SPY PICS: First look at RAM 1200

RAM has long promised to produce a ‘metric-ton mid-size truck’ to slot beneath the hot-selling RAM 1500 full-size pick-up – and has previously said it will be sold in Australia, even if it has to be converted to right-hand drive here.

But now we’ve been given our first look at two (admittedly heavily camouflaged) prototypes of the upcoming ‘RAM 1200’, which we’ve previously referred to as the RAM Dakota, has already been confirmed for South American markets and is apparently being developed under the codename 291.

Spotted winter testing somewhere in the northern hemisphere, the two pre-production versions of Stellantis’ answer to the top-selling Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger were snapped by our spy photographer in convoy with a production-spec Fiat Toro under the cover of darkness and some of the most elaborate camo wrapping we’ve seen for a while.

It’s almost impossible to say whether the development vehicles are fitted with canopies or if the engineers are just trying to fool onlookers, but it’s clear the RAM 1200 will be significantly bigger than the Toro, which is already on sale in Latin America and underpinned by the ‘Small Wide’ 4x4 monocoque platform used by some Jeep products – ala Compass.

There’s more than a hint of Jeep to the prototypes’ (visible) exterior design cues – primarily the headlights – but it’s hard to ascertain too much more due to the heavy camo wrap.

While South American versions will be built locally on the aforementioned unibody architecture, international reports have claimed North American-sourced versions will ride on a traditional ladder-frame chassis, increasing towing and payload capacities to make them direct rivals for Australia’s most popular dual-cab 4x4 utes.

RAM CEO Mike Koval has previously described the mid-size ute market as “the largest, biggest white-space opportunity for our brand” and said he was actively looking at what’s available in other markets following the formation of the Stellantis group, which combines Fiat, Chrysler, RAM, Jeep, Alfa Romeo and Maserati with Peugeot, Citroen and Opel/Vauxhall.

Motive power in the RAM 1200 is expected to come from a pair of Jeep-sourced four-cylinder engines – one turbo-petrol and one turbo-diesel – paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission and 4x4 as standard.

Excitingly for Australians interested in a Stellantis ute that’s more of a workhorse than the Jeep Gladiator, right-hand drive production is also said to be a top priority for RAM as it targets mid-size ute markets around the world, not just in the Americas.

Ram Dakota concept digital images: KDesign

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