2021 Ram Dakota Concept: What to Expect?

The comeback of the well-known mid-size pickup is now a certain thing. Although some sources were suggesting its arrival already for this model year, it’s now obvious that things won’t happen so soon. However, that doesn’t mean we won’t see the new truck this year, as there is a big chance to see the 2021 Ram Dakota Concept before serial production starts. At this point, details are yet to come but we are pretty sure that the concept could have a premiere at some of the major car shows in the second half of the year.

In any case, the 2021 Ram Dakota Concept should feature a very production-friendly design. This would mean a styling that won’t change too much with the arrival of the production model. Also, we presume the company will introduce most of the technical specifications with this model, including the powertrain.

2021 Ram Dakota Concept Spy Shot

2021 Ram Dakota Concept Design

As we’ve just mentioned, we expect that Ram designer will tend to make this pickup truck as production-friendly as possible. Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is the platform. There are two possible scenarios for this occasion and in both cases, you may count on a genuine BoF layout.  The first one is to see the new 2021 Ram Dakota Concept based on Jeep Gladiator. In this case, we would see pretty much the same mechanics, while the major difference will be only in terms of aesthetics and interior design. Also, this means that the new Dakota would be produced in Ohio.

The second option is to see a downsized platform of Ram 1500. In this case, the new truck would probably be produced in Mexico and we presume it would borrow many design solutions from the half-ton pickup, which would be highly beneficial in terms of utility. This particularly refers to the chassis setup, so it’s no wonder that many experts suggest the new Dakota could be the first mid-size pickup to break the 8.000-pound barrier in terms of towing capacity.

Exterior Design

In terms of exterior design, the 2021 Ram Dakota Concept will show how the new pickup will look once it gets into production. At this point, we can only rely on rendering photos, as the test mule, which has been spotted a couple of times, still wears a complete camouflage. Still, we are pretty sure that the new truck will be aligned with the rest of Ram’s lineup and that it will follow the brand’s latest design language.

2021 Ram Dakota Concept Render
Image Source: Motor1

Another thing that comes to mind is the cab style. Of course, the double cab model will certainly come, but some sources also suggest single cab layouts, which indicates that affordable work mules would be in the offer too. This would be a great way to differentiate from the Gladiator, which features a quite high starting price for the segment.

Interior

We expect that the 2021 Ram Dakota Concept will show the interior design of the upcoming model as well. Of course, there will be some fancy details that probably won’t find place in the production version, but some of them will certainly do. In any case, we count on a lot of influence from the bigger Ram 1500, which has completely changed the picture of how a pickup interior should look like. Of course, the new Dakota probably won’t be as luxurious, but we still expect it to be more luxurious than most rivals.

This means it should utilize fine materials, features attractive aesthetics etc. Of course, we also count on plenty of advanced tech features, including that large 12-inch vertically-oriented touchscreen.

2021 Ram Dakota Concept Engines

When it comes to the powertrain, the 2021 Ram Dakota Concept should rely on FCA’s proven units. The concept version will most likely come with a gasoline engine, but we count on a diesel version too. Also, we don’t expect that Dakota will feature a V8 engine ever again.

So, base models should use a well-known 3.6-liter V6, probably with 285 horsepower. Some sources even suggest the possibility of a mild-hybrid eTorque system to be in the offer. On the other side, we are pretty sure about the diesel version, which will feature a 3.0-liter V6, with a max output of 260 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. With this engine, we believe that the new Dakota could offer class-leading towing ratings, with the max capacity of close to or even over 8.000 pounds. On the other side, the payload capacity will probably be typical for the class, which would mean around 1.600 pounds.

2021 Ram Dakota Concept Spy Photo

2021 Ram Dakota Concept Premiere

The 2021 Ram Dakota Concept still waits for official confirmation, but we believe it could have a premiere already in the second half of the year, at some of the major auto shows. Once it enters serial production, we expect that base models will cost around 26.000 dollars.

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