By Reviving old nameplates is a pretty common thing in the automotive industry these days and it looks we are about to see another resurrection. This time, we are getting reports about FCA, which is about to bring back one familiar nameplate, allegedly. According to these reports, Ram will finally have a player in the segment of mid-size trucks, as we count on the 2021 Ram Dakota to come in the next year. The segment of the small truck is getting more popular every year and every major company tends to have its represented in this class. Ram is one of the most renowned companies in the business, so these rumors make perfect points. Unfortunately, we are still waiting to hear something from the officials, so the following paragraphs are nothing more than rumors and speculations.
2021 Ram Dakota Redesign
Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is base design. Yes, we know it will be a mid-size truck, but how about the platform? These days, we can hear two kinds of stories. The first one, which also makes more sense, is that the new 2021 Ram Dakota will use the same platform that Jeep uses for Wrangler and Gladiator. This is a typical body-on-frame architecture and the new Dakota should share a lot with the Gladiator. On the other side, it would come with its own aesthetics, based on Ram’s newest design language, which finally abandoned the famous crosshair grille layout.
On the other side, some reports are suggesting that the 2021 Ram Dakota could come with a more modern approach. This means a unibody platform. Once again, it would be sourced from Jeep, but this time from Grand Cherokee. This means the new model would come with more car-like driving characteristics, with the Honda Ridgeline as the main competitor. However, this doesn’t sound so likely to us and we are much closer to the first possibility.
Engines
If we take that the new 2021 Ram Dakota will ride on the same platform as Gladiator, then there is no doubt about its engines. Base models would, in this case, feature a well-known 3.6-liter V6 engine, which is good for about 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Of course, we count on Chryslers new turbo-four as well. It is a 2.0-liter engine that delivers around 270 horses and 295 pound-feet of torque.
Finally, we also count on a diesel version. It would come with a familiar 3.0-liter six-cylinder unit from VM Motori, with a max output of around 260 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque.
2021 Ram Dakota Release Date and Price
The 2021 Ram Dakota is just a rumor at the moment and we are still waiting to hear something from the officials. Still, various reports suggest that the new model could come already in the next year. If it arrives, we presume that base models would probably go under 25.000 dollars.
As we already mentioned, competition in the segment is getting tougher every year. Besides familiar names like Toyota Tacoma and Chevy Colorado, there is also the new Ford Ranger, while the Nissan Frontier is expected to come completely redesigned in the next year.
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