Tim Kuniskis ought to be lounging his manner via retirement proper now. It was in Could 2024 when he left the corporate he had served for 32 years after too many arguments along with his outdated boss, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares. However when Tavares resigned a yr in the past, Kuniskis was satisfied to reclaim his outdated job as Ram CEO, and he is been failing badly at retirement ever since.
Ram Would possibly Shock Everybody With Its New Midsize Pickup
Ram’s CEO confirms {that a} new, midsize truck is coming. Manufacturing may start as quickly as 2027.
Anticipate New Dakota In 2027
That is as a result of he spent 2025 “placing the band again collectively” by relaunching the beloved 5.7-liter Hemi V-8, prioritizing extended-range powertrains over battery-electric, increasing warranties, and main a rejuvenated Ram truck model and product-development crew to reclaim floor misplaced to cross-town rivals within the full-size truck and business automobile sector.
Kuniskis spoke with automotive media in Detroit this week to share product information coming in 2026 (extra on that in coming weeks), and he introduced that certainly the Dakota identify is being resurrected for the brand new Ram midsize pickup truck that can doubtless arrive in 2027 as a 2028 mannequin. Mopar Insiders reviews the truck shall be in-built Toledo, Ohio.
Ram Wants Truck For $40,000, Or Much less
Kuniskis instructed media that Ram actually wants a truck within the $40,000 value vary, and that calling it Dakota is a no brainer. However does the identify Ram Dakota roll off the tongue as simply as Dodge Dakota, which left the market after the 2011 mannequin yr?
It is attention-grabbing that Kuniskis particularly known as out the $40,000 value level as a result of a full-size 2026 Ram 1500 Tradesman will be had for about $43,000. The smaller new Dakota ought to do battle with the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger, which will be had for round $33,000, to begin. Maybe his $40,000 reference is to common transaction costs, fairly than base, for midsize vans.
“The one manner we’ll ever get again to the $40,000 value level is that if Ram brings midsize vans,” he instructed journalists. “And also you all heard the announcement that Antonio [Filosa, Stellantis CEO] made. He mentioned we’re investing $13 billion within the U.S. One of many issues we’re investing in is to deliver a midsize truck… Yeah, it will likely be known as Dakota.”
2026 Ram 1500 REV Rolls First
However the brand new Dakota will come after the full-size extended-range 2026 Ram 1500 REV pickup reaches showrooms in 2026, with 150 miles of EV vary. You may recall this truck was initially going to be known as Ramcharger, whereas the battery-electric full-size Ram was going to be known as the REV.
Truck customers will want a scorecard to maintain these names straight, however the REV identify is now hooked up to the extended-range pickup, which is lengthy overdue, having been introduced two years in the past.
‘We Have been Untimely’
A journalist requested Kuniskis why the battery-electric Ram pickup was killed off fully when there are nonetheless customers (granted, a smaller quantity) who need an EV pickup.
“The truck purchaser was not fairly prepared for a totally battery-electric truck,” Kuniskis mentioned, citing the lagging infrastructure, cost instances, chilly climate influence, and restricted towing. However he is satisfied absolutely electrical vans are coming. “Let’s be sincere — we had been untimely.”
150 Miles of EV Vary, 690 Whole
He mentioned the most effective answer — and a bridge to full electrification — is a range-extended pickup just like the REV. It has “all some great benefits of being an electrical automobile — instantaneous torque, clean, all of that — however not one of the draw back… It has 650 horsepower, 690 miles of vary, 14,000 kilos of towing. The factor’s an absolute beast, and I’ve it at a decrease construct price than the total battery-electric.”
Kuniskis mentioned he is satisfied a truck just like the REV will “make buyer (EV) adoption go up quicker than attempting to pressure full electrification on them.” And with out naming Ford, he took observe of one other automaker saying this week “they’re doing the identical factor” with a range-extended model of the F-150 Lightning pickup, rather than the EV.
Might There Be A Higher Title For EREV Ram SUV?
1999 Dodge Ramcharger
As for the Ramcharger identify, nicely, does not it make sense to place that on maybe a three-row SUV that might be part of the Ram lineup, particularly one that will have an extended-range powertrain just like the REV pickup? Is there a greater identify for an SUV that might run a sure variety of miles on electrical energy solely, straight from the plug, whereas the gasoline engine (doubtless Pentastar V-6) would generate all of the vary one may want for a highway journey?
Reviving The Ramcharger Title
1974 Dodge Ramcharger
That three-row SUV may come as early as 2026, which aligns neatly with the launch timing for the 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. That full-size SUV will arrive subsequent yr — Jeep is not saying precisely when — however they’re calling it America’s first range-extended SUV.
Jeep additionally is not prepared but to say what number of all-electric miles this Grand Wagoneer can drive, however we all know it is powered by a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 powering the onboard 130-kW generator to gasoline a large liquid-cooled 92-kWh battery pack to energy the motors turning the wheels.
The New Hybrid Expertise No person Understands
What’s an “extended-range” EV? We’ll clarify. And likewise let you know why it is doubtless that Scout, Volkswagen, and Hyundai will promote them.
STLA Massive Platform Below All
Underpinning the 2026 Grand Wagoneer is Stellantis’ new body-on-frame STLA Massive platform, and it makes excellent sense that it could additionally help the Ramcharger SUV and the Ram REV pickup — all-three with the identical V-6-powered range-extended powertrain, for these of you preserving rating on what’s to come back from Ram, in addition to Jeep.
Supply: Ram/Jeep
