The Dakota name is making a return and it could be joined by a Ramcharger SUV
Earlier this year, Stellantis laid out plans to invest $13 billion into the United States. The money will fund an assortment of projects and vehicles, including an all-new full-size SUV that will be built at the Warren Truck Plant in Michigan.
The company was initially light on details, but Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa eventually confirmed the mystery model was a Ram SUV. Production is scheduled to begin in 2028 and the company has already announced it will be offered with an internal combustion engine as well as a range-extended powertrain.
More: Ram’s First SUV Is Coming Soon And So Are Two New SRT Models
That’s where official details taper off, but Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis implied the model could be called the Ramcharger. While he didn’t say the name at yesterday’s media briefing in Detroit, the executive said we’ve already figured out what the model would be called.
This wasn’t exactly rocket science as the Ramcharger was introduced in 1974 and stuck around until 1993. It competed with the full-size Ford Bronco as well as the Chevrolet K5 Blazer and GMC Jimmy.
Ram was originally going to use the Ramcharger name on the range-extended version of the 1500 pickup. However, when the company axed the fully electric 1500 REV, they decided to rename the Ramcharger as the REV. This effectively freed up the classic SUV name to be used on the upcoming model.
The Ramcharger Will Be Ram’s Grand Wagoneer
Since the Ramcharger will be built alongside the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, it’s safe to assume the model will be offered with a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six producing 420 hp (313 kW / 426 PS) and 468 lb-ft (635 Nm) of torque. We can also expect a range-extended powertrain that combines a dual-motor all-wheel drive system with a 92 kWh battery pack and a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine that acts as a generator.
This setup gives the Grand Wagoneer REEV a combined output of 647 hp (482 kW / 656 PS) and 620 lb-ft (840 Nm) of torque. Thanks to those healthy numbers, the SUV should be able to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in five seconds flat and have a range in excess of 500 miles (805 km).
Ram Dakota Is Coming Back
Besides talking about the brand’s first SUV, Kuniskis confirmed the obvious: Ram’s mid-size truck will be called the Dakota. He called the move a “no brainer” and it’s worth noting Ram most recently registered the Dakota trademark in 2020.
While the truck was originally supposed to be built at Belvidere Assembly, that plant is being reopened to make the Jeep Cherokee and Compass. As a result, Dakota production has moved to Toledo, Ohio.
This makes a lot of sense as Toledo Assembly currently builds the Jeep Gladiator and Wrangler. The model is expected to be launched in 2028 to battle the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Ford Ranger, Nissan Frontier, and Toyota Tacoma.
Little is known about the model at this point, but Kuniskis said the only way to get back to a $40,000 sticker price was by offering a new mid-size truck. However, the pickup may be significantly cheaper than that as the Colorado starts at $32,400.
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