We recently heard reports that heavily camouflaged prototype pickups were spotted driving around Detroit. According to the reports these trucks looked a lot like Fiat Stradas, but with blacked-out Ram badges on the grill. As you may know, Chrysler has been talking for years about bringing back a small pickup truck. Perhaps they are planning on bringing the Strada to North America?

The Strada is a lightweight pickup that was originally designed for the small roads of Brazil and Italy. The Strada is small and a 180 from typical American trucks like RAM or the F-150. Why would anyone be testing this rig on American roads if not to eventually sell it here?

We know Chrysler recently announced its new five-year plan that includes a new mid-size pickup truck for the North American market. If this is true, it will have to be little more powerful than the current Strada for it to be a success in the States. The new Dakota will have to have solid performance and at the very least, some decent off-road capabilities.

The old Dodge Dakota had a strong following that’s still kicking within the Mopar community. It was a pretty darn good truck for commutes, work and play. It has a large aftermarket resource, and remains a popular option for a budget off-roaders, especially with people building pre-runners for desert adventures. The new Dakota is going to have big shoes to fill. Do you think something like the Strada can do it?

Could the Strada-based pickup live up to the demands of the American light truck owner like the Dakota did for so long?