Technical > Automotive > RAM 1500 Becomes Industry-First Half-Ton Diesel Pickup

RAM 1500 Becomes Industry-First Half-Ton Diesel Pickup

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Recently emancipated and breaking new ground, Chrysler’s Ram pickup truck brand just announced that the RAM 1500 pickup truck will be available this year with a diesel V6.

When they arrive in the third quarter of 2013 as a 2014 model, it will be the first time a light-duty pickup truck is sold with a diesel engine.

“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 Ram CEO Fred Diaz.

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So it took an Italian company to give Americans what they have been asking for for a number of years. A tad odd isn't it?

When buying light duty trucks I never really looked at the motor in it, cause I knew it would be yanked soon enough. 3/4 and up should all have squeeze boxes.

An 8 speed auto does not sound right for this app.

I've always wondered at the lack of "love" that diesel engines got from American car manufacturers.

I currently own a 2005 Daodge Ram 1500 with the 4.7L V8 engine. I wasn't all that thrilled to learn the new model of Dodge Ram 1500 was only available with a V6.

But if they are added a diesel engine to the 1500 line, I might go for it in a few years [about 5 or 6]. As I was thinking my next truck would have to be a 2500 to get to engine a diesel.
Also 4 wheel drive. My current truck is 2 wheel drive, as I lived in GA at the time and didn't plan on going off road.
Now living in Ohio, a 4 wheel drive would be nice.
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reply to Snakeoil
Emissions was the reason for not having a diesel in the 1/2 ton, I believe its 6000lb that was a threshold for tighter requirements, It had nothing to do with US vs EU ownership.

Note sure if this is what Chrysler is bring out, but they have been working on getting a diesel for a while that could meet emissions, long before they we sold

»news.pickuptrucks.com/2009/03/ch···010.html

reply to Snakeoil
Remember these?

reply to Snakeoil

reply to Snakeoil
I wonder why Dodge didn't opt for a 4cyl inline diesel??

reply to H_T_R_N
Snakeoil - Dodge has offered the Hemi v8 since 2003; the new models are not stuck with the v6 only. Besides, the new v6 makes just as much power as the old 4.7 and the extra gears make sure it uses it to the fullest. Doesn't the new Hemi claim like 24-25 mpg highway? I know my old 03 never saw better than 15

isnt that one of the reasons a semi has like 30 gears?

As for dislike of diesel in the US, Part of it is emissions. people still commonly link diesel with city buses and dump trucks spewing black smoke.

You also have the issue of the fuel itself. I have rarely seen a diesel pump at a gas station. Well rarely since moving down here to south jersey, When i lived in CT and was right by the freeway every station had diesel with both car and truck nozzles.
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reply to guppy_fish

reply to MooJohn

reply to Doctor Olds

reply to Snakeoil
Send one my way please. It's about time 1/2 ton trucks get the option. You can get a damn Jetta with one, but not a 1/2 ton truck.

reply to Doctor Olds
There was also a diesel Ford Ranger.

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The Ranger was introduced in mid-1982 for the 1983 model year and had an available 4-cylinder 59 hp 2.2 L Mazda/Perkins diesel. In 1985, a Mitsubishi-built 2.3 L turbodiesel with 86 hp replaced the Mazda diesel engine. The diesels were no longer an option after 1987. These Rangers are rare now, but a few seem to be showing up now on ebay and other classifieds likely due to the high gas prices and need for better fuel economy.

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reply to Kearnstd

reply to Snakeoil

reply to sailor
Sometimes that whole supply and demand thing really messes stuff up. Diesel is less refined than gasoline, so from a production standpoint alone, it should be cheaper.

As for the Cruze diesel, are people really going to pay $26,000 for a compact car? They claim 42mpg. The gas powered version gets a claimed 36mpg and starts at about $17,000. Hard ti justify that price difference.
»www.autoblog.com/2013/02/07/2014···-25-695/

Diesel also competes for refinery time with its cousin, #2 heating oil. #2 oil is exactly the same as diesel but since it has red dye and is not taxed it cannot be shared with what goes in cars.(if the cops caught you running red in a car it is big trouble, THankfully unlike a semi they have no way to dip a car tank.)

Anyway this is why sometimes Diesel spikes up in price in the late summer months, The refineries and processing plants have shifted to building up stores of heating oil to ship to New England where it is the primary heating fuel.
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