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The Argentinian-built Ram Dakota could put on a contemporary face and a basic title from the Dodge/Ram again catalogue, however this isn’t the all-American ute it could current as.
In contrast to the full-size 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups, or the smaller, unibody Rampage dual-cab inbuilt Brazil, which is able to quickly be exported to Europe, the body-on-frame Dakota wasn’t wholly developed by Ram.
As a substitute, the dual-cab Dakota ute – previewed in August with the Dakota Dusk idea – is, just like the Ram 1200 offered in Mexico, a frivolously restyled F70 ute from Chinese language firm Changan.
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In contrast to the Ram 1200, the Dakota might be produced in Latin America – particularly, in Argentina, from the place Volkswagen Australia beforehand sourced the unique Amarok.
The brand new Dakota, first revealed in Warlock trim earlier than being proven off in luxurious Laramie spec final week, will go on sale in Argentina in December 2025, earlier than rolling out to Brazil in 2026.
The Dakota gained’t be supplied in Australia, and Ram Vehicles Australia hasn’t locked within the up to now left-hand drive-only Rampage both. It has beforehand, nevertheless, indicated it needs to take the pickup model’s subsequent Ford Ranger rival, a brand new US-developed mannequin coming into manufacturing within the US in 2028.
The brand new Latin American ute makes use of the Dakota nameplate, final utilized to a mid-size ute offered as a Dodge after which a Ram till 2011 and which had been anticipated to be reserved for the upcoming US-built ute.
Each are powered by a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine producing 149kW of energy and 450Nm of torque, mated with an eight-speed computerized transmission and a four-wheel drive system with a 4×4 Auto mode, an electrically managed rear differential lock, and hill descent management.
The Latin American Dakota additionally options four-wheel disc brakes, boasts braked towing capability of 3500kg, and has a payload of as much as 1020kg.
Doubtlessly previewing a number of the gear that will additionally seem within the North American ‘Dakota’, which is all however sure to be offered in Australia, LED headlights are customary, with the Laramie additionally that includes an LED gentle bar up entrance that connects the headlights.
Inside, this extra luxurious trim stage options brown leather-based upholstery, not solely the seats but in addition on the door panels and dashboard.
All Dakotas function a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, in addition to satellite tv for pc navigation and off-road pages.
A surround-view digicam system is obtainable, that includes a clear chassis mode, whereas different security gear consists of autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and bike owner detection, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep help, and rear cross-traffic alert.
Ram in Brazil says the Dakota is the model’s “first mid-size pickup truck since its independence in 2009”, although that isn’t true – the Dakota was preceded by not solely the associated 1200, but in addition an earlier 1200 in choose Center Japanese markets primarily based on the Mitsubishi Triton.
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