ram joins the compact truck boom with the rampageRam has officially confirmed plans to bring the compact unibody Rampage pickup to North America, giving the brand its first real entry into one of the fastest-growing segments in the U.S. auto market.The announcement came during Stellantis' Investor Day presentation, where Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis outlined the company's future product roadmap and expansion strategy through the end of the decade. While rumors about the Rampage's arrival have swirled for months, this is the first official confirmation that the truck is headed stateside.The move is obviously targeting the Ford Maverick-a space Toyota is planning to enter as well, FYI-which effectively created a modern compact truck boom in the United States. Ford sold more than 155,000 Mavericks last year alone, easily outpacing the Ranger midsize pickup and proving there's massive demand for smaller, more affordable trucks that prioritize daily drivability over capability.ram joins the compact truck boom with the rampageDuring the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year, Kuniskis hinted that Ram was seriously considering the idea. Speaking with the media in January, he gushed about the Brazilian-market Rampage but stopped short of confirming production plans at the time.AdvertisementAdvertisement"Would I consider? Absolutely," Kuniskis said at the time. "Do I think Rampage is awesome? Yes. Would I love to have it in the United States? Yes. That doesn't mean that we're going to do it." Well, now they are going to do it.Unlike the upcoming Dakota midsizer, which is already confirmed to be a body-on-frame rig, the Rampage rides on a unibody architecture related to the Jeep Compass, giving it more car-like ride quality and handling characteristics. The Rampage is almost 2 inches shorter than the Maverick but offers 1.7 inches of more width than the Ford.I'm going to say it here and now-ideologically, the modern unibody compact truck is actually just a male-coded crossover.ram joins the compact truck boom with the rampageIn South America, Ram offers the Rampage in trims including Big Horn, Rebel, and Laramie variants. Power currently comes from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, the same one used in the Jeep Compass and Jeep Wrangler. In South America, the Rampage makes 268 horsepower and uses the automaker's familiar nine-speed automatic transaxle.AdvertisementAdvertisementRam has not yet released detailed North American specifications, pricing, or timing information, though production is expected to likely take place in North America to avoid the Chicken Tax.Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter here.