Ram News: Ram Trucks Executive: First Truck Manufacturer With 30 MPG Wins

[William Maley]

The past few years have seen truck manufacturers engage in a war of fuel economy numbers. Using new engines and fuel saving technologies, manufacturers are using fuel economy as a big selling point. Speaking with Automotive News, Ram brand director Bob Hegbloom says there is a big prize that all truck companies are aiming for: 30 MPG.

"The first manufacturer that gets to 30 mpg wins," said Hegbloom. "We are seeing that with our 28 mpg EcoDiesel as well as the 25 mpg on the Pentastar V-6 model that fuel economy is so important. We are seeing it in the share gains and the growth for the brand. That's a number that is out there, but I don't think you can stop there."

Hegbloom didn't comment when or how Ram would achieve the 30 MPG, but did say, "I just want to have continuous improvement and to keep gaining every day. We sat still in the past and it doesn't lead to a great place. We are focused on constant improvement every single day."

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

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.

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[G. David Felt]

That would be great. I wish someone would have asked him if he meant 30MPG of the EPA test or real world driving 30MPG. Real World Driving is a totally different beast that is mostly ignored by the companies.

 

Still excited to see this

[Drew Dowdell]

Almost every Chrysler product I've driven lately has beaten the EPA highway number soundly while I'm at the helm.  I've done 2 trips from Pittsburgh to NJ and back (350 miles each way) in a V6 8-Speed Chrysler 300 RWD. Every trip I did 32mpg or better. On the first trip where I kept it exactly at the speed limit the whole time, I did 37mpg.... to be fair, the second half of this trip is mostly downhill.

 

I just completed a similar trip in a 2014 Grand Cherokee, V6 8-speed AWD. My highway average was 27mpg and I was NOT babying it.  I did a trip from NC to Baltimore in a RWD V6 8-Speed Durango, again not babying it, and got close to 30mpg.

 

I think Chrysler probably has something up their sleeve.

[Z-06]

The statement sounds like Disney toons, "And they lived happily ever after."

 

Other guys are not going to sit with thumbs stuck in their mouths. And why 30 mpg? Any win will be temporary. What if Ford with light weight already beats the 30 mpg, is Chrysler going to give up?

 

These guys need to think before they say something.

[FAPTurbo]

The statement sounds like Disney toons, "And they lived happily ever after."

 

Other guys are not going to sit with thumbs stuck in their mouths. And why 30 mpg? Any win will be temporary. What if Ford with light weight already beats the 30 mpg, is Chrysler going to give up?

 

These guys need to think before they say something.

 

But truck advertising and PR has always been akin to boy-racer cockwaving. In 2005, it was 'my engine is bigger.' 

[Z-06]

 

The statement sounds like Disney toons, "And they lived happily ever after."

 

Other guys are not going to sit with thumbs stuck in their mouths. And why 30 mpg? Any win will be temporary. What if Ford with light weight already beats the 30 mpg, is Chrysler going to give up?

 

These guys need to think before they say something.

 

But truck advertising and PR has always been akin to boy-racer cockwaving. In 2005, it was 'my engine is bigger.' 

 

 

Pretty much the auto industry itself.

[regfootball]

I've had no trouble pulling 28-30 many times on long trips in the company AWD Journey. I think Chrysler did a good job with the FE on the Pentastar.

[William Maley]

I just completed a similar trip in a 2014 Grand Cherokee, V6 8-speed AWD. My highway average was 27mpg and I was NOT babying it.  I did a trip from NC to Baltimore in a RWD V6 8-Speed Durango, again not babying it, and got close to 30mpg.

 

I think Chrysler probably has something up their sleeve.

 

I really want to see what you can do in a Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel.. I had one a few weeks back and was able to get 28 MPG on the highway. I think you could do 30 easily.

[Drew Dowdell]

That was AWD/4WD I assume?  I've already talked to Wendy a while back about getting one specifically for a long distance trip to test the fuel economy.

[A Horse With No Name]

Would like to see this.

[riviera74]

I suspect that the only way trucks will ever reach 30 MPG with any consistency is that they abandon BOF and go straight to a unibody.  No real truck person would want that though.

[Robert Hall]

I suspect that the only way trucks will ever reach 30 MPG with any consistency is that they abandon BOF and go straight to a unibody.  No real truck person would want that though.

Better aerodynamics would help..git rid off the tall, blunt front ends and go for something more tapered and sloping...

 

A Ram ProMaster double cab would be cool as an alternative to the monster trucks..

 

 

Edited August 11, 2014 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[G. David Felt]

Ugly Truck that Fiat!

[Drew Dowdell]

 

I suspect that the only way trucks will ever reach 30 MPG with any consistency is that they abandon BOF and go straight to a unibody.  No real truck person would want that though.

Better aerodynamics would help..git rid off the tall, blunt front ends and go for something more tapered and sloping...

 

A Ram ProMaster double cab would be cool as an alternative to the monster trucks..

 

 

 

 

But that is also only FWD which would be a non-starter for 99.9999% of U.S. truck buyers.... no matter how much it would actually meet their needs.

[G. David Felt]

For me a Truck like this that is FWD is a non starter. Been in too many that had plenty of weight in the back and the front wheels spun too easily.

[Robert Hall]

 

 

I suspect that the only way trucks will ever reach 30 MPG with any consistency is that they abandon BOF and go straight to a unibody.  No real truck person would want that though.

Better aerodynamics would help..git rid off the tall, blunt front ends and go for something more tapered and sloping...

 

A Ram ProMaster double cab would be cool as an alternative to the monster trucks..

 

 

 

 

But that is also only FWD which would be a non-starter for 99.9999% of U.S. truck buyers.... no matter how much it would actually meet their needs.

 

Good point.. though some are RWD---I don't know if the new generation is offered both ways, but the previous Ford Transit was offered in FWD or RWD.

[William Maley]

That was AWD/4WD I assume?  I've already talked to Wendy a while back about getting one specifically for a long distance trip to test the fuel economy.

 

Yep, an Overland 4WD drive model.