The alleged Ram truck has been sighted again. The small pickup hints at the upcoming Ram which will be placed under the 1500, and could be called the 1200 or as the rumors suggest, the Dakota Ram.
Internally called “Project 291”, the prototype was spotted in northern Sweden while undergoing rigorous cold weather testing alongside other Stellantis vehicles – most notably the Fiat Toro. According to reports, the Ram 1200 will be based on the Toro but with significant changes, especially to the powertrain.
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Like a similar prototype caught the night before, the alleged Ram truck came with a heavy, boxy concealment to conceal its design from prying eyes. However, the headlights may make you think you’re looking at a Jeep pickup, but they could just be a placeholder like the Fiat Toro’s rear taillights seen here.
Up front, concealment tries to hide the massive front grille with horizontal slats. Meanwhile, there is a fairly large ground clearance when viewed from the side. The upcoming Ram 1200 will be built on the Small Wide 4×4 platform, which also underpins other Jeep vehicles such as the Compass and Commander.
In terms of size, it is estimated to be between the Fiat Toro/Ram 1000 and RAM 1500. Production is believed to be carried out at the Jeep factory in Pernambuco, Brazil. However, the Ram 1200 can only be offered as a 4×4 variant, unlike the Fiat Toro, whose version only runs on the front axle.
Our friend from Motor1.com Brasil has confirmed on good authority that one of the engines the Ram will offer is a 2.2-liter turbodiesel that could offer around 200 horsepower (149 kilowatts) and 441 Newton-meters (325 pound-feet) of torque.
The Ram 1200 is expected to hit the world market in 2024, so expect a launch later this year. It’s unclear at this point if this little truck will reach US shores where it can compete with the Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick.
