(Ram Dakota) midsize pickup truck to be built in Toledo in 2028!

[Jrgunn5150]

I thought Antonio Filosa said it would share the same body-on-frame as the Gladiator with adaptations.

He never said a thing but he's seen it in clay and it's beautiful.

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[Mr Miami]

I see the terms "main-line" mid-size pickup buyers among many other generalizations of what people buy. Let's face it, "most" don't understand or really know the difference between IFS or solid this or solid that or locking this or locking that. If it gets them to Home Depot and can carry some 2x4's and a couple buckets of paint on a slippery road, can pull their 2,000 lb. 18' boat for water skiing or bass fishing, so much the better.

Why does anyone think the Ford Maverick is so popular, because it can climb rocks or bounce across desert sand dunes at 60MPH?

Let's not forget what we are dealing with here.

 

[biodiesel]

Body on frame doesn't mean same platform, though.

I get that, but when news broke a few months ago, they specifically said the Dakota would share a body-on-frame with the next Gen Gladiator, which is one reason why Stellantis decided to move the Dakota from the Belvedere plant (Illinois) to the Toledo Assembly plant (Ohio). Stellantis sources also confirmed that the Dakota being built for South America will not be coming to North America.

Both Antonio Filosa and Tim Kuniskis originally said the new Dakota would be released in 2027, but it now looks like they have pushed it back to 2028.

 

[biodiesel]

Why does anyone think the Ford Maverick is so popular, because it can climb rocks or bounce across desert sand dunes at 60MPH?

The Maverick filled the gap, which is why some were hoping that Ram would have brought the Rampage to North America. It's been rumored that Jeep might bring a subcompact truck to North Amerca to compete with the Maverick and Santa Cruz.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

I get that, but when news broke a few months ago, they specifically said the Dakota would share a body-on-frame with the next Gen Gladiator,

They, meaning a person from Stellantis of authority, has never made any such statement anywhere.

Again, critical thinking, note the difference between drawing conclusions and someone on record confirming.

 

[BourbonRunner]

He never said a thing but he's seen it in clay and it's beautiful.

OOOoOooOoooooo!


I've said for some time STLA should bring the Rampage here to compete with the Maverick. Ram having 4 different trucks for 4 different segments makes so much more sense if they're the "pickup" division, in the same way with the incoming Cherokee Jeep is back to having all the segments of SUVs covered.

 

[biodiesel]

I've said for some time STLA should bring the Rampage here to compete with the Maverick.

Agreed. TFL asked their Stellantis contact, and that person said it's not coming to North America, at least not anytime soon.

Ram having 4 different trucks for 4 different segments makes so much more sense if they're the "pickup" division, in the same way with the incoming Cherokee Jeep is back to having all the segments of SUVs covered.

Yeah, Ram is missing the gap that would compete with the Maverick.

Ford Maverick - No Answer
Ford Ranger - 2028 Ram Dakota
Ford F150 - Ram 1500
Ford F250 - Ram 2500
Ford F350 - Ram 3500
Ford F450 - Ram 4500
Ford F550 - Ram 5500
Ford F650 - No Answer
Ford F750 - No Answer

 

[Mr Miami]

The Maverick filled the gap, which is why some were hoping that Ram would have brought the Rampage to North America. It's been rumored that Jeep might bring a subcompact truck to North Amerca to compete with the Maverick and Santa Cruz.

Jeep had, IMO, a good little SUV in the Renegade with the off-road stuff. I really don't know what it was competing with, a Subaru? It had its own niche and then got sent away to other countries. We have seen them as rentals as "Jeeps" in numerous countries we have visited. I didn't see the final US/Canada sales numbers for it but I did see a lot of them here in Florida several years ago when they were sold in the North American market. The turbo 4 would be great for the market here.

But yes, a small Rampage would fit into the market nicely against the Maverick and Santa Cruz IF it offered the mall crawler feeling and options.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Jeep had, IMO, a good little SUV in the Renegade with the off-road stuff. I really don't know what it was competing with, a Subaru? It had its own niche and then got sent away to other countries. We have seen them as rentals as "Jeeps" in numerous countries we have visited. I didn't see the final US/Canada sales numbers for it but I did see a lot of them here in Florida several years ago when they were sold in the North American market. The turbo 4 would be great for the market here.

But yes, a small Rampage would fit into the market nicely against the Maverick and Santa Cruz IF it offered the mall crawler feeling and options.

Well, if Bruce Wayne could drive one..............

 

[ALT2870]

I took one and forced it over Engineer, Ophir, and just shy of the summit of Imogene. (If I waited for it to cool down a bit so it would give full power would of done it.) It's a lot more capable then people give it credit. Serves my mother well.

 

[Mr Miami]

Well, if Bruce Wayne could drive one..............

LMAO .... I can only imagine the big garage door opening and the thing come flying out!
Holy Jeep Batman!

 

[Stan H]

Isn't that what the Gladiator is supposed to do?

I think it was built for those an against the Toyota , possibly also to broaden Jeep sales for guys who wanted the haul something taller than 48 inches high. Perhaps a dirt bike or a deer or similar

 

[BourbonRunner]

Agreed. TFL asked their Stellantis contact, and that person said it's not coming to North America, at least not anytime soon.

Very disappointing. Ford has created a segment unknowingly and in only a couple years cleared 350K Mavs and counting.

Yeah, Ram is missing the gap that would compete with the Maverick.

Ford Maverick - No Answer
Ford Ranger - 2028 Ram Dakota
Ford F150 - Ram 1500
Ford F250 - Ram 2500
Ford F350 - Ram 3500
Ford F450 - Ram 4500
Ford F550 - Ram 5500
Ford F650 - No Answer
Ford F750 - No Answer

Playing that same metric with Jeep vs the Blue Oval-

Compass - Escape (until after next year)
Cherokee - Bronco Sport
Grand Cherokee- Explorer
Wrangler - Bronco
Gladiator - Ranger (somewhat but we've well established the JT is a lifestyle vehicle in its own category)
Wagoneer/ Grand Wagoneer - Expediton/Expedition XL
Wagoneer S - ???

The GM twins lineup more than covers and fills in gaps but the point is that in order for STLA to compete properly against its domestic rivals it needs to actually just have something in the category in the first place.

Will it ever take down the RAV4 as the king of the compact SUV? No. But if their SUVs and pickemup trucks are going to have their own marques, they had better compete at the very minimum directly in each category.

 

[ChrisNLA]

I see the terms "main-line" mid-size pickup buyers among many other generalizations of what people buy. Let's face it, "most" don't understand or really know the difference between IFS or solid this or solid that or locking this or locking that. If it gets them to Home Depot and can carry some 2x4's and a couple buckets of paint on a slippery road, can pull their 2,000 lb. 18' boat for water skiing or bass fishing, so much the better.

Why does anyone think the Ford Maverick is so popular, because it can climb rocks or bounce across desert sand dunes at 60MPH?

Let's not forget what we are dealing with here.

As a Gladiator owner, and buying it because of what it is...

...I'd totally buy a Maverick to daily back and forth to work, especially with the longer commute I will be having.

But my pockets aren't arranged like that

I think they are great little trucks and there is certainly a market for that stuff.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I like the JT as a "Swiss Army Knife" of the small trucks. It's a do all sorts of things, some extremely well, some just well enough.
Some of those other things, sorry, I'd just not trust them to handle what I use mine for and hold up to it.

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