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When the Ram 1200 was leaked earlier this year, it grabbed people’s attention: a compact, affordable pickup truck from Ram which had the potential to be a scaled-down Ram 1500. Destined for South America, the truck debuted in Mexico and is a potential rival to the Ford Ranger. It will not be sold in the States, however.

Even if the Ram 1200 was coming to the US – which for the moment it isn’t – there’s one big problem: the available range of engines. That’s because there isn’t a range of engines. There’s only one available engine and it’s weak. So CarBuzz decided to look at other engines available in the Stellantis Group to find a better fit for the 1200.

The Ram 1200 At a Glance: A Mixed Bag

It’s based on the Peugeot Landtrek (and Fiat Titano), both designed and built in China by Changan. Changan’s Kaicene F70 truck is the basis for the Peugeot and other badge-engineered models. That makes this Chinese-built, French compact pickup about as American as apple pie, which was actually invented by the British. But the Ram 1200 is also a capable little workhorse with potential. It has a 2,668-lb maximum payload capacity as well as a 6,614-lb towing capacity.

Although the 1200 has rear-wheel drive as standard, the Laramie trim comes with all-wheel drive. There is even a choice of a 6-speed manual transmission alongside an automatic, while the Tradesman commercial trim is available as a single or double cab. Its styling is lightly modified over its Peugeot cousin, but the overall look inside and out is modern and there is even relative luxury with the range-topping Laramie. If the powertrain options were as good as the rest of the pickup, it would be a sure-fire hit, but the sole 2.4-liter is a little underwhelming, especially for North American tastes. Since Peugeot and Ram are both under the Stellantis corporate umbrella, it stands to reason that the brand could source other engines available elsewhere.

Stellantis GSE: Dodge Hornet R/T – 288 hp

Stellantis has two modular engines that are used across a broad range of brands, of which one is the GSE (Global Small Engine). The engine is available as a 1.0-liter inline-3, and 1.3 and 1.5 inline 4s.. Vehicles that use these engines include Jeep-branded vehicles such as the Renegade and Compass, as well as various Fiat models and others. As a replacement for the Ram 1200, though, the standard engines are not as strong as the 1200’s 2.4-liter Mitsubishi 4-cylinder.

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However, the turbocharged, plug-in hybrid from the Dodge Hornet R/T (and Alfa Romeo Tonale) is a great little unit with far more power. With up to 288 hp and 383 lb-ft, the PHEV powertrain would equip the Ram 1200 with much more useful torque for hauling heavy loads, as well as being sprightly around town. It is also already paired with the 6-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive combo in the Hornet. A punchy, compact, and lightweight engine with great fuel economy is just what the Ram 1200 needs.

Stellantis GME: Alfa Romeo Giulia – 276 hp

Another engine that could surpass the 4-pot in the Ram 1200 is the Stellantis GME engine, which stands for Global Medium Engine. At 2.0 liters of capacity, the turbocharged unit is capable of 280 hp and 306 lb-ft in the Alfa Romeo Giulia. It’s an inline-4 engine, produced from 2016 to the present, also shared with other Stellantis brands such as Jeep, Maserati, and even Ram for the Rampage.

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A smaller engine that makes more power and torque is a no-brainer, especially as it’s a Stellantis product, and the Ram Rampage also uses this engine. The Alfa Romeo uses this engine to great effect, with a 0-60 mph time in the 5-second range, but the increased torque would be ideal for the Ram 1200’s ability to haul and tow, with none of the hybrid tech from the GSE to complicate matters. We’d almost suggested the Giulia Quadrifoglio’s Ferrari-derived 2.9-liter V6, but that engine has already left the States and will soon be out of production.

Chrysler Pentastar: Ram 1500 – 305 hp

Chrysler’s reliable old Pentastar V6 isn’t actually that old. Debuting in 2010, the 3.0-liter, 3.2-liter, and 3.6-liter 60-degree V6 is a bulletproof and reliable engine. It’s not fancy, with a naturally aspirated output of 305 hp and a relatively modest torque figure of 269 lb-ft. Next to smaller turbocharged engines, it is starting to show its age, but there’s a reason it has been featured in so many vehicles, from the Jeep Wrangler to the Dodge Challenger. It works well and is relatively cheap to run.

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In the Ram 1200, the boost in power and torque would be handy, as well as the extra capacity which would entice customers who are put off by the 1200’s puny 2.4-liter engine. With no turbocharger and the Pentastar’s proven track record, the engine would likely be a huge step-up in long-term reliability and, crucially, parts availability. It might need a bit of re-engineering to fit, but the Pentastar would be a great addition to the affordable pickup truck’s engine range. If it’s good enough for the Ram 1500, which is a full-size pickup truck, it’s good enough for the compact Ram 1200. The Ram 1500 range includes the Pentastar as a base engine, but the powerful Hurricane is offered as standard on higher trims.

Stellantis Hurricane SO: Ram 1500 – 420 hp

Stellantis’ Hurricane engine almost needs no introduction, but it is the hero of the post-V8 automotive world. It lacks the charisma and sound of a Hemi but makes from 420-540 hp thanks to twin-turbochargers, even though it’s just a 3.0-liter straight six. The Hurricane is part of the GME family with which it shares the same cylinder spacing and bore/stroke, but shares little with the 2.0-liter mentioned earlier. At 3.0 liters in capacity, the Hurricane is small but mighty, fitting in perfectly with the Ram 1500 range, where it is offered in both SO (standard output) and HO (high output) versions.

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The Hurricane HO makes 540 hp / 521 lb-ft, but that would be overkill for the Ram 1200. With 3.0 liters of capacity, the engine may still fit under the hood of the 1200, while the SO’s 420 hp and 469 lb-ft would be a massive improvement over the 2.4-liter 4-pot. It even surpasses the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 that makes 410 hp / 429 lb-ft in the current Ram 2500. As we’ve seen, there are various engine choices already under Stellantis’ roof with capacities ranging from 1.3 liters to 3.6 liters, which all offer a big bump in power over the 1200’s mediocre powerplant. The Pentastar suits Ram’s American image and lust for capacity, the Hornet R/T’s hybrid is punchy and efficient, while the Hurricane is everything you could want in a compact pickup. Perhaps it could be a mini Ram 1200 TRX – there’s an idea.