With General Motors, Nissan and Toyota representing a future shift to smaller trucks, a few new rumors have surfaced regarding the (possible) production of the 2017 Ram Dakota. Now, keep in mind: these are completely unsubstantiated rumors – at best. Nothing written here has been confirmed (or even alluded to) by FCA (FIAT Chrysler Automobiles).
With that being said, these two rumors come from a source who has predicted FCA, Ford and GM production changes with a fair degree of accuracy.
Rumor #1: The 2017 Ram Dakota (if it’s even called “Dakota”) will be based on the FIAT Doblo/Ram ProMaster City platform and will be front-wheel and/or all-wheel drive. It will replace the FIAT Strada pickup in other markets and it will have an optional, FIAT-sourced four-cylinder turbo-diesel.
This could be the realization of the “lifestyle” small truck mentioned by FCA in the past.
This is the more fantastic of the two main rumors. Still, there is something to be said for taking vans and converting part of the cargo area to an open pickup truck. This setup would allow FCA to use the same mechanical components used on the Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Renegade, Dodge Dart, Chrysler 200 and so on. That means: nine-speed automatic transmissions, Tigershark I4s and Pentastar V6s along with the AWD/4WD components that reside in the Jeep Cherokee.
This type of setup might allow for up to 1,800 lbs payload and around 4,500 lbs towing. This is a guess based on the ProMaster City’s maximum payload and the Jeep Cherokee maximum towing ability. Hell, this whole thing is based on speculation and rumor.
Still, it’s an intriguing possibility – right?
Rumor #2: With FIAT and Mitsubishi recently signing an agreement of cooperation, the 2017 Dodge Dakota could be based on the next generation Mitsubishi L200. Wouldn’t that be a kick? The last Mitsubishi pickup sold in North America was based on the Dodge Dakota. Interesting, no?
You can read about that aforementioned agreement (here).
This is the more logical of the two rumors and one that may make things uncomfortable for Nissan, Toyota, GM and Ford. That is to say, if FCA built this truck, it would undoubtedly have the excellent Pentastar V6, eight speed auto (hopefully with a six-speed manual option) and, quite possibly, one of FIAT’s beefy four-cylinder turbo-diesels.
Could you imagine that? The idea of something like this hitting the mainstream market right in the kisser gives me the honey-glow.
What do you guys think? Are you ready for a 2017 Ram Dakota? I am!
Check out the competition in this Colorado vs Tacoma vs Frontier video.
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