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Ram’s Upcoming Midsize Pickup Will Be Body-On-Frame

Ram’s Upcoming Midsize Pickup Will Be Body-On-Frame​

No Unibody Here—Ram’s New Truck Targets Real Truck Buyers​


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After years of speculation, Ram is finally getting back into the midsize pickup game. And here’s the kicker—it’s going body-on-frame, not unibody like some expected.

 
Did you just say 2027? Seriously, 2 more years!!! If Stellantis did not have any mid/small pickups out there, I would say okay let’s suck it up and wait. They have 3 that have been out for years one of which is very successful. How hard would it be in this billion dollar auto company to bring that tech and design here and have it ready in 12-18 months?
 
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Did you just say 2027? Seriously, 2 more years!!! If Stellantis did not have any mid/small pickups out there, I would say okay let’s suck it up and wait. They have 3 that have been out for years one of which is very successful. How hard would it be in this billion dollar auto company to bring that tech and design here and have it ready in 12-18 months?

We are already getting into 2026
 
Cool. Build it at Toledo South with a gen2 Gladiator and build affordable STLA Small and STLA Medium (including Compass, gen2 Hornet, and Rampage) vehicles for the U.S. market at Belvidere. Let Brampton build vehicles for Canada and other markets outside the U.S. (tariffs).
 
I thought if anyone would do a regular cab short bed truck, it would have been Dodge/Ram.
But alas, it doesn't seem so.
:(
 
We are already getting into 2026
Bob, I understand that the 2026 models will be out soon , if not already. But the article says “And we now know that it will be built at the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois, starting in 2027”. Key word starting. So that is 2 years out, which it will be a late 2027 or early 2028 model. I really do hope you mean a 2027 model which we will see some time next year at this time. As much as I trust Tim, I don’t see the truck on lots until 3rd or 4th qtr of 2027. Two years out.
BTW, I totally respect you and this site, but based on Stellantis past, not holding high hopes at this time.
 
What’s the degree of certainty that we will see 2027? How many times have we been told this same story? Once again, count me in the doubters corner. I’ll believe it when I see one pass me on the street in 2027.
 
Bob, I understand that the 2026 models will be out soon , if not already. But the article says “And we now know that it will be built at the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois, starting in 2027”. Key word starting. So that is 2 years out, which it will be a late 2027 or early 2028 model. I really do hope you mean a 2027 model which we will see some time next year at this time. As much as I trust Tim, I don’t see the truck on lots until 3rd or 4th qtr of 2027. Two years out.
BTW, I totally respect you and this site, but based on Stellantis past, not holding high hopes at this time.

Correct they still got a lot of testing to do... whole point is, it seems like a long time away, but time flies when you are having fun.
 
These companies have lost their minds. This is an affordable option to a full size RAM? A smaller, less capable truck that's just a few thousand less. Get out of here with that. A reckoning is coming in the automobile industry that has only just started.
 
so instead of something different they are going head to head in the most crowded part of the market. Hmmmm error will robinson error.
 
I think it’s a great idea to finally get a smaller truck to market, but not everyone wants or needs a crew cab, it would make more sence to me to bring out different cab and bed lengths than make a Santa Cruz sized truck. Everyone knows that a reg cab short box or a 6.5 foot box would work for a lot of people.

It would be nice with a straight six 420/469 power on reg gas.
 
Sorry, but this seems like a misstep, try leading the industry in pricing vehicles reasonably, not trying to make your shareholders rich with every sale, thats what's wrong with the car industry, capitalism made great competition and great innovative vehicles, now it's turned to greed and only making the most profitable vehicles and scrapping what everyone else could afford or want. The industry is killing itself and blaming everyone else
 
Let’s hope it’s worth the wait. Shocked it will be a frame truck and built in Belvedere since it will not have other vehicles to build along side it. Toledo seems better to me. The wait seems torturous.
 
Its is s error because the less competitive but lucrative market and growing portion of the market is Unibody Pickups. Ridgeline, Santa Cruz, and Maverick...

Instead just a slightly less on the cost structure then 1500, BOF, where you have absolute great vehicles. Tacoma, Ranger, Colorado, Canyon, Frontier, and on the same lot Gladiator.

Nothing like being late to party, and hardly any room to dance. Just build the Rampage with a NA specific powertrain, and please offer it.
 
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Body on frame seems right to me for a mid size truck. It is a little more costly but it affords a lot more capability for things that trucks need to do. Hopefully, they add the Rampage to the North American market which is a unibody, smaller truck. Then everyone can be happy. I'd love to see the inline 6 in the new mid size truck.
As far as pricing, they need to sell a lot to recoup the cost of this investment. They need a base/enty model as well as a Laramie and maybe even a Tungsten model. Some people want capability and luxury in their trucks. And there's more profit in the higher end models. I'm trusting Ram is not going to disappoint us on this. I've owned 2 Dakota's in the past and they were good trucks. I could tow and haul about as much as a full size half ton truck and it was a less expensive truck.
 
Its is s error because the less competitive but lucrative market and growing portion of the market is Unibody Pickups. Ridgeline, Santa Cruz, and Maverick...

Instead just a slightly less on the cost structure BOF where you have absolute great vehicles. Tacoma, Ranger, Colorado, Canyon, Frontier, and on the same lot Gladiator.

Nothing like being late to party, and hardly any room to dance. Just build the Rampage with a NA specific powertrain, and please offer it.
I’m confused on this decision too and agree on the Rampage as a viable product maybe as a Dakota alternative regardless of the Dakota decision here.. I’m sure we will get some logic on this decision and I have faith in Tim’s decision making, but there are so many unanswered questions, including for me, manufacturing location, that I agree with you tentatively, but with more information, everyone might see the logic. Until then I remain deeply befuddled. No surprise there.
 
Body on frame seems right to me for a mid size truck. It is a little more costly but it affords a lot more capability for things that trucks need to do. Hopefully, they add the Rampage to the North American market which is a unibody, smaller truck. Then everyone can be happy. I'd love to see the inline 6 in the new mid size truck.
As far as pricing, they need to sell a lot to recoup the cost of this investment. They need a base/entry model as well as a Laramie and maybe even a Tungsten model. Some people want capability and luxury in their trucks. And there's more profit in the higher end models. I'm trusting Ram is not going to disappoint us on this. I've owned 2 Dakota's in the past and they were good trucks. I could tow and haul about as much as a full size half ton truck and it was a less expensive truck.
I understand that we are partisans here, that people here who want a Tacoma or Ranger sized vehicle will buy it because it is a Mopar sized Vehicle, and STLA will pray to god they didn't just move there customers to less well margined vehicles. So the next sales is less margin, Unless the intent is to replace the "Ram Classic" Capacity and buyers as mentioned.

But what is the market to bring people away from the 6 other well established competitors. Originally the Dakota was a tweener until everyone came towards it and it crowded the 1500. Ford found a spot back in the area that was vacated.

Short question beyond loyalty what is the pitch? If it price.... cost don't care about price.... what is the ROI? I guess this complex question for here, where is the sub 40 coming from in the cost structure. Just Materials? impossible. Content? simplicity? or just taking less margin?

I too want them to have all the above. Rampage, Basically JGC Ram pickup, and BOF mid.... but if I am picking 2 or 3 it the first 2.
 
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