Auburn Hills, MI - Bigger, bolder and tougher, the all-new 2005 Dodge Dakota stands alone as the largest, most powerful and most capable mid-size pickup in the market. With best-in-class torque, horsepower and towing, the new 2005 Dodge Dakota delivers full-size pickup styling, feel and power with the only V-8 in its class.

“The all-new 2005 Dodge Dakota gives mid-size truck buyers exactly what they want,” said Mike Donoughe, Vice President, Body-on-Frame Product Team. “The all-new Dodge Dakota delivers full-size pickup capability in a mid-size package, providing customers a pickup that gets the job done, while offering better fuel economy and maneuverability than a full-size pickup. With more power, torque, towing capability and interior space than the competition, Dodge Dakota once again defines the mid-size pickup segment.”

DODGE: BOLD, POWERFUL AND CAPABLE

The all-new 2005 Dodge Dakota takes its place at the head of the mid-size truck class, with an all-new, stronger fully-boxed frame. New front and rear suspensions deliver improved ride refinement, yet still provide a best-in-class 7,150 lbs. of towing capability and a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 11,700 lbs.

“Dodge created the mid-size segment with the original Dakota and the new Dodge Dakota is still the only mid-size truck that hits the mark,” said Darryl Jackson, Vice President, Dodge Marketing. “Dodge Dakota lets our owners work hard and play hard by providing the largest and most powerful mid-size pickup.

“The 2005 Dakota is the next step in the all-new Dodge truck lineup,” added Jackson. “As with the Dodge Ram 1500 HEMI‚ Dodge Ram SRT-10 and Dodge Ram Heavy Duty, Dodge Dakota dominates its segment with power and capability. Longer and wider than the mid-size competition, the new Dodge Dakota offers best-in-class overall interior space and comfort.”

The all-new 2005 Dodge Dakota is 3.7 inches longer than its predecessor, primarily ahead of the front axle, which provides added crush space for improved impact performance. The new design reflects a balance between added safety features and the maneuverability of a true mid-size pickup. Bumpers are extended slightly fore and aft in order to increase protective capabilities in low-speed impacts.

CLASS-DOMINATING POWER WITH THE ONLY V-8 IN ITS CLASS

Now with two V-8 offerings, Dodge Dakota dominates the mid-size segment in power and torque, with a powerful standard 3.7-liter Magnum V-6 rated at 210 horsepower and 235 lb.-ft. of torque.

The 4.7-liter V-8 Magnum is rated at 230 horsepower at 4,600 rpm and 290 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,600 rpm, while the new 4.7-liter High Output Magnum V-8 further eclipses the competition in both power and torque with 250-plus horsepower and 300-plus lb.-ft. of torque. Both V-8 engines are rated between three and four-percent more fuel efficient than the previous Dodge Dakota V-8 engines.

FULL-SIZE TRUCK CAPABILITY AND COMFORT

New interiors improve comfort levels on both Dodge Dakota Club Cab and Dakota Quad Cab models, with more interior room (55.3 cu. ft. interior volume on Dakota Club Cab, 55.8 cu. ft. interior volume on Dakota Quad Cab) than any other mid-size pickup. The Dodge Dakota Quad Cab offers the most overall interior space in its class with available six-passenger seating. The 2005 Dodge Dakota also becomes the first mid-size pickup to offer heated cloth seats.

The Dakota Club Cab becomes the standard cab offering of the all-new Dakota. With forward-facing rear seats and new standard rear-hinged access doors, the Dakota Club Cab’s individual rear seats provide seating for two adults in greater comfort than the previous three-passenger seat. For added versatility, folding rear seat cushions provide 30.0 cu. ft. of storage behind the front seats, an increase of 4.0 cu. ft.

The all-new 2005 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab is roomier than any other mid-size pickup, providing rear seating for three adults. The driver’s seat track on both Quad Cabs and Club Cabs have 8.7 inches of travel to improve comfort. The Club Cab front passenger seat has an ample 7.5 inches of travel. With rear seats folded, there is 37.1 cu. ft. of storage space behind the Quad Cab’s front seats, an increase of 7.2 cu. ft.

Dodge Dakota’s capability advantage continues with more room between the wheel wells (45.2 inches) than the competition, but Dakota maintains its bed wall height of 17.6 inches for easy loading. Dodge Dakota Club Cab features a six-foot, six-inch bed and the Dakota Quad Cab features a five-foot, four-inch bed.

REFINEMENT

From its chiseled and muscular exterior to its clean and purposeful interior design geometry, the all-new Dodge Dakota brings new levels of refinement to the mid-size pickup segment. All-new coil-over shock front suspension and rack and pinion steering deliver improved ride and handling, while cleaner aerodynamics and improved sound-deadening techniques combine to deliver the best refinement levels in its class.

“The all-new hydroformed and fully-boxed frame delivers both chassis refinement and strength,” said Donoughe. “We fully realize that Dodge Dakota is more than a work truck. It will carry families and serve as a daily driver, as well as tow and haul. The processes we developed refining the new Dodge Ram and Durango – such as aerodynamic testing, hydroforming frame rails and new refinement techniques – were used to make Dodge Dakota an even more accomplished pickup.”

With a new front and rear suspension, a new stiffer frame, rack-and-pinion steering and standard 16-inch wheels, the all-new 2005 Dodge Dakota is the best riding and handling mid-size truck on the market.

SAFETY

The all-new 2005 Dodge Dakota’s hydroformed and fully-boxed frame improves handling, accident avoidance and crash protection. With the new, award-winning and patented octagonal front frame rail tips that debuted on the 2004 Dodge Durango, the Dakota absorbs frontal impacts, and the rail tips may be removed to ease repair without frame replacement.

The 2005 Dodge Dakota features a new advanced air bag system that includes dual-stage front air bags and an occupant-sensing system for the passenger-side front air bag. Other safety features available on the new Dodge Dakota include side curtain air bags, which cover both rows of seats on Club and Quad Cabs. Rear seat positions in the Dodge Dakota feature three-point shoulder belts, including a new center position on the Quad Cab.

Designed to maintain optimal positioning in case of an impact, rear seats on the new Dodge Dakota Club Cab feature fixed outboard rear head restraints, mounted to the roof and cab back. The new Dakota Quad Cab also features larger coverage head restraints that are fixed to the top of the outboard rear seats. The new design was developed to maintain optimal positioning in case of an impact.

The all-new 2005 Dodge Dakota is built at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Warren, Mich.

“With the all-new Dodge Dakota, we have created a new design language that instantly identifies Dakota as a new Dodge pickup,” said Trevor Creed, Senior Vice President, Chrysler Group Design. “We have refined the pickup styling elements without losing any of the boldness and power that defines the Dodge Ram and new Dodge Durango. Viewed from the side, Dodge Dakota has an aggressive attitude and a taller bodyside in keeping with current design trends.” The bold new design reinforces Dodge Dakota’s size and power advantages over the competition with full-size styling cues. The grille conveys a powerful and prominent brand statement with the signature Dodge cross-hair as the focal point. The sharply defined and larger hood-mounted grille descends into the front bumper for more visual impact. Additionally, an air dam below the front fascia completes the bold look, while reducing airflow under the vehicle, lowering drag. “The design of the new Dakota is directly connected to the evolution of the Dodge Ram,” added Creed. “It defines the look for its segment, just as the Dodge Ram does for full-size trucks.” A massive front bumper fascia creates a protective image. The new front fascia features a bright, ingot-like grille surround. Larger, more technical-looking headlamps provide a contemporary look. In combination with the large, circular, park and turn-signal lamps, the overall impression is that of quad headlamps.

MUSCULAR DEFINITION, TAUT LINES

“The Dakota is immediately recognizable from a distance as a Dodge pickup,” said Rick Aneiros, Vice President, Truck Design. “With the new Dodge Dakota, we evolved the design to one that is more angular and refined, while retaining the unmistakable Dodge muscularity.” The sharply defined fender forms continue the powerful imagery of the grille into the side view.

To increase the proportion of body-to-glass in keeping with the new design, a body-color sill appliqué with integrated front wheel-opening stone protection visually adds two to three inches to the lower body depth. The effect of the highly-sculptured, precise, wheel arch forms is to create a taut, controlled appearance. Above the sharply defined character line, side panels have more of a refined shape.

The muscular fender forms are angular in shape, precisely intersecting the body, and gestured to enhance the overall bold stance. The side appearance of the 2005 Dodge Dakota is uninterrupted by wheel flares. A road blast/mud deflector is integrated into the sheet metal of the front fender, just aft of the wheel opening.

The rear of the 2005 Dodge Dakota features a more Ram-like robustness. The muscular bumper assembly is complemented by distinctive dual barrel taillamps inspired by the Power Wagon concept, which was introduced at the 1999 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

STYLE, FLEXIBILITY AND COMFORT

The design philosophy behind the interior of the 2005 Dodge Dakota is a surface language defined by pure geometry. Surface sections are made up of more constant radii, delivering a cleaner and simpler overall form. The functional and elegant instrument panel is all-new, and delivers information in a clean, well-organized manner. Crisp, taut lines, maximize the sense of high-quality craftsmanship, while organizing the interior in a logical manner.

“The interior of the all-new Dodge Dakota is clearly refined,” said Creed. “Dakota’s interior is a clean and precise design; simple yet elegant and upscale. We have moved to very large, clear instruments and more of a tailored look for materials, including the seat cloth and leather surfaces.”

The new instrument panel cluster features a large, centrally located speedometer and white-faced gauges that provide a connection to other Dodge performance vehicles. The steering wheel features a new four-spoke design shared with the Dodge truck family. The central brow crowns the prominent center stack to divide the driver and passenger seating areas. “Venetian Blind” style air vents close flush and provide a clean appearance. The design incorporates a new line of radios with larger knobs and simple graphics. The new sound system is now available with SIRIUS™ Satellite Radio, six-disc in-dash CD systems and an integrated UConnect™ hands-free communications system. The new interior features refined seat designs and heated cloth and leather seats. Heated cloth seats are a segment first on a mid-size pickup.

“We have developed a design that evokes all the qualities of toughness and durability expected of our light trucks,” said Aneiros. “Dakota is all Dodge!”