With gas prices reaching all-time highs and consumers clamoring for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, Dodge's introduction of a new Ram this fall would seem to be suffering from a case of bad timing. Yet it seems that the full-size pickup may have an ace up its sleeve. The Ram has already been lauded for its sleek styling and dramatically improved interior, and now its chief engineer says it should be up to 20 percent more fuel-efficient as well.
The 2009 Dodge Ram will be powered by three different engines -- a 3.7 V-6 only for 4x2 models, and a 4.7-liter and Hemi 5.7-liter V-8 available across the entire range. These powerplants are similar to those found in the current model, but according to the Ram's chief engineer Mike Cairns the Hemi has been revised to offer both improved power and efficiency. Good for 380 horsepower and 404 lb-ft. of torque, the engine also enjoys a five percent gain in fuel economy. Add in major aerodynamic improvements and an 80 pound reduction in weight, and Cairns believes the Ram will boast a "10 to 20 percent gain in highway efficiency."
So what does that mean in real-world numbers? A 2008 Ram Quad Cab Laramie manages about 19 mpg on the highway, while the new version is estimated to achieve 23 mpg -- an impressive bump that should make the new Ram one of the most fuel-efficient full-size pickups around. In addition, according to the brand's director Mike Accavitti, with 35 major improvements the 2009 Ram is "the best truck Dodge has ever made."
It may need to be. Currently the number three pickup maker in the U.S., Dodge sold a healthy 358,000 trucks in 2007. But large vehicles are quickly losing popularity with the pain they inflict at the pump -- sales of the 2008 Ram have fallen by 24 percent this year, and the truck is already being sold at fire sale prices. That said, the much-improved vehicle set to bow this fall needs to compete well against the Tundra and Ford's new F-150, and if Dodge's efficiency claims prove true, they just might push the 2009 Ram over the top.
Source: The Detroit News