Rumor Has it There’s a Ram 1200 In the Works
It’s not far-fetched to say that the automotive world is fueled by brand new rumors every single day, and when it comes to Ram Trucks this is no different. Rumbles from sunny Brazil claim there’s a Ram 1200 model in the world coming to battle Ford for midsize pickup supremacy. Antonio Filosa, president of Stellantis South America, confirmed to a Brazilian outlet that the Ram 1200 is destined for the US. Initially planned for the South American market (and destined to be assembled in Brazil), the Ram 1200 is headed our way to battle the Ford Maverick. Filosa told the publication these key words “the pickup will also be sold in the American market to face the Ford Maverick. If true, this would mean an addition to the Ram Trucks lineup overall, with a special focus in the midsize pickup segment where the brand currently has no footing.
Additional details are scarce on what the midsize pickup will look like as it caters to the American market, but sister brand Jeep currently occupies a space in the same segment with its Gladiator model. The upcoming offering from Ram could very well borrow design cues from the Gladiator, especially when it comes to the powertrain. Some believe the rumored Ram 1200 could instead borrow from the Stellantis Small Wide 4×4 platform that currently underpins models such as the Jeep Renegade and Alfa Romeo Tonale.
The underpinning architecture will be resized in Brazil to suit a “medium-sized pickup” to compete directly with the likes of the Chevrolet S10 (the model remains in production in Brazil), Toyota Hilux, and the Ford Ranger. In the US the Ram 1200 will likely be better suited to battle in a growing class, that of compact pickup trucks—a class currently dominated by the all-new Ford Maverick.
“In the US, there are plans for the Ram 1200 to have a chassis-mounted version,” said Filosa. While this detail is a little murky and likely obfuscated by a poor translation, filosa could be referring to a midsized Ram unibody pickup destined for Brazil, while a compact body-on-frame pickup is what’s destined to land stateside instead. Some common traits between the two variants of the Ram 1200 include four-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic transmission, helping Eam break into a segment it’s long ignored. Engine options may range from a 2.0-liter Tigershark engine or a larger 2.2-liter Multijet turbo Diesel engine—two engines currently unavailable in the US. Others believe there will be a 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbo Diesel engine under the hood, but as it stands Stellantis doesn’t currently have any engines with that displacement among its portfolio.
If this comes to fruition, Ram will not only expand its lineup, it’ll also enter into a segment that’s sorely missing its presence. In the past, the rumor mill churned with hopes that the Dakota nameplate would return. Regardless, it’s safe to assume the truck maker will eventually offer a pickup that slots below its entry-level Ram 1500.
In the meantime, explore the current Ram Trucks lineup here at University Dodge. Be sure to follow University Dodge on social media to stay up to date with the latest Ram Truck news and offers.
Photo Source/Copyright: Stellantis Brazil