Ram Buyers Want Hemi and Better Mileage: Get It for 2009
The No. 1 complaint among owners of full-size pickup trucks is bad fuel economy, said Joe Veltri, director of product marketing for Dodge.
"We tell them we can fix that so they get better mileage, but that they'll lose some performance when we do, and then they all say, 'No, don't do that,'" he said.
At a showing of the redesigned 2009 Dodge Ram pickup that's coming this fall, Veltri said that while all owners want better mileage, 62% of Ram buyers opt for the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 engine in their pickup, and another 3% take the 4.7-liter V-8. That means 65% of all buyers go for a V-8 instead of a V-6.
The 5.7-liter Hemi in the 2009 Ram will be tweaked to deliver 380 hp and 404 pounds-feet of torque this fall, up from 345 hp and 375 pounds-feet in the 2008 model.
All that said, though, thanks to different valve timing, dual exhausts, a higher compression ratio and the engine's ability to shut off four cylinders when they're not needed, the '09 Ram will get 5% better gas mileage than the '08, Veltri said. The outgoing, 2008 model is rated at 13/17 mpg city/highway with 2WD and 12/16 with 4WD.
Veltri said mileage will get even better after 2009, when Dodge offers a new Cummins diesel in the Ram. Veltri won't talk engine specifics, but said it promises 30% better mileage than the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8.
For 2010, the Ram will get a gas/electric hybrid version of the 5.7 liter Hemi — the same dual-mode system that will be offered later this spring in the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango SUVs.
The system, developed in cooperation with GM, promises 40% better city mileage and 25% better combined city/highway mileage.
As dual-mode hybrids, the SUVs can travel at low speeds in battery mode only and use a battery boost when needed to help pass. The Hemi will also incorporate cylinder deactivation technology. Maybe that will finally provide a solution for those green Hemi buyers.
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Do you mean the Chrysler Aspen and not the Dodge Aspen?
Yep. Thanks Christopher.
5% better, that is all?
VCT is better than nothing
http://www.mechadyne-int.com/vva-media/display-media/dual-equal-cam-phasing.gif/400/400/dual-equal-is-always-a-compromise
How about a 6 speed automatic, the 545RFE is old, and only has a 4.5:1 ratio spread.
that's 5% better mileage with 10% more power too. Not too shabby.
From the articles I have read it is almost impossible to majorly improve fuel milleage without costing power. Since this segment values power more any improvement is a plus. From what I have read 5% improvement is really respectably. I always wonder about weak horsepower numbers and poor fuel economy cause I have seen that too. I believe most vehicles are overpowered, but usually always give trucks a benefit of the doubt since it has more than one applicable use.
it all goes back to the continuous growth of these vehicles. does a work truck really need 380 horsepower. hmm, i guess it does these days. funny thing is, the chevy silverado i owned in the early 90s didn't have nearly that much power, and i didn't have any problems towing boats or anything else i wanted to. it's a bunch of marketing bs. instead of building expensive hybrid trucks that get 20mpg, reduce the size/weight back to a reasonable level and bring horsepower back down below 300hp. they'll get better mileage then the hybrid AND cost less. these are supposed to be work vehicles, not sports cars...
Thanks for saying that Cody. I try and tell people today that they do not need a full-size to pull their little 21 foot bass boats: a Tacoma has 6000lb towing capacity for crying out loud.
My Ridgeline tows my bass boat, in fact it can tow upwards of 5,000 lbs. I've had my fair share of full size pick-up trucks over the years and I agree with Cody in that they have gotten out of hand. I decided I wanted something different and can say I am very happy with it as I average 18-21 around town with some highway thrown in. Sure it's not a true off roader, but then again majority of 4WD see nothing more than light snow - if that.