2011 Dodge Ram Diesel Coming?
Jason Lancaster | Dec 08, 2010 | Comments 7
Allpar.com, a long-time Chrysler enthusiast website, has reported that Ram dealers are seeing order codes for a 2011 5.0L diesel and a two-mode hybrid transmission in their vehicle ordering system. This is intriguing news considering all the vehicle updates and redesigns we’ve seen out of Chrysler since the Fiat takeover. While the hybrid transmission is probably a red herring – GreenCarReports does a good job of explaining why – the diesel Ram 1500 seems feasible.
Ram dealers are seeing order codes for a 5.0L diesel engine on the 2011 Ram 1500 - could that be proof that a Ram 1500 diesel is coming?
Despite a near-collapse in the North American truck market in 2008, a government bailout in 2009, and stringent new fuel economy rules in 2010, the diesel Ram 1500 has never officially been killed. Instead, Ram has been coy – they’ve never said that the diesel 1500 Ram was off the table, but they’ve never committed to anything either.
Allpar’s news – combined with numerous other pieces of evidence – could be proof that Ram will release a diesel 1500 Ram in 2011. But before we start lobbying Toyota to make a diesel Tundra in 2012, let’s walk through this whole thing.
Ram’s 1500 Diesel Rumors Started in 2008
PickupTrucks.com did some savvy sleuthing in 2008 and found a 2009 Ram 1500’s refrigerant sticker that indicated a 5.0L diesel was being planned for. This news meshed with Chrysler’s intentions to release a Ram 1500 diesel in 2010, but then the economy went into the tank…and we all know what happened to Chrysler (cough – bankruptcy – cough).
During 2009’s bankruptcy proceedings, Chrysler canceled their contract with Cummins for a Ram 1500 diesel (subss req’d). At that time, Automotive News quoted Cummins spokesperson Mark Land as saying “The initial contract is dead, but the program itself is not dead.” Intriguing, no?
Fast forward to 2010’s Chrysler dealer meeting, where CEO Sergio Marchionne unveiled a Jeep Pickup based on the Wrangler. While a logical move, it was a bit of a shock to the industry…no one expected Jeep to build a pickup. The concept had been seen in 2006, but Chrysler had been so focused on staying alive the last few years no one expected them to invest in a new pickup.
At that same dealer meeting, Marchionne announced that the Dodge Viper was making a comeback – and that was a shock too. No one expected Chrysler to invest in a next-gen Viper in such a slow economy, especially considering their limited cash flow. Yet, here we are – the Viper is coming back as a 2013 model in 2012.
Today, no one is expecting a diesel Ram 1500. The fuel economy and emissions regs make diesels harder to certify than ever before, and Ram isn’t exactly setting the world on fire with 1500 sales. Yet, here we are: Ram dealers can see order codes for a 2011 5.0L Cummins diesel Ram 1500.
Anyone want to guess if the rumors are true?
Filed Under: Auto News
won’t sell very well. 1/2 ton diesels for most are useless unless 3/4 ton or 1 ton trucks. However, if it got 23-24 mpg hwy. vs. my 17-18 mpg for ONLY 2 grand more tops, I would consider it. But, diesel engines are more like 5K on up more expensive and for a 1/2 ton truck, is not a good idea overall with a very small market.
Dodge will be in the dumps again over this one I think.
mk – That’s what a lot of people say about the half-ton diesel…at $2k more, it works. At $5k, it doesn’t.
I’m not convinced that there isn’t a market for a half-ton diesel, even at the extra $5k. The diesel doesn’t make much sense on HD trucks really…the big gas motor has a lot of power and it’s not nearly as expensive to buy or maintain. However, people just love diesels.
Personally, I’d like to see a market for a diesel half-ton…and Dodge might be the first company to do it.
If GM and Dodge will try not to lose the entire segment to Ford they must come with a good diesel. The development is made. Just build it.
CGIron – I think that there would be a good market for at least one half-ton diesel, and I’d love to see Toyota make it, but Ram is supposedly the closest to production.
Having said that, nothing else has come of this report.
US: New V8 diesels to surface in 2011 – http://www.automotiveworld.com.....ce-in-2011
Rumours abound in the US that two ‘doomed’ diesel engines will come to life in 2011.Cummins is set to supply 5.0-litre V8 diesel engines to Chrysler for fitment to the Dodge Ram 1500 pick-up, while General Motors will bring to life its 4.5-litre Duramax V8 diesel for pick-up use.
Dodge Ram dealers are mystified that a 2011 5.0-litre Ram 1500 with a two-mode hybrid transmission has appeared in their vehicle ordering system. Sources suggest that while the Ram 1500 was not officially cancelled, neither has Chrysler officially committed to it.
In 2009, during Chrysler’s bankruptcy proceedings, a Cummins spokesman admitted that while Chrysler’s initial contract with Cummins was dead, the programme itself had not died, suggesting Cummins was still working on the engine programme.
The new Duramax V8 is reportedly heading for some GM pick-ups as well as possible large-car applications. The engine can improve fuel economy by 25% and CO2 by 13%. The engine reputedly delivers 310bhp and 520lb ft torque.
Both Cummins’s 4.5-litre V8 and GM’s Duramax turbocharged diesel engines feature compacted graphite iron (CGI) cylinder blocks
Rumours abound in the US that two ‘doomed’ diesel engines will come to life in 2011.Cummins is set to supply 5.0-litre V8 diesel engines to Chrysler for fitment to the Dodge Ram 1500 pick-up, while General Motors will bring to life its 4.5-litre Duramax V8 diesel for pick-up use.
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