Ram is set to introduce its inaugural SUV in history, and the designs are already apparent, from the powertrain choices to the platform, alongside the size and even the name of the family vehicle.
In an exclusive interview on Wednesday, Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis told The Drive, “You would think that guess would be quite clear, wouldn’t you,” when asked if the forthcoming SUV slated for 2028 would be named the Ramcharger.
Kuniskis elaborated, “I thought Ramcharger was an excellent name for the range-extended version of the pickup, you know? Ram, Ramcharger, it’s straightforward. And now that we switched it to Rev, you might assume, okay, they’re reserving the name for a different purpose.”
The Ram 1500 Rev was initially meant to be the company’s electric truck, which launched in 2023. Later that year, a range-extended version of the EV was released under the name Ramcharger. However, the plans for the EV were halted in 2025 before the electric truck was rolled out to the public.
Ram then adjusted its strategy and opted that the upcoming range-extended electrified truck, previously to be named Ramcharger, will now carry the name Ram Rev. This leaves the Ramcharger title available.
The Ramcharger nameplate is not unfamiliar. It was first a large SUV marketed from the 1970s until the early 1990s as a Dodge. At that time, the Ramcharger was crafted on a shortened Dodge pickup truck frame. History seems to be repeating itself.
The new Ram SUV will be manufactured on the same assembly line as the Jeep Grand Wagoneer in Warren, Michigan. The Jeep is itself modeled on the current Ram 1500, which is recognized as the DT platform, with adaptations for SUV functionality. Kuniskis confirmed that the Ram SUV will indeed be a DT-based vehicle. This indicates the Ram SUV will be a full-size three-row vehicle and may come in both standard and extended wheelbase variants.
Kuniskis noted, “if you analyze that segment, every successful player in that space competes with various vehicles from multiple brands.” The CEO was alluding to how Ford markets the Ford-branded Expedition alongside the Lincoln Navigator, while GM offers the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade.
Stellantis attempted this strategy but kept it solely within the Jeep brand initially. “We began with Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, and now we’ve realized that we could have been more precise with that positioning, leading to our shift solely to the Grand Wagoneer. Thus, we see a market opportunity to establish, you know, a showroom. We claim that’s one of our competitive edges, and I firmly believe it is, as we have a house of brands, with all these distinct brands in a single showroom, showcasing various positions and personalities,” Kuniskis stated.
Kuniskis refrained from confirming which powertrains will be available in the Ram SUV, but affirmed that due to its DT foundation and shared platform with Wagoneer, all of its offerings would be compatible. This includes everything from the Hurricane turbo-six engines to the 5.7 and 6.4-liter Hemi V8s, and even the forthcoming range-extended electrified Wagoneer powertrain, initially from the Ramcharger, which will now be the Rev, that will be suitable for the Ram SUV.
The individual heading Ram didn’t discuss the anticipated price of the SUV but mentioned that “everything in that segment tends to be on the pricier side.” Regarding the Ram SUV’s placement against the Jeep in showrooms, “I wouldn’t classify them by price. I would clarify based on positioning.”
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