The All-new Ram 700 Subcompact Pickup Lays Down the Blueprint for the Future Ram Dakota
Rumors have been swirling for months about Ram Trucks entering the mid-size pickup segment. The truck maker recognized long ago that the lack of a midsize pickup was a hole in its portfolio. Out of an abundance of caution, Ram Trucks was waiting for the right moment to strike and not steal some of the Jeep Gladiator’s thunder. Now that the Jeep Gladiator has had enough time to carve out its space in its respective segment, there’s no longer a need for Ram Trucks to watch Likely in the coming model years, be it 2021 or 2022, Ram Trucks is slated to revive the old Dakota nameplate on a midsize pickup, but since details are scarce we’ll have to turn to what Ram is doing outside of the U.S. to see what we can expect from an upcoming mid-size pickup.
Our friends in the south of the border — namely Mexico — were just treated to their very own subcompact pickup truck, the Ram 700. Manufactured for the Latin American market, the Ram 700 is a rebadged Fiat Strada pickup, but not without some serious Ram chops. While it isn’t what Americans would expect from a pickup, the Ram 700 does boast some gnarly specs. There are three trims available: SLT, Laramie, and Big Horn. The SLT and Laramie trims are powered by a 1.4-liter inline-four engine that generates 84 horsepower, while the top-tier Big Horn trim is powered by a 1.3-liter turbo-four engine capable of 98 horsepower. Both engines are paired with a manual transmission — common for Latin America — and can tow up to 800 pounds.
Safe to say those figures aren’t up to par with the expectations of the American truck buyer, it doesn’t mean the Ram 700 can’t be a partial blueprint for whatever the Ram Dakota is to become once it comes to fruition. Automakers have a huge interest in this segment, with bitter rivals like Ford working to revamp the famed Ford Ranger. General Motors already offers the Chevy Colorado that slots beneath the full-size Silverado, so they haven’t made a peep about this segment for a while. In the battle of all three big truck makers, Ram remains the only one with this gap in its portfolio.
Today’s midsize pickups aren’t necessarily small, thus automotive experts expect that the Ram Dakota is more likely to emulate its bigger sibling, the revamped Ram 1500. Other models, like the rumored Jeep Grand Wagoneer for example, are borrowing the pickup’s platform along with its technology suite that includes a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment display. It’s safe to say that the door is wide open for the rumored Ram Dakota and that the sky’s the limit when it comes to its design — especially considering the fact that the competition has its very own tiny trucks to offer.
Want to see what features buyers may find in the upcoming Dakota? Check out the revamped 2020 Ram 1500 inventory at Cape Coral Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. You’ll be surprised at how much technology and luxury accents can add to a pickup. Schedule your test drive today! Follow Cape Coral Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram on social media to stay up to date with the latest Ram Dakota news.