Will Ram’s New Rampage Get to the US?

New Rampage confirmed for Brazil, but will it come to America?

Some say that two plus two equals five. It defines a false dogma that one may be required to believe, and it fits this story to a tee. In this case, we have two sets of two facts. On the one hand, Ram has just confirmed its new Rampage pickup for Brazil and other South American countries. And it will share its heart with the Fiat Toro bakkie recently revealed in Brazil.

Join the dots… is Ram’s baby truck coming to the US?

On the other hand, Stellantis has been testing the Ramapge in Michigan. And the smart money suggests that it will eventually come to the US, alongside plausible plans to build it at a brand new plant recently confirmed in South Africa. Now put two and two together and it only seems logical that if Stellantis is building the Rampage and the Toro together in Brazil, then in South Africa, and then perhaps Mexico for the US… just join the dots.

The heart of the matter is that former Chrysler ‘truck’ brand Ram, as well as its Jeep and Chrysler siblings, are gravitating ever closer to its Italian cousin Fiat’s products. Several Jeep and Chrysler models already ride on Fiat platforms and that trend continues apace. Now, the 2024 Ram Rampage is designed specifically for the South American market, which is big on unibody trucks. Like the Fiat Toro, and many others.

Unlike a conventional Tacoma, Ranger or similar with a body and a bak atop a ladder frame, unibodies are car based in a single monocoque construction. The bed and the cab are one, like the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruze.

Rampage is a unicab truck

Getting back to the Rampage, it is said to be a game-changer for both the Ram brand and the South American region. Developed under the watchful eye of Ram engineers in Auburn Hills, Michigan, it will be Ram’s first ever unicab pickup.

It is said that Brazilian versions will be powered by a choice of a 195 HP 245 lb.-ft 2-litre flex-fuel capable turbo petrol GME-T4 Tigershark four-pot: or the Toro’s 167 HP280 lb.-ft 2-litre four-cylinder MultiJet turbodiesel. A 200 HP 325 lb.-ft 2.2-litre oil burner is likely to follow.

They will drive a six-speed manual, or Toro’s nine-speed automatic gearbox. Rampage will be front wheel driven with the option of an on-demand all-wheel drive system that activates when the front wheels start to lose traction. Rampage prototypes (below) have been spied sporting Toro-like MacPherson front and coil sprung rear suspension.

So, what about the rest of the world

Brazilian speculation suggests that the Rampage will be 5 metres long, 1.85 metres wide and 1.80 metres tall. Inside we understand it will get horizontal Uconnect 5 touchscreen infotainment,. And an elevated center console with a rotary dial gear selector. It will come in four trim levels, an entry spec Big Horn, Laramie, Rebel, and Rebel Night Edition.

Rampage is designed to meet South American driver needs, where Ram clearly hopes to make a significant impact in the region. But what about the rest of the world? Well, US sources are already squealing that Stellantis has no plans to sell Rampage there at this point. But why are those mules running around Detroit?

Rampage would also make a huge amount of sense in rest of the Southern Hemisphere, as well as in Europe, certain Asian markets. In fact, Ram appears committed to expand its footprint beyond North America. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares makes no bones about it. “When we bring Ram pick-up trucks outside of the US, it can be in Latin America, it can be Africa, Middle East, it can be Oceania.”

Rampage is a Toro at heart

So, Ram has just revealed the Rampage and it appears that it will share its innards with the Fiat Toro. But there are prototypes being tested in the US. And Stellantis has confirmed that it is building a new plant in South Africa, where the smart money suggests they will build Fiat Toros (above) for the rest of the budding world.

Join the dots and we could very well be adding two plus two to get five. The only question remains is if that five equals Ram’s all-new Rampage in the US?

Sketches: Michele Lupini

Michele Lupini

Once a handy engine and chassis tuner, and a combative racer and rally driver, Michele took up the pen to express his passion for cars, racing and motoring over 30 years ago. He published South Africa’s go-to enthusiast motor magazines Cars in Action and Bakkie — some say against all odds — for a quarter century. In that time, Michele had a hand in nurturing many of South Africa's motoring media leaders. Today Michele keeps himself busy with his a range of international motoring media duties alongside his own theauto.page. And a little racing on the side.