Fiat Killed Its Cute Truck Before the U.S. Even had a Chance
The world of trucks is filled with vehicles that we, unfortunately, can’t buy in the United States. Sometimes this is due to regulations not being able to be met, but sometimes brands just don’t see the value in importing a truck to the U.S. One of these small trucks is the Fiat Fullback pickup. A vehicle that was made in collaboration between the Italian car brand and Mitsubishi. It’s also one that could very well inspire a revived Ram Dakota.
Is the Fiat Fullback discontinued?
Unfortunately, Fiat’s small truck is no longer in production. Multiple factors led to its downfall, including new emissions regulations and poor sales numbers. So, even if you like the Fullback Fiat, you can no longer purchase one new.
According to Carwow, the Euro 6 emissions standards are pretty stringent. And they mean that the Fiat truck is no longer compliant. Both diesel and gas engines are impacted, and even tougher standards are on the way.
The Fullback was only in production from 2016 to 2019, and that is a fairly short run. In some markets, it is actually known as the Ram 1200. Folks in the United States have been waiting for Ram to release a small truck. But, with the Fiat being discontinued, it’s unclear if that is actually going to happen.
The Fullback Fiat looks cute
Perhaps one of the best things about Fiat’s truck is its looks. It doesn’t look angry; it looks like a happy pickup. And that is something that we could use more of here in the U.S. In the video below, Regular Car Reviews digs into the history of the “angry car,” and it might make you realize how aggressive many of our vehicles look.
The Fiat Fullback comes in four different configurations and has three distinct trim levels. Because of this, those where this vehicle was sold could likely find something that worked for their needs. It can also be equipped with 4WD, and that is a nice feature to have on a small truck.
Can you import a truck to the United States?
Importing a vehicle that was not sold in the States originally can be done, but there are some pretty stringent rules. A vehicle can be imported if it is more than 25 years old or if it conforms to U.S. standards. Because of this, if you want to import a Fiat Fullback, you are probably out of luck.
Could a Ram small truck be based on a Fiat?
As brands like Ford and Hyundai continue pushing small trucks, Ram is notably absent from the segment. Because Ram falls under the Fiat umbrella, maybe the brand could use what Fiat did with the Fullback to build a compact pickup that meets standards here in the United States.
There have also been rumors that Ram could revive the Dakota nameplate as a small truck, but it’s not clear if that is actually going to happen. Automotive companies are usually pretty secretive with future plans.
According to MotorTrend, Ram is thinking about exploring the mid-size truck segment. And if it takes some design inspiration from the Fiat Fullback, we would not complain.
