The Ram 1500 could eventually reunite with its smaller sibling. According to multiple reports, the once-popular Dodge Dakota, which was abandoned several years ago, may indeed return to market thanks to renewed consumer interest in midsize trucks.
Of course, we all know that a Jeep Wrangler-based pickup is coming next year, but Jeep and Ram boss Mike Manley told The Detroit News that there is enough space in the segment for a second Fiat-Chrysler (FCA) product.
“I think there’s opportunity there in the U.S. if you look at what’s happened in the midsize segment here ― significant growth last year,” he said. “I think that space is big enough, certainly, to have two offerings there.”
Global thinking even has the company mulling a Fiat platform, possibly the Toro’s.
Will it be called Dakota? Or Ram 1000? We don’t know. When will we see it? Manley wouldn’t confirm a time frame. One thing’s for sure, though: A next-generation Ram midsize pickup will face stiff competition from the new GMC Canyon and Chevy Colorado, as well as the just-refreshed Toyota Tacoma.