Ram 1500 diesel

soot1

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Currently none. Formerly: 2010 VW Jetta TDI 6M, 1993 Dodge Ram W250 Cummins 5M 4WD, 1990 VW Jetta Diesel 5M, 1986 VW Jetta Diesel 5M, 1980 VW Uabbit Diesel 4M. Currently driving 2018 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4WD.

greengeeker

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Awesome! I'm kinda glad to see a smaller displacement motor in there instead of the 5L we (Cummins) were developing for their 1/2tons.
 

soot1

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Currently none. Formerly: 2010 VW Jetta TDI 6M, 1993 Dodge Ram W250 Cummins 5M 4WD, 1990 VW Jetta Diesel 5M, 1986 VW Jetta Diesel 5M, 1980 VW Uabbit Diesel 4M. Currently driving 2018 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4WD.
Ram's internal studies show that "customers have been emphatically asking for this, thirsting for it, craving it," said Fred Diaz, CEO of Chrysler's Ram brand in a phone interview from Mexico.....

.....Yes, they have been asking for it, thirsting for it, craving it for decades, but we at Chrysler made it our lifetime mission to be deaf like stumps to such wishes. After all, who the hell do the customers think they are telling us what they want? We know best what they want!

On a related note - Chrysler chassis and Italian-made diesel engine - that is a combination I certainly wouldn't consider. I owned only one Chrysler vehicle, and it was a mistake I will never repeat.
 

oilhammer

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There are just too many to list....
Please refresh my memory here - who made 1/2 ton diesel pickups in the 1990's?
GM offered a K1500 with the 6.2L and later 6.5L. Very rare. They even sold some Tahoe/Jimmy/Blazer/Suburbans with them that were also 1/2 tons.

BTW, this is not the first 1/2 ton Dodge pickup with a diesel. Back in the late '70s, Chrysler offered a non-turbo Mitsubishi-sourced inline 6 diesel in some pickups. I've only ever seen two of them.

And International Harvester around the same time sold some Scouts, Travelall, and pickup versions with a Nissan-sourced inline 6 non-turbo and turbo diesel.
 
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Oberkanone

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Press Release

Ram to Build Industry's Only Light-duty Diesel Pickup3.0-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.
While it is not on the lots yet, it is more than speculation.
 

kjclow

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I was surprised at this comment:
GM, alone among Detroit makers, plans to continue selling compact pickups for mileage-conscious and size-sensitive truck buyers.

I thought the new Colorado/Canyon design was not supposed to make it to our sunny shores. Maybe GM will decide to bring this over with the diesel engine that the rest of the world sees to compete with the Dodge. I'll have to find room in the driveway for it. Hope they offer it in a base trim model and not just at the high end for soccor moms.
 
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oilhammer

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outside St Louis, MO
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There are just too many to list....
There is no "bringing it over". The new Colorado (there is no more Canyon, as the whole GMC brand will be joining Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Saturn, Saab, etc. soon) is built right here in my back yard, in Wentzville, MO. Diesel version and all, right alongside the G-vans.

http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/...ages/news/us/en/2012/May/0521_wentzville.html

ChryCo used to build Ram trucks here, too, in Fenton, MO. Along with Chrysler minivans complete with, you guessed it, DIESEL engines. All for export.
 
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VeeDubTDI

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Silly that they would build them here yet not bother to get them certified for sale. There would be a huge market for a diesel ChryCo minivan here in the US - think about it... a 30+ MPG kid hauler... they wouldn't be able to keep them in stock.
 

kjclow

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There is no "bringing it over". The new Colorado is built right here in my back yard, in Wentzville, MO. Diesel version and all,
Just not sold here! What a bummer. Chevy website stills lists the 2012 Colorado as the only option.
 

oilhammer

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outside St Louis, MO
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There are just too many to list....
Also built Explorers here in Hazelwood, MO. With (of course) a diesel engine... and (of course) for export. That plant, too, has been shuttered and later leveled.

Ironic that they build things here that COULD sell, but end up closing down plants because not enough sales of the things they DO sell here.

Good news is, in Claycomo, MO the new Transit will be assembled. And while they forced a pair of gasser V6s on us, they at least look like they'll offer a 5cyl diesel for us, even if it is bolted to a manditory autobox.
 

oilhammer

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outside St Louis, MO
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There are just too many to list....
Brian,
Do you think the 8 speed auto box will hold up?
It is a ZF unit, so tough to say. I'd probably service the ATF periodically no matter what BS they give about 'lifetime' fluid.

Any more, who knows. Aisin used to make VERY good (like, by far, the BEST) automatic transmissions. Now, after they seem to have decided to go after everyone as a customer, they have fallen off. Bad. We have a 2001 Volvo V70 here that barely made it past 100k miles and its Aisin box is toast. Yet the '93 Volvo 240 wagon right next to it is still rockin' with over 200k, and a coworker's '89 Toyota pickup is nearing 350k... both Aisin autoboxes performing like new. We see bad valve bodies in Aisin autoboxes in Toyotas, Nissans, Fords, GMs, Volkswagens.... everybody now.

I hope ZF doesn't go down this path, but maybe they already have...
 
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tscottt

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Guam
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sold: 1998 NB TDI 5-spd
Finally. Funny that the announcement came outside of a major auto show, but it seems the media forced Ram's hand a bit by obtaining a copy of an internal report.


I had been very interested in the Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel until they made the cosmetic refresh on the exterior. This has, in my opinion, by far the best exterior design of full-size pickups and has a very high quality interior. Of course, all of that niceness comes with a big price tag, and I'm sure the diesel will add a minimum of $3,000 to the sticker if not the $4,500 as on the Jeep. Regardless, I'd rather pay $50,000 for a 4x4 pickup that looks fantastic than for an SUV that has been somewhat compromised. Plus, active grille shutter to eek out the last tenths on highway mileage.


This is a very impressive engine. CGI block for a 60-degree V that has received high remarks in the Europe & Australia Jeep and Europe Lancia Thema. The 8-speed TorqueFlight combination hasn't been seen anywhere yet, so a few months of experience in the Jeep then the winter with both on the market should give so strong initial feedback. Keep in mind that these outputs exceed the 12-valve IDI 5.7L Cummins of mid '90s Ram 2500s, so I have no concerns about power both unloaded or towing.


This would be right at home pulling up to bulk DEF pumps at the truck stop, and top trims will have the (personally) much-coveted ventilated seats. If it can average around 25 mpg real world mixed driving, I'll be very tempted.
I won't be surprised if Chrysler/Dodge announce this engine for the 300 and/or Charger by next April. I thought they may be planning to see how it adapts to the US before spreading through the range, but this is a smart move.


I also read some recent comments by Mr. Marchionne that a smaller diesel could come. And Dodge's next midsize sedan is reportedly going to be RWD. Good things happening at Chrysler/FIAT.
 

JM Popaleetus

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There is no "bringing it over". The new Colorado (there is no more Canyon, as the whole GMC brand will be joining Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Saturn, Saab, etc. soon)...
Do you know something we all don't? GM has not made any announcements of phasing out GMC whatsoever. In fact they just unveiled the new GMC Sierra.

That's not to say I don't agree that they should be phased out, GMC is redundant. Sucks because they usually look better than their Chevy counterparts.
 

whitedog

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Silly that they would build them here yet not bother to get them certified for sale. There would be a huge market for a diesel ChryCo minivan here in the US - think about it... a 30+ MPG kid hauler... they wouldn't be able to keep them in stock.
Doubtful. Who drives minivans? Females. What percentage of American females like diesels and would like to own one? I am betting it's a small number.

Put one in a small SUV that's more manly, and the testosterone contingent may have more sway.
 

oilhammer

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outside St Louis, MO
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There are just too many to list....
Do you know something we all don't? GM has not made any announcements of phasing out GMC whatsoever. In fact they just unveiled the new GMC Sierra.
That's not to say I don't agree that they should be phased out, GMC is redundant. Sucks because they usually look better than their Chevy counterparts.
Most all of the shared platforms, when they get refreshed, are not getting a GMC version. The Sierra still sells. The Canyon didn't, so it is gone. GM was told by the gov't to cut the fat. They did...some. GMC is all that is left, and since many of the GMC brand dealers were paired with Oldsmobile and/or Pontiac, many are now gone. GMC cannot stand alone in a dealership, it has to be paired with another GM brand... and that brand cannot be Chevrolet (for obvious, redundancy reasons). All that is left is Buick and Cadillac, and Cadillac really is trying to push the brand away from more plebian stuff. So really, that just leaves Buick. And Buick isn't exactly a sought-after brand here anymore anyways, since their core buyers have mostly died.

GM is trying one last time to push the Buick brand in a different direction, mainly by rebadging Opel models (something that was going to happen to Saturn before the very end). If it doesn't work, then Buick too will quietly slip away. So right now, I think GM is going to try harder to save Buick, and GMC will be next on the chopping block.

The only thing that may extend the GMC brand is models like the Terrain and Acadia.

GMC had (for the last several decades) essentially been a way for a non-Chevrolet GM dealer to sell trucks. Kinda like Toyota did in Japan with the rebadged Corollas called 'Sprinter'. Toyota had standalone Corolla dealers in Japan. Toyota dealers couldn't sell Corollas. They sold Sprinters instead (which, BTW, is what the Chevy Nova/Geo Prism/Chevy Prism was... a Sprinter with a bowtie).

But now that so many of the non-Chevrolet GM brands are gone, GMC doesn't really have the marketing outlet. We'll see. But so far, I have been proven correct with regards to Plymouth, Oldsmobile, Mercury, Saturn, Pontiac, etc. except I thought Buick would go first instead of Pontiac.

And there are a few dealers that sell both Chevrolet and GMC. Just not that many, and they sell FAR more Chevy branded stuff than GMC even if the two models are essentially the same thing.
 
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kjclow

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Do you know something we all don't? GM has not made any announcements of phasing out GMC whatsoever. In fact they just unveiled the new GMC Sierra.

That's not to say I don't agree that they should be phased out, GMC is redundant. Sucks because they usually look better than their Chevy counterparts.
GM pickups usually start with a higher trim level than the Chevy trucks too. Except for the basic work trucks. I hope that if Chevy decides they need to jump quickly into the diesel offerings in the 1500, that they will remember to let us choose between the auto and manual.
 

oilhammer

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outside St Louis, MO
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There are just too many to list....
You can't get a base V6 gasser GM truck with a manual, what makes you think they'll let us row our own gears with a tarted-up diesel? :(

The ONLY full-sized pickup you can currently buy now is a Ram 2500 or 3500 with the 6.7L diesel. And even then, you'd have to special order it most likely. None of the GMs, none of the Fords, and none of the Dodge gassers can be had anymore in 3 pedal versions.
 

kjclow

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2010 JSW TDI silver and black. 2017 Ram Ecodiesel dark red with brown and beige interior.
Didn't know they had done away with the manuals in the 1500s. That must have been in the last model year or two. So based on that, I agree that we won't see a manula option with a diesel engine.
 

Honeydew

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On the truck forums the reason commonly cited for no manual transmissions in the newer diesel trucks is emissions. Even back pre-03 the 7.3L superdutys with manuals had a cat while most of the autos did not.
 

chudzikb

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OH, Buick is going exactly nowhere. It is HUGE in China, as a result it will live on here. Why huge in China? No idea, but, it is...
 

Chris Tobin

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At the F-150 launch a few years back, when they said the manual transmission option was gone, we (the media in attendance) gasped and hands were thrust into the air asking why. They told us that consumers ARE NOT choosing manuals in enough numbers to justify offering one and the Autos are getting better and more reliable. They said that sales of manual F-150s the previous year was in the 1,000s!!!!

Cars and trucks with three pedals are going the way of the dodo!!! As long as the automatics replacing them are good quality and work well I guess I will be fine with it. I enjoy rowing my own gears, but there are times (like traffic jams) that an automatic would be preferred. I live in Tennessee, near Chattanooga and there is not much traffic at all around here, but when I went out to California for a trip last November and sat in SoCal traffic with the manual (and SouthBend Clutch) there were times when I wished it was an auto!

I love the Allison automatic trans in my Duramax diesel Chevy!!! It is a great transmission!!!!
 

KITEWAGON

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I probably won't be able to own one of these diesel rams for at least 10 years (if ever) because I only need a pickup for a few thousand miles a year. But what I am curious about is the mileage. I haven't read any speculation on what this Ram 1500 V diesel might deliver for fuel efficiency. Thoughts?
 
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