The Ram Dakota truck from the 1980s is coming back to the markets of Argentina, where Stellantis will be producing it, and the neighboring Brazil. It rides on a Changan diesel platform sourced from China and has a Warlock package for some extra off-road performance.
You may have seen the same platform used in the latest Fiat Titano and Peugeot Landtrek, as well as Changan’s own Hunter Plus truck. To stand out from the clone crowd, the Dakota gets a unique front fascia and a more upscale interior trim complete with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and surround-view cameras. That’s about it for the noteworthy differences, though.
Opting for the Warlock upgrade gets you special 17-inch wheels shod in mud tires, new running boards and a sport bar over the bed. The bed itself is rated for 1,200 liters (42.38 cubic feet) of cargo and 1,000 kilograms (2,205 lbs). The pickup spans 5,028 mm (196.4 inches) nose to tailgate and is poised to compete against the local Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux.
For the time being, the only available powertrain features a 2.2-liter Multijet turbo diesel linked with an eight-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system. The output amounts to 200 PS (198 hp / 148 kW) and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) of torque. The rear axle has a diff lock on it, and drivers can choose from four available presets for challenging conditions like snow or sand.
Ram says it has no plans to offer the new Dakota in the United States. At the same time, its parent Stellantis Group has been investing in the development of a completely new mid-size truck for North America and the rest of the world. We suppose it could debut under Ram branding.
