These are the pickup trucks that many enthusiasts dream about, that manufacturers are not making, or at least taking a VERY long time to bring to market.
10. Chevy Silverado ZR2 / ZRX
The Ford F-150 Raptor has been on the market for over 10 years. The Ram TRX is now on sale as a true Raptor competitor. However, GM does not yet sell a full-size truck in the U.S. that competes directly against the Raptor or the TRX. Could the rumored Silverado 1500 ZR2 be the answer? Is there a possibility of a Silverado ZRX? We do not yet have official specifications or a confirmation that these Silverado (or Sierra) variants will soon start production.
The Silverado 1500 ZR2 is rumored to be here soon, and several camouflaged prototypes have been seen testing in public with what appears to be larger off-road tires than any current Silverado 1500 Trail Boss. Do these trucks have more powerful engine options, wide bodies, and long-travel suspension systems? Will the ZRX take it a step further with a supercharged V8 or another high-powered solution? We will have to wait a bit longer to find out.
9. Ram Dakota
If I had a nickel for every time we were asked about an upcoming Ram Dakota, I would be a very wealthy man. It’s been about 10 years since the Dodge Ram Dakota or Ram Dakota midsize truck was discontinued in the United States. Toyota and Nissan continued to sell their midsize trucks. GM, Ford, and Jeep all now have midsize truck entries in this market, but Ram does not.
Will the Dakota truck ever come back to the market? We still do not know this for sure. It may be unlikely that the Dakota comes back as a true midsize truck to compete against the likes of the Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, Chevy Colorado, and others. Will Ram bring a compact crossover pickup to the market as a Dakota to compete against the likes of the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz? This is also unknown at this time.
8. Ford Super Duty Raptor
If a big off-road truck is good, then an even bigger one is better, right? This is not always the case. While many of you have asked us about the possibility of a Super Duty Raptor, one actually being developed and produced is unlikely. The Ford Super Duty Tremor off-road truck is already on sale. This is a package that combines off-road capability with heavy-duty truck capacities. Ford appears to be successful with the SD Tremor, but taking it a step beyond that to an HD Raptor seems unlikely.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
7. Toyota Tundra TRD Pro+
Toyota truck fans have been asking for a version of a Tundra that would compete more directly against the Ford Raptor. This is a similar story to the one with the Silverado ZR2/ZRX. The current Tundra TRD Pro is capable and has a sophisticated suspension system, but it’s still not a Ford Raptor or a Ram TRX competitor.
Will the next-generation 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro bring even higher levels of power and off-road capability? The rumor is that a twin-turbo V6 gas/electric hybrid is coming. The new Tundra TRD Pro may have larger tires and a next-level suspension system. However we still do not know these specs for sure.
6. Nissan Titan Warrior
This is another one of those long-awaited truck variants. The Titan Warrior concept truck was first shown over five years ago. The concept had most if not all of the ingredients of a Ford Raptor fighter. An off-road truck with a wide body, long-travel suspension, and a powerful engine. The Warrior concept was well-received, but it has not seen the light of day as a production truck.
Will a Nissan Titan Warrior truck ever reach production? This seems unlikely at this time, as Titan truck sales continue to struggle in the U.S.
5. Honda Ridgeline Type R
We have seen the Ridgeline Type R question come up before, but the Type R designation does not seem to fit. We agree that Honda should produce a Ridgeline pickup that has a more off-road capable suspension system than what is currently available on the Ridgeline HPD. This next-level truck would be very cool, but Honda’s Type R moniker does not fit. The Type R name usually refers to a high-performance street or track car.
If Honda goes for a next-level off-road version of the Ridgeline, it may have another designation. It may be called Trail Sport. We do not have any official work from Honda that this is in the works, but we hope they consider it.
4. Ram TRX Redeye
If a 702 horsepower truck is great, then an even more powerful truck is better! Who needs a pickup truck with more power than the TRX currently offers? Of course, it’s not a matter of “need”, but “want”. We are all expecting a 2022 Ford Raptor R to come out next year. We still do not officially know the Raptor R specifications. If Ford offers a supercharged V8 in the Raptor R that has more than 702 horsepower – then Ram may just be forced to offer a more powerful or more extreme version of the TRX. Enter the TRX Redeye or another version of the TRX. We do not know what Ram may call such a truck.
In the world with a 1,000 horsepower GMC Hummer EV truck that claims a 3.0-second 0-60 MPH acceleration – an 792+ horsepower TRX is not out of the question.
3. Jeep Gladiator 4xe or Magneto
Electrification will continue to play a bigger role in the truck market. Jeep already said that they intend to offer their 4xe plug-in hybrid powertrains in more Jeep models. This type of gas/electric power may offer several benefits (and drawbacks). The benefits include higher power output, lower emissions, improved efficiency, and silent all-electric off-road driving. The challenges include a much higher curb weight, more complexity, potentially lower towing and/or payload ratings.
The Jeep Wrangler Magneto concept was relatively well-received. Many consumers are getting excited about the upcoming Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, GMC Hummer, and others. Jeep fans are bringing up this question. Will Jeep (or Ram) offer an all-electric pickup truck option in the near future? This is still an unknown, although a Gladiator 4xe is not farfetched.
2. Hyundai Santa Cruz N
The Hyundai Santa Cruz made its world debut to much fanfare. It’s a crossover pickup truck that is creating a new market segment. The Ford Maverick is now joining this segment with its own take of what a mini-pickup should be. Pickup truck fans always want more! This is where the Santa Cruz N comes in. Actually, (similarly to the Honda Type R) the Hyundai N designation is meant a street-oriented high-performance model.
Since the Ford Maverick will offer an FX4 off-road model, will Hyundai offer a more off-road capable version of the Santa Cruz? This is possible, but it may be called something like ‘Santa Cruz X’. This is simply my opinion at this time.
1. Ford F-150 Lightning Raptor
What’s next for the Ford Raptor after the 3rd-generation 2021 Raptor and 2022 Raptor R arrive? However about electrifying Ford’s most off-road capable F-150? Hence the “Lightning Raptor” concept. We know pretty much every 2022 F-150 Lightning specification, and it does not offer a lot of ground clearance or very aggressive off-road tires. The Raptor-like version may be the next step in this progression.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
Bonus: Ford Maverick Raptor or Ford Bronco Truck
Speaking of off-road trucks from Ford. Which off-road pickup would you like to see more: a Ford Maverick Raptor (Maverick Tremor) or a Ford Bronco Truck? Personally, I would like to see a Bronco Truck. Actually, I think this is very realistic. Ford is very serious about the Bronco family of vehicles. The compact Bronco Sport is already on sale. It is already a sales success. The midsize Ford Bronco 2-door and 4-door are starting to reach customers now. Why not offer a Bronco Truck a couple of years down the line. The 2021 Bronco is already being built on the same production line as the Ford Ranger. Will a Bronco truck cannibalize Ranger sales? Not significantly if the Bronco Truck had a removable/convertible top and a higher price range (like the current Jeep Gladiator).
