The Dakota That Could Have Been

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

Sometime around 2012, a Ram Trucks source told TTAC about an investigation into a smaller pickup for the brand, one that could have even turned out to be a front-drive pickup. “We won’t do another Dakota,” said our source, “but maybe something else.”. By all accounts, that truck would have been based on one of Fiat’s small, unibody front-drive pickups. But now, Fiat seems to want a Dakota of its own.

Automotive News reports that Fiat will get a new body-on-frame midsize truck starting in 2016, which will be a variant of the Mitsubishi L200. The Thai-built L200 is a smaller, body-on-frame pickup with rear or four-wheel drive and both gasoline and diesel engines, making it a good fit for Fiat’s commercial vehicle lineup. And it’s very likely that we’ll never seen it here.

FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne told reporters at the most recent 5-year plan that FCA had tried out a smaller truck at clinics, but was unable to wow the crowd, let alone make a business case for such a truck. The L200 isn’t homologated for North America either, and a smaller truck isn’t a great fit for FCA in terms of CAFE either. FCA is already lagging behind other OEMs in terms of CAFE footprint, and small trucks are one of the worst vehicles when it comes to meeting those standards.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • Marcelo de Vasconcellos Marcelo de Vasconcellos on Jun 03, 2014

    This pickup is common here in Brazil. It is outclassed by the competition unfortunately as to my eyes it looks pretty good. Ranger, Amarok, Frontier, S10 (Colorado) all have advantages over it. That's not to say it's bad, but it's kind of soft. The previous L200, also on sale here is a real work truck. Derek, this is new to me. Fiat has been in talks with truck makers for a long time. Mahindra, Tata, even Dodge before the tie-up were frequently mentioned. Fiat never took an interest as this kind of truck would never appeal in Europe though it has a strong and very profitable market here. If it does come about there will be 4 pick ups in FCA's line up. The car based Strada, a strada-based but bigger PU similar to Honda's Element technically speaking and midway between a Strada and the truck shown here in size, this truck and the RAM. I think it's too much, unless Dodge is in fact looking for a new Dakota.

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    • Vulpine Vulpine on Jun 04, 2014

      @TonyJZX * there’s nothing too much wrong with the Mitsubishi Triton. -- That's nice. * I wouldnt pee on a VW Amarok for a work truck. -- Why? According to what I've seen and read elsewhere it appears quite capable. Maybe not the best, but certainly not the worst, either. * The Ranger is too expensive for what it is. -- That I might grant. * The Mazda twin is cheaper but boy is it ugly. -- Maybe from your point of view. What's ugly to you might be pretty to someone else. That's why every brand offers a 'unique' look to their vehicles. * The Colorado isnt too bad but it isnt as good as its cracked up to be. -- How would you know? Have you driven one yet? * The Isuzu dmax isnt too bad really having real truck dna. -- And doesn't the Colorado share that DNA? * Nissan Navara isnt very reliable but their V6 twin turbo is a whirlwind. -- Individual tastes. If it were me, I'd ignore that 'whirlwind' if I couldn't trust the vehicle overall. * Chinese, Korean and Indian? lol -- I'll admit the reputation of Chinese-built vehicles doesn't seem so great, but Korean vehicles are proving themselves here in the States. With Indian-built vehicles, that seems a factor of the manufacturer itself as Mahindra has proven itself in at least one market here in the US. Considering that the Mahindra trucks and SUVs are based on the Kaiser/Willys Jeep license somewhere around 1950, you could almost call them direct descendants of that old Willys. I'm actually disappointed that certain regulations (and other issues) prevented Mahindra from entering its trucks in the US market.

  • JohnnyFirebird JohnnyFirebird on Jun 03, 2014

    I take back everything I said about wanting a mid-size pickup. That thing is horrifying.

  • Kyree Kyree on Jun 03, 2014

    This is an ironic role reversal, since---not long ago---Mitsubishi had the Raider here in the States, which was a rebadged Dakota.

  • Jeff S Jeff S on Jun 04, 2014

    And before the Dakota there was the D-50 a Mitsubishi Mighty Max. I guess it is time for a Fiat/Chrysler to be rebadged from a Mitsubishi. Repeat the cycle.

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