Is The Strada Coming To The U.S. As The Next New Ram Dakota?

We recently heard reports that heavily camouflaged prototype pickups were spotted driving around Detroit. According to the reports these trucks looked a lot like Fiat Stradas, but with blacked-out Ram badges on the grill. As you may know, Chrysler has been talking for years about bringing back a small pickup truck. Perhaps they are planning on bringing the Strada to North America?

The Strada is a lightweight pickup that was originally designed for the small roads of Brazil and Italy. The Strada is small and a 180 from typical American trucks like RAM or the F-150. Why would anyone be testing this rig on American roads if not to eventually sell it here?

We know Chrysler recently announced its new five-year plan that includes a new mid-size pickup truck for the North American market. If this is true, it will have to be little more powerful than the current Strada for it to be a success in the States. The new Dakota will have to have solid performance and at the very least, some decent off-road capabilities.

The old Dodge Dakota had a strong following that’s still kicking within the Mopar community. It was a pretty darn good truck for commutes, work and play. It has a large aftermarket resource, and remains a popular option for a budget off-roaders, especially with people building pre-runners for desert adventures. The new Dakota is going to have big shoes to fill. Do you think something like the Strada can do it?