Ram boss says we’ll be ‘surprised’ by new midsize pickup truck

The new model should rival the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger, although Ram’s boss hasn’t revealed which platform it will use

Ram is continuing development of a new pickup truck for the U.S. market that’s smaller than the full-size 1500, though it’s unclear when an official release will be made or what the final product will look like. Speculation has been rampant for years as compact and midsize trucks have grown in popularity as vehicles of choice for an ever-expanding lifestyle segment.

in a recent conversation Motor TrendRam CEO Chris Feuell confirmed that the new truck “will be coming to market.” But there are still questions about whether it will directly target the mid-size car market and compete head-on with established manufacturers such as the Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. Alternatively, Ram may be planning a smaller model, perhaps more in line with the modern Santa Cruz or Ford Maverick, if not in size then in terms of body platform. Either way, the truck is poised to take on a new role in the pickup segment.

Read: Ram’s China-made 1200 midsize pickup truck lands in Mexico, priced starting at $25,000

Feuell added fuel to the fire by teasing that “we’re going to be surprised” by the platform chosen for the new model, leaving plenty of room for speculation. Will it be smaller than traditional midsize competitors? It’s anyone’s guess, but it seems increasingly likely that Ram will move to something more compact.

New platform: unibody or body-on-frame?

While Ram didn’t reveal specific details, Feier did mention that a decision has already been made on the new truck’s platform. Motor Trend speculates that it may not be a body frame based on the STLA frame architecture, but may use one of Stellantis’ unibody platforms, such as STLA Large or even STLA Medium.

Production of the new model will likely be handled by the Belvedere Assembly Plant in Illinois, which was the production base for the Jeep Cherokee SUV but was idled in January 2023. As part of tense labor negotiations between the United Auto Workers and Stellantis last year, the two sides agreed that the plant would resume production in 2027. There is no confirmation yet on what vehicles will be produced here, but many sources indicate that a new pickup truck will be built.

Global coverage and powertrain options

What the Ram boss revealed is that the new truck could be sold globally, with a variety of powertrain options to suit different markets. Feuell added that more details about the new models will be announced next year.

Ram’s small products at a glance

Currently, Ram has sold two small pickup trucks in some global markets, including South America. The first is the compact Rampage, which shares the same small widebody unibody underpinnings as the Jeep Compass and Commander. The second is the mid-size 1200, which has a more traditional ladder-frame design and is essentially a rebadged version of the Fiat Titano and Peugeot Landtrek. Both are based on the Chinese Cathay F70 and Changan pickup trucks.