The New 2028 Ram Dakota Will Be Successful If… (TFL Truck Video)

[HolyToledo!]

AI summary:

Production & Confirmation

• Name Confirmed: Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis confirmed the truck will officially be called the Ram Dakota, citing the strong brand recognition the name still holds.
• Release Date: Production is scheduled to begin towards the end of 2027.
• Manufacturing: It will be built at the Toledo North Assembly Plant, the same facility that currently produces the Jeep Gladiator and Wrangler.

Design & Positioning

• Differentiation from Gladiator: To avoid cannibalizing Jeep Gladiator sales, the Dakota will not be a "reskinned Gladiator." It is expected to have a fixed roof and non-removable doors, making it a more traditional midsize pickup.
• Target Market: It is being designed as a direct competitor to the Ford Ranger, Chevy Colorado, and Toyota Tacoma. The goal is to offer a straightforward crew cab truck rather than a lifestyle convertible truck.
• Suspension: The hosts speculate it might feature an independent front suspension (IFS) rather than a solid front axle to offer better on-road refinement compared to the Gladiator.

Powertrain Speculation

• Engine Options: While the hosts dream of a V8, they believe the most likely volume engine will be the 2.0L Turbo "Hurricane" 4-cylinder, which currently produces around 324 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque in the Grand Cherokee.
• High-Performance Variant: There is speculation about a potential "Dakota RHO" or TRX-style trim featuring the 3.0L Hurricane Inline-6 engine (approx. 420–540 hp) to compete with the Ranger Raptor, though fitting the longer straight-six engine in a midsize engine bay could be an engineering challenge.

Trims & Pricing

• Work Truck Focus: Management has indicated a priority on affordability, suggesting a base "Tradesman" trim with simple steel wheels that could start around the $33,000–$34,000 mark to match the Tacoma.
• Off-Road Trims: The lineup will likely include a mix of trims such as Big Horn, Laramie, and an off-road focused Rebel or RHO model.

 

[WXman]

I have a terrible feeling they are going to screw up the new Dakota. Original Dakota did very well for Dodge because it subscribed to the idea of offering what the other guys didn't. More interior space, V8 engines, longer cargo beds, etc. etc. It separated itself in the marketplace. The new Dakota looks like it'll be cookie-cutter. Same size as the other guys, same dreadful 5' bed, same boring powertrains they're already putting in the other small 4x4s, etc. Heck, from a distance it even LOOKS like the other domestic trucks. So if it's all the same formula except with a Ram badge on it, what is going to push somebody into a Dakota?

I mean, I wouldn’t. If all the mid-size trucks are the same format, I’d go for one that’s been on sale for years and has a good track record already.

I’m just really worried Ram is going to screw this up. They’re showing up WAY late to the party with a 12-pack in hand when the other brands are already there with kegs. And then they’ll say, “See, people didn’t really want a Dakota.” Sigh....

My F-150 lease will be up at the time this Dakota is scheduled to come out and the Dakota is currently at the top of my list of potential next lease....but if they screw it up with a little 4-cyl turbo engine, 5 foot bed, and no second row legroom it'll be a hard pass for me.