Introduction
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The full-size Dodge Ram, introduced three
years ago, brought big-rig styling and a host of innovative features and
design details to the pickup truck market. For 1997 Dodge has applied the
Ram look and feel to its mid-size pickup, the Dakota. We predict this almost-all-new
Dakota will have a similarly resounding success.
Perhaps most important for many, the Dakota is a uniquely nifty size,
bigger than compact pickups such as the Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma and
Chevy Sonoma, yet smaller than the full-size models. Dodge calls the Dakota
a compact, but there's nothing else quite like it. It's a little roomier
than its smaller competition, but not as cumbersome around town as a full-size
pickup.
The Dakota also offers a wide range of powerplants. At the bottom is
a 2.5-liter four-cylinder--120 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque.
Next up is an optional 3.9-liter V6 that gives a very useful 175 hp and
225 lb.-ft. of torque. It's the top choice for many buyers, particularly
those whose lifestyles don't include trailer hitches.
At the top is a Dakota exclusive: an optional 5.2-liter V8, easily the
strongest engine available in any truck anywhere near the Dakota's size.
With 220 hp and 300 lb.-ft. of torque, it gives the Dakota a maximum towing
capability of up to 6700 pounds, and an appetite for hard work you can't
match without moving up a size class.
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