FCA is not wasting time. The company discontinued Fiat Fullback, or Strada, last year. This season, a new model is taking its place in the South American and Mexican markets. That is the 2021 Ram 700. Well, this truck is not coming to the US, that is for sure. First, it is the compact pickup, a type of vehicle that is not available in North America. It is also a unibody truck. All the leading truckmakers are enjoying success from ladder frame architectures, and the only pickup with a unibody platform is the slowest-selling Honda Ridgeline. So, no US appearance is likely for the Ram 700.
On the other hand, there is a handful of interesting models that the truck needs to overshadow. It won’t be easy, although Fiat established a wide fan base. The 2021 Ram 700 will upgrade the offer, but it will be hard to make a breakthrough against Nissan Navara, Ford Ranger, and especially Toyota Hilux. Also, Chevrolet recently added S10 to its South American portfolio. It seems like FCA and GM are starting a new page in its rivalry.
2021 Ram 700 Specs
The 2021 Ram 700 is available with a pair of petrol engines. FCA is not announcing yet, but there are rumors that diesel is certain for 14 markets that will offer this truck. Also, a hybrid is more of a long-shot. Until these details are cleared by the company, the Ram 700 will rely on the power coming from a 1.4-liter unit capable to produce 84 horsepower and 87 lb-ft of torque. For the top of the range versions, another option is there. A 1.3-liter turbocharged unit raises the bar to 98 horsepower and 95 lb-ft. Both configurations are sending power to the front axle through a manual gearbox. The automatic transmission is optional, and fans believe the Ram 700 4×4 is also coming out soon.
Options
So far, we know that the 2021 Ram 700 is available with two cab configurations and three trim levels. The base model is using a single cab and the SLT package. If you want either Big Horn or Laramie model, you will have to upgrade the cabin to a double cab. The bedliner is standard. A 7-inch touchscreen display is there, and the infotainment system supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto services. Soon, the company will bring a new multimedia system, Uconnect 5.0.
Competition
Compact trucks are not quite popular in the US. But, the recent spy photos and leaked rumors about Ford Maverick can make FCA thinking of bringing the 2021 Ram 700 to North America. Outside the United States, the truck will also face competition from the Chevrolet S-10. General Motors brought back the predecessor of Chevy Colorado. Nevertheless, it is slightly larger than Ram 700. The FCA will launch its new truck in 14 markets, most of them in South America. The pickup will be also available in Mexico and the starting price will be around $12,000 and top of the lineup Laramie model will cost $15k.