The Ram Daytona will
be available with either a 4x4 or 4x2 drivetrains and in regular cab or
Quad Cab body style. The regular cab will have a molded side sill while
the Quad Cab includes a running board. Only two colors will be offered:
Go Mango, which is a burnt orange shown in our photos, or Silver Metallic.
These colors will also accent the center bezel on the dash and highlight
the instrument panel. Other interior features include premium cloth seating
and Daytona monograms in the headrests and floor mats.
Included in the Daytona
package will be the 5.7-liter Hemi engine, 5-speed automatic transmission
and 3.92:1 rear axle ratio.
“This was a
cooperative effort between product planning and marketing together with
the technical department,” explains Eberhart. “More and more,
we actually bring Mopar Performance into the fold. In the Daytona, a lot
of parts are Mopar engineered.”
Like the
Rumble Bee, the Daytona will be a limited edition and feature a numbered
plaque on the dash. However, Dodge officials have not set the production
number. Owners of Rumble Bees have filled Internet forums with complaints
that production of that limited edition exceeded the advertised 3700.
However, Eberhart steadfastly denied that there was any overrun.
“We built exactly
what we said we were going to build,” says Eberhart. “Otherwise
you lose the draw you get with these (limited edition) vehicles.”
Dodge officials say
the Daytona will be priced between $32,200 and $39,000, depending on drivetrain
and cab configuration.
On a separate note,
Eberhart was asked about special editions for the new Dakota:
“We just launched
Dakota. We like to bring special edition models in as part of the life
cycle management. So with Dakota, we already have some things planned
12 months down the line, which will help sustain the momentum.”
Dodge is
also expected to make major announcements regarding the pickup line at
the Chicago auto show. No pickup announcements were scheduled for the
Detroit Auto Show.
