New Dakota to be built on Gladiator assembly line?

[Oilburner]

Hearing talk about a new Dakota being built on the same line as the JT. If true I wonder what that would mean to the Gladiator? Move it to another facility? Or end production all together?
You know the Dakota won't have a straight front axle - could the 'threat' of an IFS JT become reality? Not sure if that would be a bad option for the Mojave.
-Just random thoughts

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[BourbonRunner]

Hearing talk about a new Dakota being built on the same line as the JT. If true I wonder what that would mean to the Gladiator? Move it to another facility? Or end production all together?
You know the Dakota won't have a straight front axle - could the 'threat' of an IFS JT become reality? Not sure if that would be a bad option for the Mojave.
-Just random thoughts

I thought that even with the JT and JL Toledo had excess capacity as is? I seem to recall reading that somewhere a while back.

 

[Hootbro]

I wonder how hard it would be to flex the current Wrangler line to include the Gladiator?

 

[BourbonRunner]

I wonder how hard it would be to flex the current Wrangler line to include the Gladiator?

As a very wise man once told me, with the right injection of cash, anything is possible. Sales for JTs being what they are right now, it may make sense to limit the production capability to a more market-based reality while shifting another line to the Dakota if they could do that.

I still think STLA is leaving tons of money on the table by not bringing the Rampage to these shores on another shuttered line. They wouldn't cannibalize sales from any of their other models with it and would be a hit.

 

[biodiesel]

I still think STLA is leaving tons of money on the table by not bringing the Rampage to these shores on another shuttered line. They wouldn't cannibalize sales from any of their other models with it and would be a hit.

There's been a lot of talk about bringing the Rampage here to the U.S., but I don't have a lot of detailed information. We have seen a few spy shots of the Rampage here in the U.S. with the American flag featured on the rear taillight housing. I've talked to a few insiders who told me that a midsize/compact truck would be built in Illinois at the Belvidere Factory.

The Gladiator is a midsize truck. The Rampage is a compact truck, so I don't think the Rampage would share the same chassis as the Gladiator.

A Ram Dakota would appeal to a lot of folks who wouldn't buy a Jeep Gladiator. I absolutely love my Jeep Gladiator, but it's ride quality, unrefined interior, and noise level only appeals to those who want the capability of a Jeep Gladiator. As much as I fully appreciate a utilitarian vehicle, I would also desire a luxury midsized truck. And I know there are many others who would LOVE a more refined midsized truck. The Dodge Dakota was a very popular truck for its time, so I think reviving that nameplate would be a good idea.

 

[Black Bear]

Instead of Dodge Dakota, we can have a spin off of lightweight trucks for the American market and call it Sheep.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

Hearing talk about a new Dakota being built on the same line as the JT.

Next gen is badge engineered

There's been a lot of talk about bringing the Rampage here to the U.S., but I don't have a lot of detailed information. We have seen a few spy shots of the Rampage here in the U.S. with the American flag featured in the rear taillight housing.

Also a badge engineered product, will share a chassis.

 

[biodiesel]

Also a badge engineered product, will share a chassis.

If they do it right, rebadging works fairly well. For example, I thought FCA did a good job with the Chrysler Aspen vs Dodge Durango. While it was a rebadge, the two platforms offered buyers different options and different styling.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

Assume they will not do it right.

At least as far as anyone here is concerned.

 

[Jeepdoggydog]

This brings back bad memories of when Chrysler bought Jeep, Comanche sales were very low, and they killed the Comanche in favor of the Dakota.

 

[biodiesel]

Assume they will not do it right.

At least as far as anyone here is concerned.

That's too bad if Stellantis fails to do it right. They have a lot of competition in the midsize market if they want to keep up with the Ford Ranger, Ford Ranger Raptor, Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, and even the Honda Ridgeline and Nissan Frontier for that matter.

In the compact segment, they don't have as much competition. Right now, the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz is their biggest competition. I must say, I'm fairly impressed with the Ford Maverick Tremor with overall styling and functionality. The Hyundai Santa Cruz looks too much like a crossover SUV and not a truck.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

We'll see how new leadership pivots, there's still time, not much is design froze yet.

My opinion is, they need to drive model cost down, lessen options, and rely on volume to generate profits. Which is contrary to the past 5-7 years. And I'm a lowly launch engineer, not a 40 million a year CEO.

The top two complaints about the Maverick are, people can't get one, and the price delta from Maverick, to might as well Ranger, to might as well F150... Maverick sn't cheap enough for people. That market they want to address.

Midsize, not favorable.

 

[Wageslave]

Instead of Dodge Dakota, we can have a spin off of lightweight trucks for the American market and call it Sheep.

Time for a new Ram 50.

 

[PuddleJumper]

Hearing talk about a new Dakota being built on the same line as the JT. If true I wonder what that would mean to the Gladiator? Move it to another facility? Or end production all together?
You know the Dakota won't have a straight front axle - could the 'threat' of an IFS JT become reality? Not sure if that would be a bad option for the Mojave.
-Just random thoughts

I imagine it'll be a unibody competitor to the Ford Maverick. IFS or not I don't think it'll challenge the Mojave in anyway.

 

[biodiesel]

The top two complaints about the Maverick are, people can't get one, and the price delta from Maverick, to might as well Ranger, to might as well F150... Maverick sn't cheap enough for people. That market they want to address.

I haven't followed the Ford groups to really know what the public opinion is, but I can see where the Maverick and Ranger would be conflicting. I have a harder time seeing why buyers would be torn between the Ranger and F150, but I'm sure there are a few looking at payments and trying to make sense of them.

The Jeep Gladiator is such a different midsize truck that very few are comparing the Gladiator to the Ram 1500. But, if Ram comes out with a midsized truck, then we'll see the same pricing problems. I'm sure you'll be able to buy a low optioned Ram 1500 for several thousand cheaper than a high optioned Dakota, but hopefully buyers won't get tangled up in those situations.

I agree that Ram will need to make a base model compact and/or midsize truck that is very affordable.

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