Say hello to the all-new Ram 700 small unibody pickup, a rebadged second-generation Fiat Strada that will be sold in 14 Latin American markets, including Mexico.
Based on the Fiat Strada launched in April this year in Brazil and Argentina (where the Fiat brand is more popular), the 2021 Ram 700 is a classic case of badge engineering. It looks exactly like the Fiat inside and out, bar the badging and Ram-specific front grille.
As with the Strada, the new Ram 700 will be available in two body styles, single cab and double cab. In Mexico, the small pickup will offer three trim levels: the base SLT (available both as a regular cab or double cab), the mid-range Big Horn, and the range-topping Laramie. The Bighorn and Laramie will be offered exclusively as double cabs.
See Also: Ram 1000 Pickup Is A Rebadged Fiat Toro For Certain Latin American Markets
Inside, the Ram 700 looks identical with the Fiat Strada except the Ram badge in the center of the steering wheel. Depending on the trim level, the 2021 Ram 700 is equipped with a 7-inch touch screen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, LED headlights, speed limiter, backup camera, tire pressure monitoring system, and more.
From a practicality standpoint, the second-generation Ram 700 can haul a payload of up to 750 kg (1,653 kg) and tow up to 400 kg (882 lbs). The bed’s cargo volume varies between 691 liters (24.4 cu ft) in double cab guise and 1,143 liters (40.3 cu ft) for the regular cab model.
As with the Fiat Strada, the SLT and Big Horn models are powered by a 1.4-liter Fire Evo gasoline engine rated at 84 HP (85 PS) at 5,750 rpm and 118 Nm (87 lb-ft) at 3,500 rpm. The Ram 700 Laramie gets the more powerful 1.3-liter Firefly turbocharged engine that makes 98 HP (99 PS) and 128 Nm (94 lb-ft) of torque. A five-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive are standard on all models; there’s no available AWD system.
The new Ram 700 goes on sale across Latin America from November, with deliveries expected to begin in the first quarter of 2021. The small pickup will be built alongside its Fiat twin at FCA’s plant in Betim, Brazil.