We’re One Step Closer to the Future Ram Dakota

So, when will we see the return of a midsize pickup at FCA? There were plenty of rumours floating around when the automaker finally promised the vehicle in its 2018-2022 plan. Now, all signs point to a market launch sometime in 2021.

And just last week, FCA filed a trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the “Dakota” name.

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As you surely remember, that’s what Chrysler called its Dodge-branded midsize pickup up until 2010. The low-selling model was later dropped after a brief stint under the Ram badge.

In recent years, however, midsize pickups have made a comeback and regained quite a bit of popularity, starting with the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, then the Ford Ranger and of course the Jeep Gladiator.

The Ram Dakota is expected to rise from the ashes next year sharing its architecture with the Gladiator, but offering more than just one cab and bed size in order to attract more customers, mainly those who want a vehicle for work instead of an off-road toy.

Naturally, the base price will be lower (a common complaint in the case of the Jeep), styling will be more conventional and a turbocharged four-cylinder engine might even join the existing gasoline and diesel V6s.

But let’s not get too ahead of ourselves, here. We know that FCA is working on a new midsize pickup (camouflaged prototypes that look very different from the Gladiator have been spotted testing around Detroit) and that’s all that matters.