Ram News: 2014 Ram 1500 To Get A Diesel Option

[William Maley]

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By William Maley

Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

February 14, 2013

It has been long rumored and caught on camera, but now it can come out. Chrysler announced today that the 2014 Ram 1500 will come with the option of diesel V6 engine, making it the only light-duty pickup to come with a diesel in the marketplace.

“Truck owners have been emphatically asking for it, and Ram will be the only manufacturer to offer a diesel powertrain in the half-ton segment with the 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel. The half-ton truck market is incredibly competitive, and although we’re honored the Ram 1500 has received a number of prestigious awards, we cannot rest on what we have accomplished, we must keep pushing.” said said Fred Diaz, President and CEO — Ram Truck Brand and Chrysler de Mexico in a statement today.

The diesel V6 in question is the 3.0L VM Motori engine that will be used on the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The engine will be mated to a eight-speed automatic. Chrysler is being quiet on power outputs for the Ram 1500 diesel, but we wouldn't be surprised if it matches or is slightly above the 240 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque that the 3.0L produces in the Grand Cherokee.

The diesel option arrives in the third quarter of 2013.

Source: Ram

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected]or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

Press Release is on Page 2

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Ram to Build Industry’s Only Light-duty Diesel Pickup

• 3.0-liter V-6 EcoDiesel to deliver best-in-class fuel economy, a title already owned by the 2013 Ram 1500
  
• Clean diesel features low CO2 emissions and impressive V-6 capability
  
• Diesel engines praised for outstanding range and torque
  
• Ram first to market with game-changing technologies
  

February 14, 2013 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Beginning in third-quarter 2013, Ram will become the only brand to offer a small-displacement diesel for its half-ton line of trucks.

The 2014 Ram 1500 will offer a new, 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engine, mated with the eight-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission. The powertrain is expected to deliver an outstanding combination of best-in-class fuel efficiency, best-in-class torque and impressive capability.

“Truck owners have been emphatically asking for it, and Ram will be the only manufacturer to offer a diesel powertrain in the half-ton segment with the 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel,” said Fred Diaz, President and CEO — Ram Truck Brand and Chrysler de Mexico, Chrysler Group LLC. “The half-ton truck market is incredibly competitive, and although we’re honored the Ram 1500 has received a number of prestigious awards, we cannot rest on what we have accomplished, we must keep pushing.”

The 2013 Ram 1500 won Motor Trend’s Truck of the Year, The North American Truck of the Year and Truck of Texas -- a rare trifecta in the pickup segment. Building on the award-winning truck, the 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel will further stretch its best-in-class fuel economy title lead and continue to raise the innovation bar in one of the automotive industry’s most customer-loyal segments.

“The Ram 1500 with 3.0-liter V-6 turbo EcoDiesel and TorqueFlite eight-speed transmission deliver on the demands of truckers by providing best-in-class torque, fuel economy and range. There’s no doubt that being the only truck manufacturer to offer this game changing technology will provide Ram with a competitive advantage.”

The new 3.0-liter V-6 EcoDiesel is among today's most advanced diesel engines. Its emissions are 60 percent less than those produced by diesel powertrains 25 years ago. The impressive combination of torque and fuel economy marks new levels of performance for small V-6 engines.

Ram’s newest turbo diesel engine is manufactured by VM Motori, a Chrysler Group diesel engine supplier since 1992.

Over the past 10 months, the Ram Truck brand has set an aggressive product cadence. Ram’s big push began in April 2012 with the introduction of the Ram 1500 with class-leading 25 mpg fuel efficiency and innovative features such as Active Level four-corner air suspension.

The Ram Brand followed that news with the launch of the Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups. Their 30,000-pound trailer-tow rating – more than three tons more than their closest competitor -- and 850 lb.-ft. of torque are at the top of their class. Most recently, Ram introduced the new 2014 Ram ProMaster van with its own list of best-in-class features, including fuel efficiency, payload, cargo capacity and lowest cost of ownership.

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[Drew Dowdell]

Segment changer!

[GMTruckGuy74]

Segment changer!

You're 100% correct. GM could have been the segment changer by offering a "baby" Duramax diesel in the 2015 K2XX trucks, but they didn't. RAM will definitely see more sales in 2014 because of the diesel engine option.

[G. David Felt]

GM totally screwed this as they could have been the Segment changer and Leader by then taking a baby Duramax and also puttig it in the SUV's.

They could still be a segment changer if they brought the 2.9L Baby Duramax to this market in mid to small size CUV's.

[regfootball]

Drew's right. Brilliant move by Dodge.

Er, RAM.

30 mpg highway?

[Robert Hall]

Have any of the Big 3 ever offered a light duty full size diesel pickup in the US before? I remember Chevy/GMC had a diesel in the '70s-80s but wasn't it only in the heavy duty models? Likewise for Ford and Dodge previously...

[ocnblu]

The Olds 5.7 was only offered in the half tons.

This is great news tempered by reality... if this engine costs as much in the Dodge pickup as it does in the Cherokee... it will temper sales, I'm afraid, and that is not what I hoped for.

[balthazar]

Studebaker (part of the Big 4) used to offer diesel pick ups in the 50s (EDIT : oops- those were HD lines). I have a IH Scout diesel road test from the '70s, did the IH pickups offer the diesel?

Does GM still own 50% of VM Motori ??

Edited February 15, 2013 by balthazar

[Cremazie]

Don't worry guys, GM will bring a diesel to market in the 1500's after Ford, Toyota and Nissan have them!

[G. David Felt]

Don't worry guys, GM will bring a diesel to market in the 1500's after Ford, Toyota and Nissan have them!

NO NO NO, They need to be Second now that Ram took First.

[Drew Dowdell]

I think Ford already said no to F-150 diesels.

[G. David Felt]

Yet if GM also gets in the game, betcha they will reconsider it and especially if the Asian brands get a diesel into their trucks.

[bobo]

GM also had the 6.2 and 6.5 liter diesel V8s in the light-duty C/K pickups from 1982 onward.

[ocnblu]

I wonder if the Dodge diesel will be available in any trim level and cab configuration...

[Robert Hall]

Research turns up that Dodge had a Mitsubishi diesel option in 1978..