Ram 1500 Diesel Engine To Carry $2,850 Premium

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

If you want a diesel engine but don’t want to spring for a heavy-duty pickup, your only option is the Ram 1500.

At a Chrysler event today, the folks at Ram revealed that the 3.0L diesel V6 will cost $2,850 more than the 5.7L Hemi engine on select trim levels. Pickuptrucks.com reports that final power figures are 240 horsepower and 420 lb/ft of torque, with as much as 28 mpg expected on the highway cycle.

Also announced was a new 6.4L Hemi powertrain and a new coil-spring rear suspension with load-leveling for HD models. This replaces the leaf spring setup on previous 2500 HD trucks, while the 3500 HD keeps its leaf springs but can also be had with the air suspension.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • Johannes Dutch Johannes Dutch on Jul 01, 2013

    In Europe this VM Motori 3.0 ltr. is in the Grand Cherokee and Lancia Thema, which is actually a rebadged Chrysler 300C. Great long distance runners, both of them. Or if you put the pedal to the metal: great Autobahn burners ! Since the mid-nineties you can have a VM Motori diesel engine in Chrysler products. The old 2.5 ltr. 4-cylinder was in the Jeep Cherokee and Chrysler Voyager. The newer 2.8 ltr. 4-cylinder is in the Wrangler, Cherokee/Liberty and Lancia Voyager. (right, a rebadged Chrysler) This 3.0 ltr. V6 isn't really regarded as a typical "workhorse" diesel here, unlike Fiat's own FPT (Fiat Powertrain Technologies) diesel engines for vans, trucks and farm equipment. These engines are in the Iveco vans and trucks and Case New Holland farm and construction equipment. (The Fiat Group is the owner of Iveco and CNH) It would be nice to see more Rams here to compete with the typical Japanese pickup trucks like the Toyota HiLux with its 3.0 ltr. diesel.

  • Jaje Jaje on Jul 02, 2013

    http://fuelfix.com/blog/2013/06/28/study-diesel-vehicle-owners-save-money-on-fuel-resale-costs/ Study on ownership of diesel vehicle with comparable gas engine over 5 years. All cases diesel owners came out ahead through fuel savings, reduced maintenance and higher resale price when they traded or sold their vehicle. The worst was the Dodge Ram 2500 with a $67 (less than 10% increase in mpg and higher cost for the diesel) advantage versus the Mercedes Benz GL $15,600 over that 5 year period (significantly higher mpg > 30% and the diesel actual costs less than the v8 gas model).

  • Johannes Dutch Johannes Dutch on Jul 03, 2013

    If this Ram turns out to be a success it really should be no problem for Ford and GM to have an answer ready. Ford has its proven 3.2 ltr. 5-cylinder (Transit and Ranger models) and GM has its Isuzu-partnership. Isuzu is a renowned and very experienced builder of truck diesels.

  • Les Les on Jul 04, 2013

    After all the time and effort Chrysler put into developing it's association with Cummins and making it as much a household name in engines as Hemi, will the American Consumer really be that eager to accept a RAM truck diesel without the Cummins badge?

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