- It’s unclear if the truck will be a body-on-frame vehicle or if it will use a unibody architecture.
- Production should be handled by the automaker’s idled Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois.
- Ram already sells the compact Rampage and midsize 1200 in South America.
Ram is continuing development on a new, smaller pickup than the full-size 1500 for the U.S. market, though it remains unclear when the official reveal will take place or what the final product will look like. Speculation has been rampant for years, fueled by the growing popularity of compact and mid-size trucks as the go-to vehicles for an ever-expanding lifestyle segment.
In a recent conversation with Motor Trend, Ram CEO Chris Feuell confirmed that the new truck “will be brought to market.” But questions remain as to whether it will directly target the mid-size segment, competing head-to-head with established players like the Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado, and GMC Canyon. Alternatively, Ram could be planning something smaller, perhaps more in line with the Hyundai Santa Cruz or Ford Maverick, if not in size, in terms of unidbody platform. Either way, the truck is poised to take on a new role in the pickup landscape.
Read: Ram’s Chinese-Made 1200 Mid-Size Pickup Lands In Mexico From $25K
Feuell added fuel to the fire by teasing that “we will be surprised” by the platform chosen for the new model, leaving plenty of room for speculation. Could it be smaller than the traditional mid-size contenders? It’s anyone’s guess, but Ram’s move toward something more compact seems increasingly likely.
A New Platform: Unibody Or Body-on-Frame?
While Ram hasn’t revealed specifics, Feuell did mention that a decision has been made on the platform for the new truck. Motor Trend speculates it may not be a body-on-frame based around the STLA Frame architecture and could instead have one of Stellantis’ unibody platforms, like STLA Large or even STLA Medium.
Production of the new model will likely be handled by the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois, which had previously been the home of the Jeep Cherokee SUV but was idled in January 2023. As part of tense labor negotiations between the United Auto Workers union and Stellantis late last year, it was agreed this plant would come back online in 2027. No confirmation has been given about what vehicle, or vehicles, will be built here, but many sources point towards a new pickup.
Global Reach and Powertrain Options
What the boss of Ram did reveal is that the new truck could be offered globally, with a variety of powertrain options to suit different markets. Feuell added that more details about the new model will be announced next year.
A Glimpse at Ram’s Smaller Offerings
For the time being, Ram already sells two smaller pickup trucks in select global markets, including South America. The first is the compact Rampage, which has the same Small Wide unibody underpinnings as the Jeep Compass and Commander. The second is the mid-size 1200, which uses 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 Kaicene F70 and Changan pickups.
