It’s been in the rumor mill for years, but it sounds like a midsize Ram pickup truck is finally coming soon. According to a Stellantis communique obtained by Crain’s Chicago Business, the automaker is moving ahead with building said Ram truck at its Belvidere plant in Illinois and “return approximately 1,500 UAW-represented employees to work there.”
A timeline is not yet available for the thus unnamed Ram midsize pickup. The return of the Rampage nameplate has been rumored, and it seems likely, considering the international version of the Rampage (more on that shortly) and the resurrection of the Ramcharger name for an upcoming plug-in hybrid pickup.
While the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon seem like obvious rivals to a midsize Ram pickup, previous rumors tell us it may actually be a unibody truck in the vein of the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz. It’s telling that the midsize Ram truck is getting its own assembly line separate from the Ohio-built Jeep Gladiator, implying they may not share the body-on-frame JT platform, which is derived from the Jeep Wrangler JL.
Stellantis already markets a unibody, all-wheel-drive Ram Rampage internationally. Built in Brazil, it rides on the Small Wide platform shared with the Jeep Compass, and it’s about the size of the Ford Maverick. Engine options include the turbocharged 2.0L I4 GME shared with the Jeep Wrangler, plus two diesel options that are unlikely to be offered in the U.S.
We reported in June 2023 that the Ram Rampage was confirmed for North America, but we haven’t heard much about it since then. It’s possible the future midsize Ram pickup built in Illinois could be a localized version of the Brazilian Rampage.
Having first opened in 1965 to produce Chrysler C platform vehicles, the Stellantis Belvidere assembly plant has been dormant since the Jeep Cherokee was discontinued in 2023. It’s spent the 21st century assembling unibody Jeep and Dodge models like the Jeep Patriot and Compass and the Dodge (and Plymouth) Neon, Caliber, and Dart.
The Belvidere plant was originally destined to be retooled into an electric truck plant, but Stellantis is slowing its EV rollout in real-time with the decision to offer an ICE engine in the new Dodge Charger, the delayed launch of the Ram 1500 REV, and the apparent cancellation of its 500-mile-range variant.
Comments
I just wish that Stellantis and GM would come up with a Ford Maverick competitor…bring back the S-10/Sonoma and the Dakota. The current “midsize” trucks like the Ranger and Colorado/Canyon are almost as big as full-size trucks from the late 1990’s to the early 2000’s.
GM has been pretty successful with the Trax/Envista vehicles because they are priced in the mid-$20k range. A compact ICE or hybrid pickup under $30k would fly off the lots.
I’ve seen comments about how trucks grew larger because of the govt regs with size/weight and mpg. I think there is a market for real mid-size/smaller trucks, too. Especially affordable ones.
Mary’s too enthralled with the $125k Hummer EV, the $96k Silverado EV, and the $300k Cadillac that few are interested in to bother with an affordable Maverick competitor.
This former GM family now has a 2024 Terrain Maverick Tremor sitting in my driveway, my kid just bought a new Bronco Sport Badlands, and my wife just grabbed a 2025 Escape Platinum hybrid as her new everyday…
I like the idea of this midsize Ram, but I suspect it will cost nearly as much as the 1500, and will be nearly the size.
Obviously, we’re never getting a compact truck again.
The Ford Maverick would like a word… It is based on the Bronco Sport/Escape which are both compact CUV’s.
The midsize truck would compete with the Honda Ridgeline, another unibody.
Stellantis would be smarter to federalize the Rampage because the Maverick and Santa Cruz have no other competition.
On that same subject, why hasn’t Chevy federalized the Montana or turned the Equinox or Blazer into an El Camino?
Bring back the S/10 and Sonoma. The current Canyon and Colorado are as big as my sons full-size 1998 C/K 1500. It’s ridiculous that they have grown that large. His truck looks tiny compared to them.
I am shopping the Maverick Hybrid for a versatile around town grocery getter that fits nicely in the current downsized parking spaces. I tried the fully electric route with a Chevy Bolt and like it for its power and size. Just don’t like the lack of and over crowded charging infrastructure in my area. With electric rates in the $.50 plus range s hybrid really appeals to me at this point. If the Ram is offered in a hybrid configuration I would consider it.
is this tail lamp design in middle the USA flag ?
I just bought a Ford Maverick Hybrid, because Ram didn’t have one. Their loss.
The EV market is going to change in major ways now. It will no longer be shored up by the Federal Gov. It will either stand on its own or fail. As it should be in a free market. I am Pro EV, but..
I looked at the Colorado and canyon, really wanted a truck smaller in size and price. (Always been a GM customer.) I ended up buying a new Santa Cruz and my son bought a new Maverick. I didn’t want to spend 45000 plus for the GM product and then have to buy steps, bed cover, etc. The Hyundai came with the sliding bed cover, sunroof, heated seats, etc for less than 37000. The Maverick (basic model) was 30000.
i agree with those who want (need) a small pick up like the older chevy s10….one that does NOT have 4 doors, but does have a full size bed. I bought a 2022 gmc ext cab canyon to get the last v6 engine, last 2 door model and had a full size bed…..a lot of us don’t need 4 doors, dont want a mini-bed, or a turbo with that stop/start nonsense. Anyone remember back when EVERY manufacture offered a small size pick up ??
What really sucks is that it’s just going to be another almost-full-size 4-door / 4-foot something box truck.
I have family that worked at the Belvidere Assembly plant for 30 and 25 years, respectively.
I’ve owned 3 pickups in my life, going back to 1990. The first was a full-size 1967 Chevy which I owned from 1990 to 2000. the second was a 1995 S-10 from 1999 to 2017, and my current truck is a 2010 GMC Canyon, which I’ve had since 2016.
All have been regular-cab, 2wd, manual-transmission trucks with a full-height bed cap (topper) over the box. That’s what I like in a truck, and that’s what works for me.
I was seriously considering a Maverick for our retirement vehicle and to replace my Canyon, but then they made the hybrid model more expensive, and with all the recalls, we abandoned that idea, ended up getting a 2024 Trax, and just keeping the rusty Canyon for truck-stuff.
It sure would be nice if at least one manufacturer offered a small 2-wheel drive truck with a single cab and at least a 6-foot box that got semi-respectable mileage. I wouldn’t care if it were front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive.
I just hope that flag is not really part of the tail light. Ram, etc. is a foreign company. NOT an American brand. They make BMWs in SC… are those cars American cars??? No foreign cars made in USA like Ram, etc.
check again, maverick base is not 30,000 i have a hybrid and love it, iam a many time s-10 owner and G-M retiree. Do not mind 40+ MPG either.
Yes, my son’s 2024 Maverick was 30000 plus tax. (ordered March, got it June). He didn’t need a lot of useless options to run the price up.I still have my ‘89 Chevy Cheyenne, regular cab, 305, manual transmission to handle my truck needs. My wife just wanted a smaller truck instead of another car to drive. Being as GM doesn’t offer one, we bought the Santa Cruz.
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