Ram has just pulled the wraps off the Dakota Nightfall concept. It won’t remain a concept for long, production is confirmed, but only for South America.
Stellantis presents the Dakota Nightfall Concept for South America
Shares components with the Fiat Titano and Peugeot Landtrek
Will be built in Córdoba, Argentina
For years, Stellantis, and more specifically Ram, has been teasing the idea of bringing a compact pickup back into its lineup. While Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, and even Jeep have joined the segment, Ram has been notably absent, despite being a brand built on pickups. Now Ram is turning up the frustration with the reveal of the Ram Dakota Nightfall concept, a highly desirable compact truck that, for now, is bound exclusively for South America.
2025 Ram Dakota Nightfall ConceptRam didn’t have to look far for inspiration when creating the Dakota Nightfall. Engineers turned to existing products within the Stellantis family, namely, the Fiat Titano and Peugeot Landtrek – which served as the base. That’s most evident inside the cab, which is carried over entirely from those models.
The real Ram identity shines through up front. The headlight design is clearly inspired by the Ram 1500, as is the massive grille with its complex inner structure. The bumper is entirely unique as well, sporting a much more aggressive look with integrated air intakes, a skid plate, and even a winch. For flair and to tie it to the Ram 1500 TRX, designers added a set of LED light strips on the hood and roofline.
2025 Ram Dakota Nightfall ConceptFrom the side, it rides on 18-inch wheels wrapped in 33-inch off-road tires. To tackle harsh terrain, the truck gets widened tracks, side steps, a tow hook, and a sports bar with integrated LEDs that holds a full-size spare tire. Bronze accents and a series of body decals complete the package.
Some Chinese DNA
The platform under the Ram Dakota Nightfall concept is no stranger to the Stellantis group. It’s the same architecture found under the Fiat Titano and Peugeot Landtrek, which in turn are based on Chinese designs, namely the Kaicene F70 and Changan Hunter/Lantazhe. This means that, as much as we’d love to get our hands on the upcoming Ram Dakota in any form, our hopes just took a serious hit.
2025 Ram Dakota Nightfall ConceptUnder the hood, Ram hasn’t released specs. However, it’s safe to assume it will feature the same 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder recently introduced in the Fiat Titano. That engine delivers 197 horsepower and a healthy 332 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic and, of course, 4×4 capability.
Stellantis has already confirmed that this concept won’t stay in show form for long. The production version will be unveiled soon, with assembly taking place at Stellantis’ Córdoba, Argentina, facility.
RAM Received 10,000 Orders for the 2026 1500 HEMI in the First 24 Hours
And Us?
As for North America, we’ll have to keep waiting for Stellantis to bring us a compact pickup. Ram says its entry in the compact truck segment will begin production in 2027 at its Belvidere, Illinois, plant. That means the earliest we could see one on our roads would be late 2027 or early 2028. Patience, indeed.
