2009 Dodge Ram Will Be More Fuel-Efficient
Dodge execs announced today that the redesigned 2009 Dodge Ram could see up to a 20% improvement in highway gas mileage. The 2008 two-wheel-drive Ram with a 310-hp V-8 got 13/19 mpg city/highway, so that highway number could go as high as 23 mpg.
That’s a significant bump, as power also increases to 380 hp. So this is a case of getting to have your cake and eat it too. Dodge says most of the mileage improvements are due to the Ram’s aerodynamics, so city mileage will probably remain similar to the 2008 estimate. A streamlined design doesn’t help any at a red light.
The 2009 Ram goes on sale this fall.
Dodge unveils more fuel-efficient 2009 Ram (The Detroit News)
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WOW with mileage like that it's going to steal TONS of sales from Ford GM and even Toyota. Do you know if this is going to translate into better gas mileage for the next Durango?
The 2008 Silverado already got an aero makeover like Dodge is talking about, and our 5.3 liter, with cylinder deactivation averaged 24 mpg with four of us on board over the Memorial Day weekend. In one 32 mile stretch, we hit 28 mpg average (that was 55 mph, at 72 degrees, no wind, and no AC use). It's great to see these kinds of improvements in big pickups.
Red, I was talking about EPA numbers. That's all most consumers care about anyway. If Dodge comes out with the Ram with 23 mpg highway, it would have the same highway mileage number as the new Honda Pilot, which is a crossover SUV, and have 130 more horsepower. That's a huge step in the right direction for Dodge, and I think the Silverado's only rated at 20 mpg highway.
CJ is right. While "your mileage may vary" the new EPA numbers have held up to our own scrutiny in our first mileage challenge and that should be the barometer so the playing field is even.
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/mileage_challenge/
What axle ratio is Dodge using for that 23mpg? 3.21 or 3.55,3.92,4.1
and that is a rear drive model, right?
Who the heck needs 380 hp? 10 and 20 years ago, nobody had that much power under the hood, yet we all managed to get around just fine, including people with trailers. Think of the mpg we could get if we could live with the same power-to-weight ratio we had when we learned to drive.
George the 23 mpg is for RWD model.
What is the fuel economy for the 4WD with the cylinder deactivation stuff? I thought it was up to 23mpg on the highway, but I guess that is only for the RWD
Read it and weep...the official EPA mileage figures for the 2009 Ram are out. The only Ram that achieves 20 mpg on the highway is the V-6. The rest top out at 19 mpg - so all this speculation about 23 mpg was wasted. City mileage is as low as 13 on some of the 09 Rams. Chevy/GMC retains the mileage crown for now.