- Ram’s new Dakota has ‘gotta be a real truck,’ according to the CEO.
- It will be ‘a little smaller and a little bit more accessible.’
- Production for the truck begins sometime next year.
Ram is finally taking on Chevrolet and Ford in the mid-size truck segment. The company will begin building its new Dakota pickup next year, and CEO Tim Kuniskis promises that it will be a genuinely capable truck.
In an interview with The Drive, Kuniskis said there “can’t be a disconnect” between the Dakota and a light-duty truck. “So, it’s gotta be a real truck, gotta have real capability, just a little smaller and a little bit more accessible.”
What that might look like remains a mystery for now. Kuniskis, in his interview, would not confirm any potential powertrains, but he did say, “I don’t know that it needs a V8.”
Ram Dakota Rendering by Motor1
Photo by: Theophilus Chin | Motor1
The lineup is expected to include four- and six-cylinder gas engines, with a hybrid likely as well. Kuniskis said he is “watching the Cherokee,” which uses a new Stellantis hybrid powertrain that pairs a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with a two-motor continuously variable transmission.
The new Dakota, which Ram said it designed specifically for the US market, will slot below the 1500. It will compete against the Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, and Chevrolet Colorado, all of which start in the mid-$30,000 range.
Motor1’s Take: If Ram wants to compete with the Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, and Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon, the Dakota will need to have real truck performance and capability. The Tacoma dominates for a reason, and Ram will have to work to make the Dakota stand out.
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