New Midsize Ram Pickup May Be Coming If CEO Gets His Way

New Midsize Ram Pickup May Be Coming If CEO Gets His Way​

Story by Collin Woodard
• 2 min read




Ram 1500 Tungsten badge© Photo: Ram


Trucks are big business in the U.S., and we’re not just talking full-size pickups such as the F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado. Midsize trucks have also been popular enough that Chevrolet brought back the Colorado and Ford revived the Ranger. For some reason, though, Ram still has yet to give us a new midsize pickup truck of its own. Ask Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis, though, and he’ll tell you that needs to change.

Speaking to Motor1, Kuniskis said, “I want a mid-size truck so bad. Everything is more expensive. Trucks are way more expensive — bread goes up, you still got to eat, right? Trucks go up, you start looking for alternatives. I used to have a price point alternative with the Ram Classic. I don’t have that anymore.”

Unfortunately for those of you hungry for a new Dakota, Kuniskis didn’t have much to say about a possible midsize truck other than that. When pressed for more details, Kuniskis reportedly responded, “Wouldn’t it be great if I had a mid-size that was an awesome, capable [truck] to fill in that gap? Yeah, I’d love to have one.”

If Ram were to start developing a new Dakota from scratch, we likely wouldn’t see it before 2029 or so. After all, it takes a long time to bring a new vehicle to market. Don’t forget that work had already started on the XT4 when Johan De Nysschen joined Cadillac, and when he left the company, it still wasn’t on sale yet. That said, it wouldn’t surprise us in the least if Ram introduced a new midsize truck much sooner than 2029.

We can’t guarantee anything, of course, but Kuniskis’s answer sounds like the kind of thing an executive with media training says when a new vehicle is already in the works. Plus, the deal the UAW struck with Stellantis included plans to build a midsize truck in the U.S. at some point. Oh, and, you know, there are all the other automakers making money in the midsize segment. At some point, Stellantis has to get back into the game, right? Might as well do it before trucks all go electric.



https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/aut...S&cvid=b8620dc8d2b0430486fa53ba3290f6db&ei=90

 

[NCRaineman]

The Fiat Strada based Ram 700 sells in Mexico and has already been tested in the US. Would be great competition for Maverick and Santa Cruz, all they have to do is start shipping them over. It's unibody so skirts the stupid chicken tax because it's not technically a truck.

As far as a "mid-size" truck goes, they already have Gladiator. The problem with it is the same one the entire Stellantis lineup has right now... TOO EXPENSIVE. For the price of a Gladiator you can get a Ram 1500, which is twice the truck.

 

[HEMIMANN]

Poor Tim is trying to re-start the company yet again, after the Europeans near killed it off yet again.

I don't know how you do that without any money - who's gonna loan them money to develop new vehicles now? Yeah, to have a mid size that would compete with GM Colorado, but not as large, but larger than the old Ford Ranger would be perfect. And priced right, too.

 

[NCRaineman]

Poor Tim is trying to re-start the company yet again, after the Europeans near killed it off yet again.

I don't know how you do that without any money - who's gonna loan them money to develop new vehicles now? Yeah, to have a mid size that would compete with GM Colorado, but not as large, but larger than the old Ford Ranger would be perfect. And priced right, too.

They have a mid-size, it just sells under the Jeep brand. Nothing wrong with the vehicle from a quality, capability or styling standpoint... it just carries the Jeep Tax so is $10k more expensive than it should be.

 

[HEMIMANN]

They have a mid-size, it just sells under the Jeep brand. Nothing wrong with the vehicle from a quality, capability or styling standpoint... it just carries the Jeep Tax so is $10k more expensive than it should be.

A pickup truck?

 

[NCRaineman]

A pickup truck?

Jeep Gladiator. A 4-door Wrangler with a 5ft bed.

 

[HEMIMANN]

Was not aware of it - I was thinking more like the Dakota was. Not interested in a Jeep made-up pickup.

 

[NCRaineman]

Was not aware of it - I was thinking more like the Dakota was. Not interested in a Jeep made-up pickup.

It basically is a Dakota, just looks like a Wrangler. They're not bad vehicles, decently capable of hauling and towing. My wife likes the Wrangler but needs a truck for her business so I looked at getting her one when they first came out. They don't cost any less than a Ram 1500 so why not have the more capable vehicle instead? The price is what's killing them.

 

[diymirage]

i thought the 1500 was the mid size?

everything below is a mini

 

[olyelr]

i thought the 1500 was the mid size?

everything below is a mini

A 1500 is a full size truck. Same size as a 1 ton basically.

 

[diymirage]

A 1500 is a full size truck. Same size as a 1 ton basically.

That's like burger King calling their small a medium

 

[GTyankee]

the exact same 1500 cab & the Long bed will fit on a 2500 or 3500 Heavy Duty Frame,
it is the Heavy Duty Frame & bigger Brakes & Suspension that makes the difference

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[diymirage]

the exact same 1500 cab & the Long bed will fit on a 2500 or 3500 Heavy Duty Frame,
it is the Heavy Duty Frame & bigger Brakes & Suspension that makes the difference

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That Brazilians like
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What about a single cab 1500 with a 6.5 foot bed ?

Surely thats not a fullsize truck

 

[NCRaineman]

What about a single cab 1500 with a 6.5 foot bed ?

Surely thats not a fullsize truck

Anything 1500 / 150... Ram, GM or F-Series, is a "full size" truck. Compared to older models they could even be considered "heavy duty" trucks... a properly equipped 1500 can tow 10,000lbs. Modern trucks are massive compared to ones from even twenty years ago. What is called "mid size" in modern parlance was a full size truck twenty years ago.

 

[olyelr]

That's like burger King calling their small a medium

Nope not really. Its rams full size truck.

What about a single cab 1500 with a 6.5 foot bed ?

Surely thats not a fullsize truck

Yep, still their full size truck.

 

[Fatbob Frank]

Been hearing those rumors for 12 years...
I'll believe it when I see it...

 

[Docwagon1776]

It basically is a Dakota, just looks like a Wrangler. They're not bad vehicles, decently capable of hauling and towing. My wife likes the Wrangler but needs a truck for her business so I looked at getting her one when they first came out. They don't cost any less than a Ram 1500 so why not have the more capable vehicle instead? The price is what's killing them.

Which one is more capable depends on what you want to do with it. Like you said, it's more Wrangler. Do you want to be able to take the top off? More maneuverability on tight obstructed trails? Into Jeep lifestyle marketing, badge of honor trails, all that? Gladiator is more capable. Doing truck stuff, highway comfort, sure, Ram wins easy.

Gladiator has two problems. One is price, as you say. The other is it's a jack of all trades compromise vehicle. It's not as good as a Wrangler for trail stuff and it's not as good as a real truck for truck stuff. It's not an economy vehicle, certainly not a luxury vehicle. They sold like hot cakes for a few years, then everybody who wanted one had one. Small market with limited appeal. I wanted to like the Mojave when I was looking for a new truck but it was too gutless and steering was numb plus needed constant input. Nopity-nope-nope.

 

[Fatbob Frank]

I wanted to like the Gladiator but I agree^^
Kind of a stop gap rig for someone who couldn't own a Wrangler and a truck both...
A couple years ago I spec'd out a Gladiator on the website and without going too overboard on options the MSRP was more than I paid for my Powerwagon!

If Ram builds a midsized truck that costs as much (or more) than a fullsized I just don't think the sales will be there...
That's what killed the Dakota in the first place...

 

[Docwagon1776]

I wanted to like the Gladiator but I agree^^
Kind of a stop gap rig for someone who couldn't own a Wrangler and a truck both...
A couple years ago I spec'd out a Gladiator on the website and without going too overboard on options the MSRP was more than I paid for my Powerwagon!

If Ram builds a midsized truck that costs as much (or more) than a fullsized I just don't think the sales will be there...
That's what killed the Dakota in the first place...

I think the Dakota's magic when it launched was it was the *only* actual midsize truck. It had no competition at all in it's size category, only down to an S-10/Ranger compact or up to an 150/1500 full size. Compacts only had 4cyl or 6cyl options and were generally barebones economy vehicles (though they started getting tarted up late in their life cycles). The Dakota was more comfortable, more closely resembled the full size, and got a V8 option. It was absolute genius at the time.

Now Ford/Chevy/Toyota all make a midsize that's actually midsize, and Ford's Maverick is the only domestic compact truck left (though one could argue it's a modern compact Ranchero/El Camino competitor instead). Today's Ranger has the same footprint as yesteryear's F-150, after all.

So what's a Ram midsize going to to do to set itself apart and break into a market largely dominated by Toyota? If it's not cheap AF (and therefore low profit) what's the hook? Maybe this is the platform the Hurricane could shine. A truly sporty midsize to compete with the Ranger Raptor but more road oriented at a more everyman price? Dunno, but Ram is going to need something to gain traction in a very very competitive marketspace.

 

[Schotzy]

I think the Dakota's magic when it launched was it was the *only* actual midsize truck. It had no competition at all in it's size category, only down to an S-10/Ranger compact or up to an 150/1500 full size. Compacts only had 4cyl or 6cyl options and were generally barebones economy vehicles (though they started getting tarted up late in their life cycles). The Dakota was more comfortable, more closely resembled the full size, and got a V8 option. It was absolute genius at the time.

Now Ford/Chevy/Toyota all make a midsize that's actually midsize, and Ford's Maverick is the only domestic compact truck left (though one could argue it's a modern compact Ranchero/El Camino competitor instead). Today's Ranger has the same footprint as yesteryear's F-150, after all.

So what's a Ram midsize going to to do to set itself apart and break into a market largely dominated by Toyota? If it's not cheap AF (and therefore low profit) what's the hook? Maybe this is the platform the Hurricane could shine. A truly sporty midsize to compete with the Ranger Raptor but more road oriented at a more everyman price? Dunno, but Ram is going to need something to gain traction in a very very competitive marketspace.

Yea the Dakota with the 318 was a great truck. Do you guys remember the convertible version?