Europe Receives A New Ram Compact Truck Ahead of America | Carscoops

      The unibody truck built in Brazil by Ram will debut in Europe, specifically in Italy, aimed at lifestyle consumers.

      This compact pickup, positioned between SUVs and midsize trucks, is intended for buyers who prioritize lifestyle. The European edition resembles the model currently available in South America.

      Ram is already present in various European markets through its distributor partner, KW Auto. Despite this, the larger 1500 and Heavy Duty models have limited appeal due to their size, catering to a specific segment of consumers.

      Conversely, the Rampage is 5,028 mm (198 inches) long and is more suitable for Europe’s narrower roads. This offers Ram an opportunity to enter a smaller, more accessible market with greater sales potential.

      Stellantis describes the Rampage as "a bold new entry into the compact lifestyle pickup segment" aimed at combining everyday practicality with off-road capability. It’s positioned between C-SUVs and midsize pickups, claiming to fill a gap in the market.

      The Rampage was introduced in June 2023 as Ram’s first fully Brazilian-designed and built vehicle. It uses the Small Wide unibody platform shared with models like the Fiat Toro, Jeep Compass, Jeep Commander, Alfa Romeo Tonale, and Dodge Hornet.

      In South America, customers have the option of turbocharged diesel or gasoline engines, both equipped with a nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

      Stellantis has shared teaser images from the South American model, indicating that the European version will likely be very similar. It remains to be determined if it will receive any region-specific updates in terms of equipment, trims, or powertrains. The model presented so far is a red Rebel trim.

      The truck will showcase publicly for the first time at the Fieracavalli horse exhibition in Verona, Italy, from November 6 to 9. This event is referred to as a "European preview" rather than a complete market launch, with final specifications and pricing set to be revealed at the exhibition.

      Initially, there were speculations that the Rampage would also be introduced in the US to compete with the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz. However, import tariffs have rendered this plan impractical.

      Consequently, Ram is concentrating on developing a new ladder-frame midsize pickup for the North American market, likely a successor to the discontinued Dakota, which is expected to take on rivals like the Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, and Nissan Frontier.

      In South America, Ram has already launched a new Dakota built on a ladder-frame chassis sourced from China.