Is the Ram Dakota Making a Come Back?

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Mike Manley, the head of Ram Trucks, had an interview with USA Today where he dropped a bit of a bombshell for truck lovers.  Here is the line that has many talking.

“You have the opportunity with a new frame for the next-generation Ram.  You have the opportunity to take a large SUV off of it because we already have a very, very capable frame today that is going to be upgraded.”

Auto Evolution latched onto this portion of the interview as a marker of what is to come from the future of Ram.  The future of the FCA has been an interesting one of late.  There have been some major course corrections due to the recent sales trends of Jeep and Ram.  FCA is putting a bigger focus on their SUV and crossover lines due to the uptick Jeep and Ram have been enjoying.

So is this a sign of what to expect from the 2018 Ram 1500?  The 1500 is due for an update according to the 5-year plan that FCA put out, even though much has changed recently so the plan isn’t being kept to exactly.

In other news from the interview, Manley also brought up bringing back the Dakota.  I could see Ram doing that.  For many of the brands, bringing back older and popular vehicles has gone over well enough.  The Chrysler Pacifica is popular so far and Jeep is bringing back the Wagoneer.  The Dakota could be the nostalgic strength for a new Ram Truck that capitalizes on the Ram sales.

If you are interested in learning more about a Ram truck contact us at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge.  View our new and used line-up on our website.  Be sure to download our mobile app to keep track in real time of your vehicle when it is brought in to be serviced.  Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to us on YouTube to see more auto news and monthly specials.

2014 Ram 1500 Diesel Announced!

2014-Ram-1500-Diesel-pickup-announced1It was the worst-kept secret, but still something fans demanded. The 2014 model of the Ram 1500 will now be offered with a diesel engine!

The diesel engine that will be offered is the same that will be in the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 engine. It’s rated at 240 HP and has 420 lb-ft of torque. According to Auto Evolution, the towing capabilities are comparable to the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 Ram and has improved fuel efficiency. The complete figures have not been fully revealed yet.

The pricing, however, has been shown. The EcoDiesel V6 will run an additional $2,850 to the 1500. The starting price of the 2014 Ram 1500 is $24,200.

For buyers not wanting diesel, the 1500 will still be available with the Pentastar V6 and 5.7 Hemi V8. All of the available engines will have eight-speed automatic transmission.

Go to Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge to view our full Ram line-up.  We have our new and pre-owned vehicles also available for view online.  Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more Ram news and monthly specials.