Undeterred by critics, Ram aims to expand its truck, van lineup

[NINETY EIGHT REGENCY]

Undeterred by critics, Ram aims to expand its truck, van lineup

Bradford Wernle

and Luca Ciferri

Automotive News -- July 26, 2010 - 12:01 am ET

Some critics chastised Chrysler Group for separating the Ram brand from Dodge. American pickup buyers are devoted to their brands -- Chevy, Ford and Dodge -- and anybody who messes with that is asking for trouble, the critics reasoned.

Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne responded that the separation gives Dodge room to breathe as a youth- and family-oriented brand.

Ram will attack the commercial-van market by rebadging two Fiat vans. Ram will keep the distinctive ram's horns logo that identified Dodges in recent years. Ram also will keep the cross-hair grille.

Dakota: The Dakota pickup goes away next year. Last November, Chrysler product planning chief Joseph Veltri said Ram is considering a Fiat-based unibody pickup for 2011 that would be smaller and more fuel-efficient than the Dakota. A 2012 model year designation is expected.

Compact van: In 2012, Ram plans to rebadge a version of the fwd Fiat Doblo van to rival the Ford Transit Connect. It will be imported from Turkey, mostly likely as a 2013 model.

Full-sized van: The van will either be a version of the body-on-frame Iveco Daily or unibody Fiat Ducato. The truck will be assembled in North America. Sales begin here in 2012.

Ram 1500: The 1500 is scheduled for re-engineering in 2012, probably as a 2013 model, when Chrysler will replace the current 3.7-liter V-6 with the new Pentastar V-6. Chrysler continues to study a Cummins diesel engine for its light-duty 1500 pickup.

Ram 2500, 3500 Heavy Duty: The redesigned 2500 and 3500 arrived as 2010 models. A reskin is possible in 2012.

Chassis Cab 3500, 4500 and 5500: The Ram brand started shipping its redesigned 2011 Chassis Cab trucks to dealerships in late May.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20100726/OEM04/307269988/1403#ixzz0unJW3K9r

[Blake Noble]

And the new Durango is still a Dodge because why ... ?

Again, it's time to revive the Ramcharger.

[Robert Hall]

And the new Durango is still a Dodge because why ... ?

Again, it's time to revive the Ramcharger.

'cause it's a family hauler, an SUV. Ram is for trucks.

[Blake Noble]

'cause it's a family hauler, an SUV. Ram is for trucks.

And an SUV is not an SUV and a family hauler when it's a crossover. The new Durango is Grand Cherokee-based and that is pretty rugged and sort truck-like to me. The styling is very Ram-like as well.

Just sayin' ...

Edited July 30, 2010 by whiteknight

[Robert Hall]

And an SUV is not an SUV and a family hauler when it's a crossover. The new Durango is Grand Cherokee-based and that is pretty rugged and sort truck-like to me. The styling is very Ram-like as well.

Just sayin' ...

Being on the GC platform means it's a pure SUV, not a car based CUV or a truck-based SUV. If the Durango were still on the Dakota platform, then it would be appropriate for the Ram brand.

Edited July 30, 2010 by Cubical-aka-Moltar