Lucas Bell 
With automakers filling out their portfolios to favor SUVs and trucks as buyers continue to eat them up, it wasn’t much of a surprise to see mid-size trucks see a resurgence here in the States. While both Chevrolet and Ford have delivered servings of middleweight pickups in the ongoing truck war, Ram has yet to enter the battle. That said, new details about an FCA entry in the segment have leaked out of Brazil. It could end up becoming the rumored small pickup truck in the works from Ram.
Not a midsize truck, like what would be something like a new Ram Dakota. But a smaller truck to go a full segment below what’s currently available in the American market.
According to a report by Motor1, a filing with Brazil’s National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) has revealed the exterior styling of the upcoming Fiat Strada pickup. This new generation truck was supposed to be a major launch for the company in South America this year, however its release date has been postponed due to complications surrounding the coronavirus.
The documents (which happen to be in Portuguese) detail the Fiat Strada in a few different trim levels. The most spartan of the lineup features a simple black front bumper and steel wheels, while the mid-level truck appears to wear a body-color bumper and aluminum wheels. LED headlights, a full roof rack and additional door trim highlight the range topping Strada. The images only detail the crew cab variant, but there will be a single-cab model available as well.
We already know that the Fiat Strada will be available with an interesting list of powertrain options. A 1.4-liter engine that produces 87 horsepower is the biggest of the bunch, and like it’s smaller 1.3-liter counterpart that makes 108 horsepower, it comes with a five-speed manual gearbox. Should you not want to row the gears yourself, a CVT is available for the 1.3-liter motor, as well as an auto-exclusive 1.0-liter turbocharged mill.
While the Strada is made for the South American market, it has been sold as a Ram small truck in Mexico under the ‘700’ nameplate. Once the Fiat finally is launched, the likelihood of it eventually coming to Mexico is high. That is North America too, ya know. Ram 700 does have a ring to it, we have to say.
Unlike body-on-frame pickups that make up almost all of America’s new truck market, sans the Honda Ridgeline, the Fiat Strada appears to be of unibody construction. Some time ago, our own Manoli Katakis was told that if Ram were to bring a small truck to the US market, it would more than likely be of unibody construction.
Ford Motor Company is also working on a small unibody truck to slot below the midsize Ranger. It could potentially be called the Courier.
