2026 Ram Dakota Revealed! But Not In USA
The Ram Dakota has returned … to an unexpected place.
Ram has released a sneak peek at the 2026 Dakota midsize pickup it will be building and selling in South America next year.
The Nightfall Concept is based on a midsize body-on-frame truck platform shared with Fiat, Peugeot and China’s Changan, but features a unique body designed by Ram.
Its grille, headlights, step-down hood and bulging fenders make it look like a smaller version of the Ram 1500.
The concept is outfitted as an extreme off-road model that has a lift kit, Fox shock absorbers, 33-inch all-terrain tires and a sport bar with a spare tire carrier for the bed.
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It’s also equipped with LED lights on the roof and three amber marker lights in the hood, similar to those found on the widebody Ram 1500 RHO that was named 2025 US-Built Truck Of The YearTM by American Cars And Racing.
Ram hasn’t said what’s under the hood, but a badge on it says that it’s a turbo and it will likely be the 2.2-liter diesel four-cylinder found in the other trucks.
“Dakota is the ideal name to mark Ram’s entry into such a competitive segment. Excellence comes with experience, and only Dakota embodies the full legacy and knowledge of the only dedicated pickup truck brand in South America,” Juliano Machado, RAM’s vice president for the region said in a news release.
The Dakota name is, of course, well-known in the U.S., where Ram and Dodge used it on their last generation midsize trucks. Ram has a new one of those in the works that’s set to enter production next year as a 2027 model. While it will be different from the South American model, but could very well share it’s name.