In any case, just look at the styling. From the striking grille and illuminated hood intake to the rugged bumpers, fender moldings and tow hooks, it skews a lot like a mini Ram TRX.
And the truck doesn’t skimp on the equipment, either. In making the Dakota Nightfall Concept, Ram fitted the pickup with real-deal all-terrain upgrades like a front winch, beadlock wheels and underbody protection. Riding on some lifted Fox suspension and 33-inch tires, it’s a Tacoma-rivaling off-roader through and through.
Dakota pickup precedent
Even though it’s not slated for a North American release, the return of the Dakota nameplate makes for big news — the truck first hit the market in 1987, and it remained on sale in the United States until it was finally laid to rest in 2011 with Ram branding.
Enthusiasts have been calling for the truck’s revival for years now, so Stellantis could be testing the nameplate in another market before bringing the pickup back to the United States. It could use a midsize in its lineup to rival the likes of the Toyota Tacoma.