Battery-powered mid-size RAM Dakota ute reportedly being shown to US dealers next month
RAM may have only just debuted its full-size battery-electric 2024 RAM 1500 REV pick-up, but it seems the US truck brand is already ploughing on with the next step in its electrification strategy.
RAM’s global CEO Mike Koval has reportedly confirmed that an electric mid-size pick-up concept will be shown to US dealers next month for workshopping.
The intel comes courtesy of MotorTrend, which quoted Koval as saying: “We can clinic it to see if it is the right truck”.
It isn’t entirely clear in the report whether this mystery concept will be entirely electric or just electrified, but the American outlet seems to think it’ll be the former, even though we’re yet to see a RAM-badged mid-size ute – tipped to be called the 1200 or RAM Dakota – in any form.
Spy pictures emerged last month of what’s expected to be sold as the mid-size RAM 1200, but the general consensus across the industry was that these heavily camouflaged prototypes previewed a monocoque platform-based ute destined for South American markets, as opposed to the more rugged ladder-frame dual-cab intended for the North American and global markets.
Koval said RAM is yet to lock in exactly which platform the international versions will ride on, let alone what engines will lurk under the bonnet, though odds are that the combustion versions will feature a pair of Jeep-sourced four-cylinder engines – one turbo-petrol and one turbo-diesel – paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission and 4×4 as standard.
We also wouldn’t be too surprised if Jeep’s latest ‘Hurricane’ inline turbo-six weighs in towards the top of the range, to rival the Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok’s own gutsy diesel V6.
The Hurricane six and indeed the smaller four-cylinder version are both electrification-ready and compatible with every key form of hybridisation up to and including a plug-in system.
Koval has previously described the mid-size ute segment as the “biggest white-space opportunity” for RAM going forward and confirmed a suite of options were being considered, including a suitable platform for such a vehicle, but has never formally locked in the project publicly.
RAM Trucks International chief Bob Graczyk was equally coy about the prospects a mid-size ute when speaking to carsales last October, using a lot of “ifs” when referring directly to the project.
“If there is a mid-size pick-up truck coming down the line for RAM, we’ll definitely take a look to see if it makes sense for us to do it as right-hand drive or for us to do it the other way,” he said.
But whether it’s produced in RHD ex-factory or ‘remanufactured’ locally alongside the RAM 1500/2500/3500, Graczyk made it clear that RAM’s first direct rival for the Toyota HiLux would be sold in Australia – if the all-new ute gets the green light for production.
“Absolutely. Absolutely. Yep,” he said at the time.
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Keyword: RAM’s answer to the Toyota HiLux could be all-electric