Aside from the back doors on this thing it doesn’t look bad. That being said, if they bring this to market, they best not make the same mistake that Honda did. Make sure the spare tire is accessible from under the truck rather than in a compartment that you have to get through bed. Nothing worse than getting a flat tire on the way to the dump with a load of garbage to discover that you have to unload everything to get to your spare tire.

Dakota wants to grow up and be like Ridgeline. ok.

That would be really cool… that Dakota concept that they showed off last year (or maybe it was the year before that) looked great and also very practical.

All the small and mid-size trucks that Detroit makes need to get redesigned badly – The Ranger is older than dirt and the Colorado has not aged well. The Dakota I think has gotten actually worse over the years and needs to get redone sooner rather than later. If there were better offerings in the small-truck market, maybe there wouldn’t be so many full-size trucks sucking down gas and clogging the highways.

Just better keep the price well below the daddy ram truck if it wants to sell and keep the MPG up.

Growing up with the Ridgeline as a role model is like growing up with Louie Anderson as a role model.

i hope they make a uni-body Dakota, as long as it is done well. Not look like crap like the Honda Ridgeline
the current Dakota is almost as big as the ram coast more pull similar and get similar gas mileage. i love the original Dakota size and style.

the new Dakota should aim to look like a truck, but get 25+ mpg on the highway. and tow a more and carry more in the bed then the Honda Ridgeline but offer multiple engines, a fuel efficient 2.4 turbo or the 3.0L Pentestar and the 3.6 Pentestar and the 5.7L Hemi as a top of the line sports truck engine (but still get 23 at least highway.)

also make sure it can hold a fair amount of plywood and sheet rock in the back.

In my experience with smaller trucks, I have never seen any better fuel economy in the Ranger vs F150, the old S10 vs the SIlverado, or a Dakota vs Ram. The only advantage the smaller trucks really have is they fit into more parkades than full size trucks. But that is just my thought on it.

If designed and built right it could be a hit for dodge/chrysler.
The problem with the ridgeline, which ajm11 touched upon, is that it has too much of a unibody “car” influence in it rather than a truck. The Ridgeline and concepts like Rampage and A-Bat are meant to be mid size trucks, decent for untility but not great for heavy duty work like snowplowing heavy hawling. The Denali XT had more of a car influence, or more along the lines of the el camino… just my $0.02

i agree with you ajm11 that why if they can make one that dose get good fuel economy and still do descent work the average not heavy duty trucker need it could be successful for people who only need to do moderate hauling some times.

its all italian bull**** ,it will never happen, how do you say bamboozzled in italian ,stupido

I don’t know. How do you say ‘axe to grind’ in troll?

Ok now I wanna know what other concept cars they are gonna model their new products after… 99 charger, rampage, what else u got in there Chrysler?

Daridgekodaline!

lln neglected to say that this is a conept truck from 2006 they were originally gonna call the rampage, but they decided against making it awhile ago. The cool thing about this pickup is that the rear seats are foldable so you can extend something in the bed to the inside of the car if you need alittle extra space

It looks good IMO. It reminds me of Ridgeline, but this one is better.

Except for the front end that seems a little dated, this is a pretty neat looking pickup. The proportions are really working, keeping it fresh and style-relevant.

Look at that tough stance.

I like it, but the back doors seem a little gimmicky. However, it seems that it would be easier to ge in and out of the back seat that way. I noticed storage areas in the rear floor and on the passenger side. Nice. It’s better looking than the new Charger that will come out. God I hope they don’t make that car.

Like the Denali XT (Canceled. Thanks lots GM. Jack@$$es.), I thought the Rampage was a good idea EXCEPT, here, for the Hemi-powered FWD layout. NO truck BoF or Unibody with the RAM name on it should be FWD at base. RWD and AWD ONLY!

I also liked their RAM Maxx-Cab Concept. The Rampage seems a more likely and likable design… Just RWD at Base please!

chryslercurse – in Italian it would be “ti hanno fregatto” or you’ve been screwed.

Rampage was pretty badass
Go for it!

Can’t get any worse than Dakoter
DrFill

This is a pretty good idea for the most part. I hope they keep the Dakota nameplate. It will be successful if it can haul decent and put out 24+ mpg.

-Fan of the Automobile (formely known as iluvamcars)

this kinda reminds me of that GMC concept truck!

Wow love the front look of this thing. Makes the Dakota look as bad as it actually does…

I like the interior. It’s very different, and I think it would be pretty nice. The door mounted arm rests being able to fold is nifty.

Hmmm, interior looks nice, except for the steering wheel and side profile looks like the current Tundra. Could be a real hit if Chrysler plays their cards right.

Call it the Ram Rampage!
LOL
DrFill

Gee Doc, maybe we should call you Gay Gayerson after that boner.

I really like the look of the Rampage, if done correctly, could be a nice product for Chrysler/Dodge.

i lied the rampage but i think it too big or at least that how i remember it when i saw it in person. it had some good ideas i would hope the new dodge Dakota was close in size to the original.

if done correctly it could be huge hit but any mistakes could make it a huge failure.

I can always count on a joke getting lost on you, Johnny
Rumors of your arrival have been greatly exaggerated
DrFill

That car looks rad…much cooler than RidgeLine. Too bad dodge has a habit of neutering their concepts…except maybe the Challenger ! follow its example Chrysler !

Rampage Rocks. Not sure why the auto industry shies away from uni-body trucks. This is cool

As long as it looks like a Dakota and not the ugly Ridgeline. And as long as it is fuel efficient, unlike the Ridegeline. And as long as it is still usefull, unlike the Ridgeline.

YIKES! Dodge just needs to quit making cars, period
V.A.G——V.A.G——V.A.G

Not bad at all! Clean crisp lines and good looking!

Build it. Its not a bad looking truck.

I thought they would have went with a shortened Ram 1500 chassis to build the next Dakota.

I have seen the original concept Rampage and it was a hit with the crowd. I have owned two Dakota’s, one six one V-8 and they were both outstanding vehicles. The third generation had that “Nazi”, look to it , Daimler’s idea of attractive, bought a Ram. This would work, but I would rather have conventional doors with a “B” Pillar and the new Ram Grille and Bumper design. Marchionne is a marketing whiz so I feel this may be built with Fiat’s Diesel expertise, a Winner!

Well, Dodge was already and also-ran in the segment, so Iguess they don’t mind losing another chunk of the midsize market. I mean really, are they banking on there being a long list of people who would have bought Ridgelines if it weren’t for detail problems (spare tire, etc). No! People in America hate the Ridgeline because it’s a unibody, it’s got a transverse mounted engine, and it screams suburban yuppie Home Depot machine. While a lot of American males who buy trucks are just that, they don’t want to project that image. That being said, I believe any unibody midsize truck will follow the same path to irrelevence. Unibody pickups don’t project the same image unibody SUVs do.

Dodge has the LH Platform which has a longitudinally mounted engine. but that’s outdated. they could use the Grand Cherokee platform for it though.

What’s good for General motors is good for America

i.e. firing NMOFGM is good for America. I can agree with that one.

Unibody is the future for anyone that does not need extreme towing. The packaging benefits and structural rigidity are far superior to BOF – sign me up.

The Ridgeline does not sell because it is ugly. Period.

Good job Dodge.

Making vehicles like this the “Ram Division” won’t be around very long at all. You can’t make a unibody pickup… it just doesn’t work. A unibody was never intended to haul the loads or pull the weight that mid-size pickups are used for.

This is a good idea.

For those who need a real truck, there’s the RAM 1500/2500+.

For those who would normally buy and SUV, but likes to haul on occasional load of bark, this will fit the bill w/o breaking the bank at the gas station.

Make it light, strong, and efficient. Under 4500lbs.

I have to agree with Blakarr, the success of this will ride on the fact that it has to be RWD or AWD configurations. I also have to agree with worst 3 that a power mad DI 2.4T in this would definitely give it an edge in fuel economy, seeing as the Fiat multi-air engines are a part of the arsenal now. They would still have to produce a two only version of this for those who wanted something smaller. Even though the design is a few years old it still works, with a few more modern updates on the exterior and they’ve got a real winner.

When you live in the city having a truck is only for show mostly and hauling things on occasion for other people. Many people in suburban areas don’t need a full size truck, just something that can hold a few sheets of plywood, probably landscaping supplies, etc. Since the new Pentastar V6 can produce upwards of 270hp, I could see it becoming the new range topper and leaving the V8’s to the larger Ram 1500.

Archknight – I live in the city of Edmonton Alberta, and I own a Full size pick truck. I can guarantee you it is not only for show. You might want to start thinking about the stuff before you write it. My truck is a second vehicle in my household. For everyday purposes we use my wife’s vehicle to drive to and from the LRT station, and then take the train to work. My truck is used for hauling a 32 foot 5th wheel. If I did not have a 5th wheel I would not have a truck. Some people do actually use trucks for the purpose they are designed for. Anyone who has a truck and just uses it for show is just over compensating for something that they are missing.

To bcjohnso99:

Well spoken. American’s don’t hate the Ridgeline because it’s a unibody, that’s an oddly broad statement from a post above. I have yet to hear anyone say it was good looking though.

Unibodies are stronger and lighter, it’s possible that alone would make it the future, may still need some tweaking to make it as powerful as BOF’s.

Plus the Rampage look pretty darn cool. If it looked similar to this, I’d consider buying one.

No one will miss Dakota. The last Gen is horrible, it is 2 close in size to the Ram. Whats the point.

@ajm11
he never said ever one he said many who lived in a suburb (is true a lot don’t need one) some people do, I live in a suburb and I would want a truck like that. I drive a car no because the gas for trucks is to much money and only have the money for once car. I don’t have a need for a full size truck just something I cant put plywood in or large bulky items (nice solid wood furniture i can refurbish found on the street. i also want something that looks better then the ridgeline get better mpg, and has a better torque curve and such. (also has to be manual). for some one like me a unibody body Dakota done right is what i’m looking for.

though i want a muscle car too

Dunno if unibody fits with Ram’s message. BOF tends to be better received by consumers here as they equate that to ruggedness and overall capacity.

But whatever frame technology is chosen, be it BOF, BFI, unit body or a solid block of unobtainium a sure-fire way to guarantee epic failure is even contemplate FWD: only selective AWD/RWD will do. And offer a diesel for crying out loud.

I agree with Stig – unibody and Ram are not the right mix. Although, in theory, I agree with product strategy. Kind of torn on this one. Either way, it has to be better than what GM and Ford have in that segment.

So are they going to call it Rampage, Ram Jr? Ram 500? Mountain Oysters?

@ ajm11,

Perhaps you need to focus more on what you interpret, instead of creating a conclusion from what isn’t there. I said, “Many people in suburban areas don’t need a full size truck, just something that can hold a few sheets of plywood, probably landscaping supplies, etc.” Unless you represent the many and I doubt that you do, my statement holds true. Also living in Atlanta, where full size trucks are generally a showpiece (tricked out, body/lift kits, & outrageous over sized rims), I highly doubt these guys (18-35) are pulling 5th wheels behind them.

I have to give Dodge a tumbs-up on this one !

I have to question the marketing implications of moving the truck division to the tough “Ram” name, then including unibody trucks and Grand Caravan cargo vans in the mix. Despite my fondness for the Rampage concept, I think it’s a little late to the party.. Sport Trac and Ridgeline are in steady decline and neither looks like it will have a next-generation successor.

Now that is ONE FUGLY POS !!! truly Crap in all aspects…..