Ram has teased its new mid-sized ute for Brazil, developed by its team there in conjunction with their North American counterparts.
It’s rumoured to dust off the Rampage nameplate, last seen on a two-door Dodge ute produced from 1982 to 1984 derived from the Omni O24 coupe.
Like that Dodge ute, the new model is also expected to feature unibody underpinnings, in this case the Small-Wide 4×4 architecture.
This is used by the Jeep Compass and its three-row Commander sibling, as well as the Brazilian Fiat Toro ute which is sold as the Ram 1000 in some markets.
Brazilian publication Autos Segredos reports the Rampage will share a great deal with the Jeep Commander, including its front doors, A-pillars and windscreen, but will feature retuned suspension while drawing design inspiration from the large Ram 1500.
As the teaser video reveals, the headlights and tail lights resemble those of the 1500, as does the creased bonnet.
The Rampage will also reportedly be offered in familiar Laramie, Rebel and Longhorn trims, plus a Night Edition.
Engines will reportedly consist of a 127kW 2.0-litre turbo-diesel and a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol.
Both engines will reportedly be mated with a nine-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive, while Autos Segredos reports a 2.4-litre turbo-diesel will arrive later.
Ram Rampage protoype
The Rampage is expected to be close in size to the body-on-frame Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger. This means it’s likely to be larger than the Ram 1000 and Ram 700, the latter of these being a rebadged version of the Fiat Strada ute.
It’s unclear whether the Rampage will be exported beyond Latin America at this stage or if it’ll remain a regional model.
Since being spun off from the Dodge brand in 2010, Ram has sold only one pickup smaller than the 1500 in North America: the Dakota, a rebadged Dodge Dakota that was only offered until 2011.
Elsewhere, Ram sold a rebadged Fiat Fullback, itself a lightly restyled Mitsubishi Triton, from 2016 to 2019 in the Middle East and Africa.
Ram has confirmed it’s working on an electric mid-sized ute in the US, possibly resurrecting the Dakota nameplate, which it has shown to dealers there.
The company has confirmed it has been designed with international and right-hand drive markets in mind, meaning it will more than likely make its way to Australia.
Dodge Rampage
As reported by Automotive News, this Ram mid-sized electric pickup concept is said to look similar to the 1500 Revolution concept that was revealed at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January.
Last year Stellantis teased in wireframe a new mid-sized electric pickup among a fleet of vehicles on the new STLA Large platform for the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram brands.
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MORE: Ram’s Ford Ranger-sized ute spied with less camouflage
