Ram diesel date set
Ram has finally set a date for producing the Ram 1500 diesel: September 2013. While the diesel option was originally shown when the 2013 Ram 1500 debuted, it has not been available yet.
The engine, sourced from VM Motori, is similar to the diesel now found under the hood of the Maserati Ghibli; it is much lighter than the Cummins B-series in-line six-cylinder that powers heavy duty Ram pickups and medium duty chassis cabs, and should return better fuel economy. The Cummins engine is well-known for its durability and extended service intervals, but its 800 pound-feet of torque would be considered overkill by many buyers. The 3.0 V6 is rated at around 240 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque (ratings may vary by application; we do not yet have final figures), and will be coupled to the eight-speed automatic; it can provide more torque for towing than the V8 option, and should beat even the class-leading V6’s fuel economy (up to 18 city, 25 highway).
The current scheduled production date would mean that dealers would start getting Ram 1500 diesels in October; however, Chrysler’s schedules have been exceptionally delay-prone in recent years, and it’s possible that dealers won’t see the VM-equipped Rams in October, or even in 2013.
