Exclusive rendering, courtesy of YASID DESIGN, brings the Dodge Rampage to life with enhanced features and design cues that not only call back to the origins of the light truck but also take a bold step into the future of tech and functionality.

The original compact pickup, or as it was referred to at the time of its 1982 release, the "coupe utility vehicle", came at a time in history when full-size pickups weren’t the backdrop of American culture. Times have definitely changed, as Ford F-150, Dodge Ram, and Toyota Tacoma are among the top-selling vehicles on American roads today, often outselling popular sedans and SUVs.

Moreover, compact trucks are seeing a surge in popularity with the Ford Maverick featuring modern tech and rugged functions that make it widespread among weekend explorers and off-road enthusiasts, as well as everyday folks that need a reliable workhorse around the job site that won’t break the bank. With Dodge making strides by employing electric motors to increase fuel efficiency and power, as observed in the Dodge Hornet, the potential for a compact sport truck bearing the Rampage nameplate is high.

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Our Idea Of A Dodge Rampage

The artist-designed render depicts a sleek rendition of the classic compact pickup. Featuring smooth, modern contours indicative of Dodge’s design sentiment, the two-door pickup sports modest aerodynamic accents and a street-inspired stance.

The cohesive body lines run perpendicular along the length of the pickup, with a seamless blending of the fender flares with the upper contours of the pickup. Modest aerodynamic features including a small hood scoop and duckbill spoiler give the render a sporty appearance, popular among modern sportscars.

The front end is particularly interesting, with the bonnet hanging slightly over the slender grille area, mirroring the front bumper's “underbite”, giving the compact pickup symmetrical dimension in the nose, and tying up the downward pointed front-end design, a familiar feature of the original 1980s models Rampage.

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The New Rampage Could Blend Sleek Body Lines And Sharp Angles

Between the overhanging bonnet and bumper design, the headlights rest in a slightly curved rectangular area, appearing carved out of the front end, a unique design aspect. Lower portions of the front bumper feature a modest air dam that mirrors the rectangular headlights and grille area in dimension. This feature likely adds to the aero and internal cooling attributes of the Rampage, while keeping the overall intentions of this feature cohesive with the pickup's design.

The clean and steady body lines can be traced to the rear of the pickup without pause, ending at the sharp, rectangular tailgate. Sporting a popular Dodge identifier: the bar-style taillights that run the width of the vehicle, the Rampage renders inject a sense of modern familiarity with the American automaker into the concept art. This style can be observed in the modern Charger, Challenger, and Durango.

The rectangular and geometrical aesthetic carries throughout the entire tailgate, with the symmetry of the bar-style taillights following suit. A key design note that serves as an attractive feature is the rear bumper. Its lower angle pitches upward, allowing for more ground clearance in the rear while also adding character to the functional design.

A small duckbill spoiler sits atop the tailgate, adding to the modest aero features of the render, while quad exhaust carved out of the bumper gives the appearance of a sporty truck. The contours and diffusers around the exhaust tips tie up the modern sport nature of the pickup, complimenting the similar design sensibilities in the front splitter.

The two-door single cab sports sleek contours in the front and sharp lines in the rear, with a vertical two-tone color scheme that carries to the roof of the pickup. The A-pillar and buttresses blend seamlessly into the body's design, carrying the gloss orange to the roof, while the lower portion of the entire vehicle is black.

The wide wheelbase and street-style tires hint at the future Rampage’s performance, and with Dodge keeping a tight grip on the power and muscle of the American market, it may be safe to assume that the Rampage will boast respectable power in its small stature.

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The New Rampage Could Feature A Similar Platform As The Dodge Hornet

The new Rampage will likely utilize the unibody construction, possibly the same Stellantis Small Wide platform as the Dodge Hornet and Alpha Romeo Tonale. The STLA Medium platform, introduced by Stellantis earlier this year, also serves as a strong candidate for Future Rampage platforms, as it allows for dual electric motors, increased power, and longer battery range.

The Dodge RAM 1200 (aka Rampage) hit Brazilian markets in 2023 with a 170-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel powertrain. That powertrain likely won’t be utilized should the RAM 1200 (Rampage) come to the States. Instead, the U.S Rampage may employ the powertrain feature in the Hornet, the new Hurricane 2.0-liter inline-four engine that pairs with the standard all-wheel drive and nine-speed automatic transmission, making 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.

For a higher tier trim, Dodge may also opt to upgrade the Rampage to the 288-horsepower PHEV powertrain from the Hornet R/T sport-tuned trim. The Hornet R/T’s powertrain pairs a turbocharged 1.3-liter inline-four with an electric motor and six-speed automatic transmission.

Though no concrete confirmations about the Rampage’s U.S. debut have been made, reports from the President of Stellantis South America, Antonio Filosa, stated that a version of the RAM 1200 would be sold in the U.S. to compete with the Ford Maverick. The same report also referenced plans for a smaller body-on-frame pickup, which may or may not be hinting at the reworking of the Rampage for U.S. markets, or even the rumored return of the Ram Dakota.

2024 Dodge Hornet R/T Performance Specs

With the market for compact pickups…well, picking up, as well as the subtle hints and easter eggs scattered throughout the Ram 1200 (Rampage) Brazilian release, many speculate that it won’t be long before the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz find competition in Dodge, in the form of a punchy coupe utility vehicle.

Thanks to our expert render provided by YASID DESIGN, we are able to theoretically put a face to the name. And as we continue to speculate over the details of the vehicle, what it will feature, and how it will impact the American compact pickup market, we’re left with real-world vehicles, including the Dodge Hornet and Brazilian RAM 1200, to base our speculation on.