For years now, we’ve heard rumblings that Ram would reintroduce a midsize pickup to its lineup, and that the truck might resurrect the Dakota name, last used when Chrysler’s pickups were branded as Dodges. A new trademark filing adds fuel to the Dakota fire: FCA just filed to trademark that name in the U.S. last month. Could a new Ram Dakota be just around the corner?
According to online records, the new FCA trademark is for “parts for vehicles, namely, automotive exterior decorative trim” related to Dakota. The Dodge/Ram Dakota went out of production in 2011, shortly after Chrysler folded its truck and commercial van lineup under the “Ram” banner in 2009. Since then, FCA has been without a midsize truck offering—it has sold only the full-size Ram 1500 and Heavy Duty models, along with some rebadged Fiat vans.
Previously, FCA said it would bring out a new midsize pickup truck by 2022. The new entry, which will of course live under the Ram brand in the U.S., could arrive as soon as the 2021 model year. If the rollout goes as expected, it will likely have traditional body-on-frame construction, as well as a choice of gas or diesel six- or turbocharged four-cylinder engines. Wouldn’t a Ram pickup cannibalize sales of the Jeep Gladiator? Worry not. FCA’s Mike Manley has said the two trucks will have very different missions. It’s likely the Ram will offer both single and quad cabs and both short and long boxes, while the Jeep is only available with four full doors and a short bed.
Whatever the new Ram pickup is called, it’ll be arriving late to an ever-more-bumpin’ midsize truck party that’s seeing increasing consumer interest and competition. Chevy’s Colorado is among our favorites, while the Toyota Tacoma dominates sales and Honda’s unibody Ridgeline offers clever cargo storage solutions and carlike handling. Ford returned to the segment with a new Ranger just recently, and Nissan is updating the Frontier. In fact, an all-new Fronty arrives next year. Oh, and as we mentioned, FCA’s Jeep division just introduced the Gladiator into the fray, too.
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