In an apparent Valentines Day gift to diesel and truck lovers, Ram announced today that starting in the third quarter of 2013, the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel will be available in the Ram 1500.
We first heard about the new 3.0-liter V-6 EcoDiesel when it debuted inside the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee at the North American International Auto Show back in January. Diesel fans were hoping the EcoDiesel would spread through the Chrysler garage and it looks like their wish came true.
Output for the EcoDiesel in the Ram 1500 hasn’t been released, but the Grand Cherokee’s EcoDiesel makes 240 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. Torque is the name of the game for diesels and it wouldn’t be surprising if Ram’s EcoDiesel gets bumped to 450 lb-ft. for truck duty.
Fuel economy also hasn’t been released, but we’d expect the Ram to see ratings very close to the Grand Cherokee’s 21 mpg city and 30 mpg highway. The Ram’s EcoDiesel will be backed by the same eight-speed TorqueFlite transmission.
Pricing is the third missing piece. It’s rumored the EcoDiesel will cost an extra $4,500 for Grand Cherokee buyers, so those looking at the Ram will likely see a similar price jump.
Even with the extra entry cost and higher fuel prices, we suspect Chrysler will see a lot of EcoDiesel Rams leaving the lot. American truck buyers have been longing for a small-displacement diesel in a half-ton package for some time now, and Ram is positioned to convert a few diehard Ford and Chevy fans over to Mopar – that is until the blue oval and golden bowtie get into the game.
