The 2012 Dodge Dakota pickup truck
Info: | 1987-1996 Dodge Dakota | 1997-2006 Dodge Dakota | 2008-2011 Dodge Dakota | 2012 Ram Dakota | Dakota forums
Reviews: 2008 Dodge Dakota | Dodge Dakota Sport Quad Cab (2000) | Dodge Dakota (Quad Cab, 2006)
The first Dodge Dakota was launched in 1987. Bigger than the popular Ford Ranger, Chevy S-10, and Mitsubishi-Ram 50, the Dodge Dakota used a four cylinder base engine, with an optional V6 created just for the new truck out of the sturdy 318 V8. The first Dakota, which had almost the same dimensions as an existing International Harvester truck, was designed under contract for Dodge. Chrysler later took engineering in-house and came out with the popular 1997-2004 Dodge Dakota. The replacement, though, was designed by DaimlerChrysler people, emphasis on Daimler; they made the Dakota even bigger. It could tow 7,050 pounds but the base price went to $20,080. Buyers complained that it sucked down fuel and wasn't that much cheaper than the Ram 1500.
For 2012: the Dodge Dakota “lifestyle truck”
At a press event in August 2007, we asked the truck-platform PR manager about the future of the Dakota, which had just gotten bigger. He said they wanted to move the Dakota to being a lifestyle vehicle, and had been discussing different features, size, and other aspects of the Dakota with customers.
The term “lifestyle truck” brings up images of El Caminos, but Dodge probably simply meant a vehicle with capabilities closer to the Ranger or the original Dakota; or something that had the same form and footprint as the original Dakota, but much lower cargo capacity. Most small pickup buyers, according to research out there, don't try to tow yachts or heavy trailers, or load up the bed with gravel and I-beams; a lot of people buy pickups for the image, and others need the form factor for hauling moderately heavy items, or doing moderate towing.
Since then, confirmation has repeatedly come in over the years (with pundits frequently treating the idea as brand new or a change). However, it seemed clear then that Dodge knew the Dakota had become too pricey and heavy. Put a Japanese brand on it, and the Dakota could have sold as a full size, like the T100.
The question presumably then became what the solution was. They could move the Dakota to the Jeep Wrangler platform, and some believe the Jeep Scrambler was an exercise in doing that. The Wrangler was one of three body on frame trucks still made by Chrysler, the other two being the Ram and Dakota itself; but the Wrangler was closer in size to the desired goal. Unfortunately, Wranglers, being engineered to take a pounding on off-road courses, are much heavier than the new pickup would be. In September 2011, a statement issued forth that a Jeep pickup would still be three or four years away.
We heard rumors in April that, due to a temporary manpower shortage, the next generation Dakota and next generation minivans were being engineered by contract workers, hired by an outside agency but working at the CTC. According to these reports, the Dakota will ride on a minivan platform, presumably converted to rear wheel drive. That does not mean the Dakota will be unable to tow or haul, or have stow and go seats, or rely on front wheel drive. A platform is a set of dimensions, not a set of parts. Fred Diaz said (essentially in these words) that the Dakota would still be able to tow; it just won’t be able to tow your house.
4/20/10 update. The Windsor Star asked plant workers about the Dakota and received confirmation that two new trucks would be built at the Windsor, Ontario plant. One appears to be the Dakota (or Dakota replacement); one appears to be a larger van — which could mean something based on the Fiat Ducato (Dodge Tradesman?), or could mean an extended-wheelbase version of the Caravan itself, designed to be a lighter, nimbler version of the vans commonly used by hotels, schools, churches, and rental car companies; fitting one more row could increase capacity to 11 passengers, including a front passenger.
9/27/11 update. Sergio Marchionne told Ward’s Auto World that the truck would only be built in Windsor if it was compatible with the next-generation minivan platform (which does not necessarily mean it is not part of the “E-EVO” project, sharing key engineering attributes with minivans and large cars); otherwise it would be built at a different plant and possibly on a different platform. Projected sales appear to be around 30,000 units.
According to Ram CEO Fred Diaz, the same people tended to cross shop both compact and midsized trucks, including Ranger, Tacoma, Ridgeline, and Dakota. He said the new Dakota would be badged Ram Dakota, and would be:
... capable, but not as capable as a full size Ram. People want to be able to take cargo, with a reasonable payload, and people, with high mpg, reasonably priced. The Dakota is so capable, pricing bumps against the light duty [Ram 1500]. We don't want confusion.
The Dakota should be worthwhile to develop; most years a Dakota was available (and every year from 1992 to 2005), it sold over 100,000 units per year. Only in the last three years has the Dakota been unable to reach 60,000 units per year.
Info: | 1987-1996 Dodge Dakota | 1997-2006 Dodge Dakota | 2008-2011 Dodge Dakota | 2012 Ram Dakota | Dakota forums
Reviews: 2008 Dodge Dakota | Dodge Dakota Sport Quad Cab (2000) | Dodge Dakota (Quad Cab, 2006)