--- title: "Ram Dakota Confirmed for 2027 and Expected To Cost About $40K: TDS" date: "2025-12-19" modified: "2025-12-19" authors: - name: "Joel Feder" job_title: "Director of Content and Product" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/joel-feder" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/ram-dakota-confirmed-for-2027-and-expected-to-cost-about-40k-tds" categories: - "News" - "The Downshift" --- # Ram Dakota Confirmed for 2027 and Expected To Cost About $40K: TDS ![2026 Ram 1500]() *\Joel Feder\ Β * Good morning and welcome to *The Downshift*, or *TDS* for short. Tight, light, and right, *TDS* gathers the latest automotive news from around the globe and puts it in one place. Stories are summarized in a single sentence accompanied by a link for those seeking more information. The first cup of coffee is gone and I'm already onto the second so let's get into it. 🚘 What I’m driving: Headed into the weekend with the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid and am digging both the design and functionality along with the premium materials. Truly curious how the market will react to a $60,625 Palisade. 🐏 Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis finally [confirmed what we all knew](): the Dakota nameplate is returning on the automaker's midsize pickup; that midsize truck is set to arrive in 2027 and is expected to cost about $40,000 with multiple powertrains on deck including both a gas and plug-in hybrid option. πŸ‘¨β€πŸ’Ό GM CEO Mary Barra is [reportedly testing the automaker's new Chief Product Officer](), Sterling Anderson, as her potential replacement as CEO when retirement time comes; Anderson was previously at Tesla and led the Model X and Autopilot teams during his tenure with Musk. 😼 Just in time for the holidays Stellantis has [started taking orders]() for the 2026 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, which never died despite the final special edition models. πŸ”‹ The [2027 Dodge Charger Daytona debuted]() and it arrives with a Tesla-like NACS charge port rather than the current car's CCS port. ‼️ Ford's [recalling 272,645 vehicles]() including the F-150 Lightning, Mustang Mach-E, and Maverick pickups due to an integrated park module that could fail to lock into place causing the vehicles to roll away after being put into park. 🚘 The [2026 Honda Accord debuted]() with a price of less than $30,000 and a larger touchscreen standard across the lineup. 🦡 As promised at the eleventh hour Rivian [began rolling out a new software update](), 2025.46, that adds Kick Turn and the Rad Tuner features to second-generation R1 Quad models; the update also brings Universal Hands-Free Driving assist that enables the system to work on 3.5 million miles of road along with Rivian Digital Key functionality that enables second-generation R1s to have the car key added to a smartphone's digital wallet. πŸš— Kia [announced the 2026 K4 Hatchback will cost]() a value-packed $26,085 when it arrives next year. *Have feedback on the formatting of TDS? Send us a note: tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Overseeing what you see, read, touch, hear, and interact with from the vast lakes of Minnesota, Joel Feder shapes how The Drive looks and operates as the head of content and product initiatives. On a daily basis, Joel leads the newsroom and editorial staff playing point on both short-term coverage and long-term strategic plans. His mission is to help ensure The Drive shapes the future of automotive media by helping the team execute original reporting, breaking news, and exclusive opportunities. Regarded as an industry insider and recognized by colleagues, fellow journalists, and manufacturers as a point-person and leader in the industry, Joel owns and runs the largest automotive professionals group on Facebook in an effort to serve and help others. Joel serves as a juror for the World Car Awards. In addition, he is the board chair and chair of the governance and nominating committee for Move Forward MN, a local non-profit that helps at-risk youth with barrier-free mental health and housing services. While you’re reading this he’s either on his computer or iPhone chasing the latest news or drafting a story. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]() [Bluesky]() [Email]()