Ram News: Marchionne Wants A Midsize Truck for Ram

[William Maley]

With the midsize truck market on the rebound, FCA is considering whether or not to do a midsize for Ram.

 

“We’re looking into it. I have a keen interest in getting it done. The big question is whether it should be body on frame,” said Marchionne to reporters at the Geneva Motor Show.

 

Previously, Ram was considering doing a midsize truck on a unibody platform. But this idea was tossed out due to problems with getting decent fuel economy and pricing the model at an affordable point while still making a profit.

 

Marchionne says the biggest hurdle for a Ram midsize truck is trying to make a business case for it. When Marchionne looks at GM's midsize trucks - Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon -, he assumes the profit margins are less than the full-size trucks due to pricing.

 

Still, Marchionne believes there is a place for a midsize truck.

 

“I think it’s a good place to be. Ram needs to expand its lineup.”

 

Source: Motor Trend

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[Drew Dowdell]

Sure the base work-trucks have a low entry price, but the GM mid-sizers get pricey really quick and use a lot of parts shared with other vehicles.... I'm sure GM is making a healthy profit on each one or else they wouldn't be trying to squeeze as many out of Wentzville as physically possible.  Even a 4x4 LT Colorado 4-cylinder, basically the base minimum for "consumer grade" of truck, is nearly $30k.

[cp-the-nerd]

Does he realize that he just canceled a midsize sedan selling easily 100,000 more units annually than a midsize truck will?

[David]

DOH, is he willing to delay Alfa products to allow the profits to be spent on this instead? He could probably hit a home run with high profits if he ignored the mid size and brought out a compact truck that meets the needs of city folk. Most city and suburban households do not need a 1/2 ton full or mid size truck and would be fine with a 2-3 person compact truck like the Ranger was or Luv truck of Chevy in the 70's.

 

He seems to have hit his head and is now the Emperor with no cloths.

[Suaviloquent]

Well it says he wants one.

 

But that doesn't mean he can.

 

I know... the whole GM merger fiasco was all about a midsize truck the whole time.

 

Wait a minute - isn't the jeep truck going to be a compact/midsize truck?

 

Dafuq?!!

[William Maley]

Well it says he wants one.

 

But that doesn't mean he can.

 

I know... the whole GM merger fiasco was all about a midsize truck the whole time.

 

Wait a minute - isn't the jeep truck going to be a compact/midsize truck?

 

Dafuq?!!

 

Yes, it will be based on the Wrangler so it will be printing money for FCA.

[ocnblu]

Just tell them to do a cutaway version of the Promaster City.

[FordCosworth]

Does he realize that he just canceled a midsize sedan selling easily 100,000 more units annually than a midsize truck will?

Considering the 200 is selling less than 7k a month for the last few months, chances are it won't hit 100k itself, let alone sell 100k MORE units than a Mid Size Ram.

Edited March 3, 2016 by FordCosworth

[Robert Hall]

I wonder what they did w/ the Dakota tooling...only been 5 years..update the interior, change the front, put it back in production..

[67impss]

Hell if he wants a mid size tell him to read the alpar wiki to find out how CryCo did it on the cheap. The formula is right there in black and white, worked once do it again. They (Dakotas) became unprofitable when Durango went full sizeish with the Aspen.Then without the economic advantage of a suv stablemate and de-contenting plus the melt down, just withered on the vine. 

[ocnblu]

I am with those that want to see a true compact truck back in the U.S.

...But every auto exec that speaks on the subject states it would not be a good idear, for various weak reasons.

[David]

Agreed Ocn, I think the whole Mid size is a viable market but can handle only so many sellars. I think FCA would do best with a true compact.

[Carguy]

Put the RAM truck line back in the Dodge brand where it belongs! Then do a smaller truck and call it the Goat to go along with its bigger brother the Ram!

[thegriffon]

Somebody tell him FCA is already debuting not one, but two midsize pickups this year, in addition to the pickup versions of the Promaster and Promaster City Fiat already sells in other markets. For the Americas their solution was to build a fwd/awd pickup based on the Cherokee (the Fiat Toro), in half-ton flex-fuel, and 1-ton diesel crewcab versions. For Europe they're rebadging the Mitsubishi L200 Triton, which is cheap but far from class-leading (because it's really only a minor update of the old Triton with a new engine [well, some markets get the new engine, most still get the old diesel], and the old Triton was only a cosmetic update of the Triton before that).

[ccap41]

 

Well it says he wants one.

 

But that doesn't mean he can.

 

I know... the whole GM merger fiasco was all about a midsize truck the whole time.

 

Wait a minute - isn't the jeep truck going to be a compact/midsize truck?

 

Dafuq?!!

 

Yes, it will be based on the Wrangler so it will be printing money for FCA.

 

I wonder how bad of fuel mileage the Jeep truck will get compared to the other trucks who have at least visited wind tunnels. It'll be rated 18/19 city/highway, lol. 

[thegriffon]

Just tell them to do a cutaway version of the Promaster City.

You mean this one?

With the flatbed it's as wide as a fullsize truck (interior bed width is 2034 mm) and is a 2500 kg GVW rated truck (5500 lb) with a 1 ton capacity.

 

Then there's the true cutaway (you're supposed to keep it less than the standard 1872mm body width, but clearly Fiat exceeded that with the reefer illustrated). Body platform length can be 2115 mm (compared to the 1818 interior length of the factory tray above). Combined axle load is 2570 kg, but the GVW is only up to 2400 kg.

[thegriffon]

I am with those that want to see a true compact truck back in the U.S.

...But every auto exec that speaks on the subject states it would not be a good idear, for various weak reasons.

FCA has this one, 4.5 m long (compared to 4.9 for the Doblo and Toro), and 1/2 tonne capacity rating (685 kg).

 

 

But I doubt it would get better than 2-stars NCAP, as it's based on the now 20 year-old Fiat project 178 platform (Fiat Palio/Siena). There are Dodge versions of this platform for Mexico and Venezuela, but they just change the badges.

[cp-the-nerd]

 

Does he realize that he just canceled a midsize sedan selling easily 100,000 more units annually than a midsize truck will?

Considering the 200 is selling less than 7k a month for the last few months, chances are it won't hit 100k itself, let alone sell 100k MORE units than a Mid Size Ram.

 

 

Until December, they were selling 10-15k units a month with summer months pushing 20k. If that's not an incredible success for the Chrysler brand, I don't know what is.

[Suaviloquent]

The 200 is a good car, in a field of great American cars and two great japanese cars from Mazonda...and maybe one decent Korean car and the recent fall off a cliff.

[ocnblu]

Put the RAM truck line back in the Dodge brand where it belongs! Then do a smaller truck and call it the Goat to go along with its bigger brother the Ram!

Haha, and then sell an off-road version... called the Mountain Goat, of course!

[ocnblu]

 

Just tell them to do a cutaway version of the Promaster City.

You mean this one?

With the flatbed it's as wide as a fullsize truck (interior bed width is 2034 mm) and is a 2500 kg GVW rated truck (5500 lb) with a 1 ton capacity.

 

Then there's the true cutaway (you're supposed to keep it less than the standard 1872mm body width, but clearly Fiat exceeded that with the reefer illustrated). Body platform length can be 2115 mm (compared to the 1818 interior length of the factory tray above). Combined axle load is 2570 kg, but the GVW is only up to 2400 kg.

 

Hi griffon, I always enjoy your posts.  That Doblo pickup is a very capable machine, seems like.  The amazing, borderline comical looks of it seal the deal!  With a diesel engine yet, it would be the ultimate non-conformist, awkward superstar pickup truck!

[ocnblu]

http://www.chevrolet.com.br/pickups/montana.html

[ccap41]

http://www.chevrolet.com.br/pickups/montana.html

Give me the 94hp/99tq version please. lol

[David]

http://www.chevrolet.com.br/pickups/montana.html

+1 that compact is what is needed here more than ever.

 

If GM brought this here now, they would corner compact, mid-size and full-size trucks and dethrone everyone including FORD as the biggest truck builder and supplier.

 

I can see many city dwellers buying this compact truck.

[Stew]

 

 

Well it says he wants one.

 

But that doesn't mean he can.

 

I know... the whole GM merger fiasco was all about a midsize truck the whole time.

 

Wait a minute - isn't the jeep truck going to be a compact/midsize truck?

 

Dafuq?!!

 

Yes, it will be based on the Wrangler so it will be printing money for FCA.

 

I wonder how bad of fuel mileage the Jeep truck will get compared to the other trucks who have at least visited wind tunnels. It'll be rated 18/19 city/highway, lol. 

 

Actually the current Wranglers are already rated over 20 MPG on the hwy with the old 5 speed auto.  This will be based on the new Wrangler which will be lighter, more aerodynamic, and have the 8 speed auto. m I say it will not have a problem matching Colorado FE engine for engine.