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Ram First to Offer Diesel Engine in Light Duty Pickup


ram 1500 (select to view enlarged photo)

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TOPEKA, KS--Sept. 20, 2013: Heavy duty trucks have offered diesel engines for years, but manufacturers have strayed away from implementing the fuel-efficient engines in their light duty trucks. Diesel engines offer more efficiency than typical gasoline engines, which is why they are typically more appealing. Pro-diesel consumers will be glad to hear that a diesel engine option will now be offered in a light duty truck. Ram has recently announced that their 2014 Ram 1500 pickup will offer a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 engine.

One of the problems with diesel engines is that their large size causes them to have lower maximum RPM ratings than gasoline engines, so torque severely outweighs the horsepower, causing slow acceleration. This is a problem that has been addressed in Ram's EcoDiesel engine. The torque still outweighs the horsepower at a best-in-class 420 lb-ft, but with an output of 240 horsepower, the diesel Ram 1500 will be anything but weak. The EcoDiesel-equipped Ram 1500 will definitely appeal to consumers looking for towing capabilities. At 269 lb-ft of torque, the 2013 Ram 155 was capable of towing a load just under 10,500 pounds. With almost 150 more lb-ft of torque coming from the EcoDiesel engine, the 2014 Ram 1500 will be able to tow loads even heavier.

Consumers are also likely to appreciate that the eight-speed transmission will be making a return in the 2014 model. Last year, the engine and transmission duo provided the Ram 1500 with a best-in-class 25 MPG highway. That rating was estimated with a typical gasoline engine, so it can be assumed that when the eight-speed transmission is paired with the EcoDiesel engine, the Ram 1500 will keep that best-in-class highway fuel economy.