2018 Ram Pickup Truck Platform to Bring Forth SUV, Dakota to Return
19 Jul 2016
by Mircea Panait AutoEvolution.com
Yesterday we were reporting that the GMC brand is rumored to have a body-on-frame sport utility vehicle in the pipeline. Today, however, Ram appears to cook something similar. Just to be clear, this is not a joke and no, today definitely isn’t April Fools’.
Ram RebelUSA Today and Mike Manley, the head of Jeep and Ram, sat down for a chat and the bottom line is that Ram is looking into making a full-size SUV. “You have the opportunity with a new frame for the next-generation Ram. You have the opportunity to take a large SUV off of it because we already have a very, very capable frame today that is going to be upgraded,” said Manley.
I know what you’re thinking. “Whaaaaaat?” Don’t be surprised by this, tough, because everybody has the hots for crossovers and SUVs. It’s the ’in’ crowd of the automotive industry. According to the 5-year plan of Ram Trucks, the major update for the light-duty pickup truck lineup is slated for 2017. As for the start of sales, January 2018 is the period to look forward to.
It logically makes a lot of sense to offer larger SUVs off the truck platforms, and honestly, I'm surprised they haven't planned on doing so already.
Furthermore, I'm also wondering why they haven't tried to "scale down" their truck platform for Dakota duty. I think I remember reading that Nissa's pickup platform is so flexible, it not only is the basis for the Titan, but also their large vans and the Frontier. If such flexibility is baked in from the get-go, I'd imagine that any number of RAM-badged (and maybe even Jeep-badged?) products could show up on dealer lots in the medium-term future. I'm still not completely clear on what RAM really is (a mix up commercial offerings and pickups), but a Tahoe/Yukon, Suburban/Yukon XL, and Colorado/Canyon sized series of products would be a boon to dealers and FCA's bottom line.
Durango used to be BOF, so its not like they haven't done this before (although I think that was based off the Dakota platform, which grew pretty big by the end). Its such a profitable segment that it makes sense for them to get back into it.
I'm still not completely clear on what RAM really is (a mix up commercial offerings and pickups), but a Tahoe/Yukon, Suburban/Yukon XL, and Colorado/Canyon sized series of products would be a boon to dealers and FCA's bottom line.
I have a friend of a friend, that does one-off fabrication work for the D-3, can't remember the details, but they were chopping up a Ram Truck and a Jeep Wrangler, making it into a modern-day Scrambler of sorts.
Interesting to know. The good news at least is that they are working on a next gen Ram for release soon. I haven't heard anything at all for awhile, didn't know when the timeline was going to be, but they've always been good at keeping a lid on things until the final reveal. I prefer to see everything out in the open one day instead of a year of camo shots and speculation "oooohh, oooohhh, there's a bump under that section of vinyl, it must be XXXX".
Getting off topic- the whole Dodge/Ram division separation is moronic and confusing. I can't see how it will increase sales or give anything positive to the company.
I can't wait to see the new Ram, but surprised that we haven't seen any spy shots yet. As for a full size SUV- I'm all for it. It's a huge market that could be extremely profitable. I really don't understand why Dodge or Ram or whatever has kept themselves out of the market.
I am also very excited to see a new small truck. I hope they decide to go small (similar to the old S-10) vs the last gen Dakota.
its not about Sales, its about marketing. How can dodge be a Performance brand yet have a vehicles like ProMaster, Trademan 1500 pick up and,ProMaster City in its line up?. Ram is the Workforce, Commercial Vehicle brand. Along with better marketing, comes with more focus on that market. when Ram was with Dodge you had R&D members that controll Avengers and Status's Developement also working on Ram pick ups. Ram and Dodge now gets its own R&D Team along with C.E.O.
Long overdue. I think they thought the Durango would fit the bill as fitting sorta in between GM K2s and big CUVs.
Notice another headline here says that the 54.5mpg 'TARGET' is off the table.
That's because RAM could start making only 140" wheelbase and longer Rams and SUVs and have a much lower "target" for MPGs. The changes made back in 2007-8 were really a sea change.
Every maker now effectively has its own "CAFE" in the sense that they could theoretically make only stretch limos and crew cab pickups and have a 25mpg target for the whole company.
Would be nice to see a Tahoe/Yukon/Suburban competitor with more rugged options. The new gen GM full sizes have become too glamorized. The rear cargo area was ruined with the pursuit to get a flat fold seat.
Chrysler is never going build a next gen RAM, SUV, or Dakota. They don't have the money and their house of cards is going to fold within the next 12 months.
Whether it's badged as a ram/dodge/or even jeep,I'll bet it will have the 3.0L ecodiesel as an option.Good load and towing numbers,and good mpg's.
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