Ram might present Ford Ranger rival to sellers – report

Ram has lengthy been rumoured to be growing a rival to the Ford Ranger, and the model’s CEO says it might lastly unveil an idea to its sellers.

Automotive Information stories phrase from Ram CEO Mike Koval Jr. that the Stellantis model is contemplating exhibiting its sellers an early idea of a “mid-sized” (aka Ranger-sized) pickup truck in March “to gauge their curiosity”.

It’s unclear whether or not this is able to be a rendering or a bodily mock-up.

“We’ve at all times stated we all know that on a world foundation, in all probability the most important space, the most important white area alternative for our model to develop, has been the midsize pickup,” Mr Koval advised Automotive Information.

“We’re it, imagine me, I’m. We’ll see, however I’m desirous about bringing it and giving our sellers a sneak peek.”

The model final provided a car on this phase in North America with the Ram (née Dodge) Dakota, discontinued in 2011.

A rebadged Fiat Fullback, itself a flippantly restyled Mitsubishi Triton, was subsequently offered within the Center East and Africa because the Ram 1200 from 2016 to 2019.

Stellantis at the moment gives solely the Jeep Gladiator on this phase, although it’s a extra off-road centered car that’s not focused immediately on the likes of the Ranger.

Past its 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickup vehicles, Ram additionally at the moment sells compact utes – rebadged Fiat Toro and Strada fashions – in some Latin American markets. Mr Koval advised Autoblog the model might promote these exterior of Latin America, maybe in response to the success of the Ford Maverick in North America.

Whereas the Toyota Tundra struggles in opposition to the likes of the Ram 1500 and Ford F-150 in general gross sales, the smaller Tacoma – North America’s equal to the HiLux – dominates the so-called mid-sized pickup truck phase, and has been the phase’s finest vendor for 17 years within the US.

The Tacoma’s standing because the phase’s high canine has been additional cemented by Ford, Chevrolet, GMC and Ram’s earlier departures from this phase. Ford axed the Ranger within the US in 2011, returning in 2019, whereas the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon had been absent between 2012 and 2015.

Certainly, the Tacoma outsold the subsequent best-selling car on this phase – the Ranger – by greater than two-to-one in 2021 in keeping with Carsalesbase.

However the brand new Ranger will quickly make its method to North America, whereas a redesigned Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon duo will attain showrooms there in 2023.

This phase additionally has higher international significance than the bigger Ram 1500’s phase, given the provision of fashions just like the Ranger and HiLux in markets like Australia, Europe and Asia.

It’s unclear what a Dakota successor will appear like, although Stellantis final 12 months teased in wireframe a brand new mid-sized electrical pickup amongst a fleet of automobiles on the brand new STLA Massive platform for the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram manufacturers.

This can slot in beneath an electrical 1500 counterpart on the STLA Body structure, which shall be previewed in November with the Revolution idea. A manufacturing model will launch in 2024.

Automobiles on the STLA Massive structure that can underpin the smaller of the 2 vehicles will provide 400V or 800V know-how and battery packs measuring 101 to 118kWh.

They’ll provide as much as 800km of vary, and have each single- and dual-electric motor powertrain set-ups.

STLA Body automobiles will function 159kWh to 200kWh batteries and provide as much as 800km of vary.

Automobiles on each platforms will use electrical motors which every produce between 150kW and 330kW of energy, which might imply 660kW dual-motor powertrains are on the menu.