope we can get stuff like that in future.
And here I am excited to finish my toyota diesel swap/stick conversion on my 2001 s10, thats coming from my new imported from philippines "champ" Tamaraw. Which is LHD. We are building a v8 stick lowered Champ for my private collection too, hoping to have done in time for Hot Rod power tour hehe.
It would just be a mid size junk from ram
i can hear the wiring corroding already and it hasnt even been invented yet
MAZDA had really good Japanese body on frame trucks
You guys should do some investigative journalism in the middle east and asia and see what fuel prices are over there
I’ve been WAITING for a NEW Dakota for as LONG as those procrastinations have been around….. At this point I’d probably snatch up a rampage if they can bring that production here quickly..the only pause I’d have about either is that they will probably follow their rivals and not bring back the extended cab .. let along an V-8 …. It’s unfortunate that they kept pulling these out of production , Style-wise they look better than the competitors
i would be more interested in a compact vs a midsize
So true. We want some COMPACT Trucks!!!
TFLnow did RAM say they "confirmed they were making a midsized truck" like your title says or did someone at RAM confirm "they need a midsized truck"? So RAM did not confirm they were making a midsized truck?
Retooling a plant makea sence for that time frame
I’ve been saying ram needs to bring the Dakota back for years now.. I don’t know how the executives don’t see how popular the midsize segment is
Please give America a 2 door, unibody option. If you make a 2 door pickup you don't have to pay for 4 door crash testing and we don't have to pay for heavy back doors and windows. Plus, if you make it EV or Series PHEV with AWD, there's no transmission hump! You can the the most use out of a bench with a fold down arm rest. Wanna make an affordable pickup? Make it a 2 door EV or series PHEV. A solar bed cover and/or sunroof would be a nice option too. Call it Rampage, Dakota, whatever, just make it in the good ol' USA please!
Ram Dakota should make a comback for the midsize and the Rampage for the compact side. Come on RAM I just did the work for you! Build it! GM is sleeping at the wheel too for compacts.
Now Ram will have very expensive midsized or small trucks 😅.
The ram should combine the ruggedness & reliability of the frontier & the tech & driveability of the GMC canyon I think they realize this
Needs a simplified single turbo version of the inline 6. Will instead have a 2.0 turbo.
Need a non turbo i6 for reliability.
It has to be a body on frame v6 with different cab options
The current 3.0 i6 engine with the turbos removed...something to stand out from every other brand with their V6 and turbocharged i4 engines.
When you see the rear suspension 😢😂 I live in shi… Brazil
No compact truck would rather have a mid sized and a naturally aspired motor then a turbo I hope they keep it affordable
Damn shame they did away with the RAM Classic! Hopefully they do bring the RAM Rampage to the US. I would LOVE it if they brought back the RAM Ecodiesel back as well (with the deficiencies fixed of course). I'm leaning towards a GMC 1500 Diesel because of it for now.
I don't know why they did not come out with one once the Pentastar V6 came out!
Make it with a mega cab version. Then it’s family friendly and practical.
For what $60,000 US