The all-new Ram Rampage that appeared in teasers earlier this week might be primarily destined for South America, but a new report suggests it will also be offered in the US market, to bring some heat to the popular Ford Maverick.
Despite the rumors and the presence of the American flag on its LED taillights, Ram has not officially announced any plans to offer the Rampage outside of South America. Camouflaged prototypes of the Rampage have been spotted testing in Colorado, although this doesn’t necessarily indicate anything regarding its potential availability in other regions.
According to The Drive, a source described as a “well-sourced informant with inside knowledge of Stellantis plans” claims that the Rampage will indeed be introduced in the United States, with a potential debut scheduled for later this year. In this case, it is highly likely that the vehicle will be available in Canada too, although that has not been explicitly mentioned. However, when we contacted Ram for comment, their representative declined to provide any information regarding the report.
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It is no secret that Ram is actively considering offering a small truck in the US market. After all, the intention was communicated by its former CEO, Mike Koval, last fall. While we don’t know if the new CEO, Tim Kuniskis, is on the same page, it sounds like a logical next step, judging from the sales success of the Ford Maverick.
The problem with the Ram Rampage is that it will be built in Brazil, making it a possible victim of the 25% Chicken Tax for light truck imports, something that could only be avoided if Stellantis expands production to another plant. The Autopian mentions the Toluca Assembly in Mexico as a possible candidate for the Ram Rampage to share the production line with the mechanically-related Jeep Compass.
The Ram Rampage shares its Small Wide unibody platform with the Jeep Compass, the Alfa Romeo Tonale, and the Dodge Hornet. This means that besides the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder Hurricane engine that has already been confirmed in South America, it is also compatible with the plug-in hybrid powertrain producing up to 285 hp (212 kW / 289 PS) and 347 lb-ft (470 Nm) of torque in the Italian-American SUV duo. There are also reports about a 2.2-liter turbodiesel being under consideration.
It is worth noting that Ram is also working on a fully electric midsize pickup for the US, having already shown it to dealers. If all these plans come to fruition, it would mark a significant expansion of Ram’s lineup, which currently focuses primarily on full-size trucks, catering to a much broader audience than it does now.
