What should we expect from the Dodge Dakota replacement, Ram REV's little brother?

What should we expect from the Dodge Dakota replacement, Ram REV's little brother?

The design of a new midsize pickup for the Ram brand could be locked in as soon as this month, and the truck could be on the road in a few years. For clues as to what to expect, look to the Ram Revolution fullsize electric pickup truck concept. We spoke with the truck's design leaders to figure out more details of what to expect for the hotly-anticipated potential Dakota replacement.

Ralph Gilles, Stellantis chief design officer, has created a number of different midsize truck concepts—he won't say how many. One of them was shown to about 6,000 Ram dealers recently and the reaction was overwhelmingly positive. The midsize truck preview was the finale of the dealer event in March it was a resounding success, says Ram brand CEO Mike Koval Jr. "We wanted [the dealers] walking out of the show pounding their chests saying, 'Dammit we are thrilled to be a Stellantis Ram dealer and the future is bright. '"

Ram REV Pickup Truck's Little Brother

Look for some of the design cues and features of the Ram Revolution fullsize electric truck concept to make their way into the smaller truck. In fact, the midsize pickup could get some of the features from the concept before the production 2025 Ram 1500 REV does. "It's gonna be cool. It's gonna have the presence of its big brother," Gilles says.

There are still a few competing themes in play, Gilles says. While it is good that dealers liked the one design they saw, it does not mean that is the one that will get the go-ahead. The designer says he has a clear personal favorite. "I love it. I am very excited about the one theme so far." He would not confirm that is the one that the dealers saw. But Koval is forthright: the truck the dealers saw is his favorite. "It's pretty awesome."

Using the dealers as a giant consumer clinic for feedback was a key step and now the hard work begins, Koval says. "Now I gotta go to work. Now I gotta do it," Koval says of proving the viability and getting the truck to market. But he welcomes the task. "I feel good about the direction we're heading." The brand chief says he can't give a timeframe yet, with much still to do. The earliest would be 2024 but even that might be a stretch, he says. "If I could do it tomorrow, I would do it tomorrow." Koval says.