Filed under: Car Buying, Trucks/Pickups, Dodge
2009 Dodge Ram arriving with much more power
Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Dodge Ram
Sure, it's not a great time to debut an all-new full-size pickup truck with sales falling fast courtesy of $4/gallon gas, but unlike Ford, which has delayed the release of its redesigned '09 F-150, the all-new 2009 Ram is coming despite fuel prices and market conditions. Pickuptrucks.com reports that the new Dodge pickup will actually be offering more power underhood than originally thought. The 5.7L HEMI V8 option will see its horsepower increase from 345 to a whopping 390, while torque goes up from 375 pound-feet to 407. It was originally thought the '09 Ram would offer 380 hp and 404 pound-feet of torque, so here we have a case of underpromising and overdelivering. The improvements in power come courtesy of variable cam timing, an active intake system, higher compression ratio, improved airflow and a reworked Multiple Displacement System.
And what of speculation that there would be a Ram model capable of achieving 23 mpg highway? Not in the cards says Dodge, who told Pickuptrucks.com that the most fuel efficient model would be a regular cab 4x2 with the 3.7L V6 and 3.55:1 rear axle good for around 14 city/20 highway mpg. All Ram models, however, will receive some boost in fuel economy, and there's also a new light-duty Cummins turbodiesel and Ram 1500 Hybrid coming after 2009. The fastest Ram model will also be significantly quicker than originally thought, with an R/T regular cab 4x2 sporting a 4.10 rear axle capable of hitting 60 mph in the 5-second range. With a new coil-spring rear suspension that should provide a more compliant ride without sacrificing too much towing prowess, we think the Ram may give Dodge an opportunity to pick up some market share in the full-size pickup segment, though the bad timing will almost certainly translate into lower sales overall for the truck despite its improvements.
Gallery: 2009 Dodge Ram
[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]
PRESS RELEASE
Dodge Announces Improved Fuel Economy and Best-in-class Horsepower (390) and Torque (407 lb.-ft.) for All-new 2009 Dodge Ram
New Ram Will Also Offer Best-in-class Aerodynamics (.419 Cd) and Performance (0-60 in less than 6 seconds)
- All-new 5.7-liter HEMI® with fuel-saving Multiple Displacement System (MDS) technology offers 4 percent improved fuel economy, 13 percent more horsepower, 8 percent more torque over 2008 engine
- Best-in-class performance: R/T regular cab 4x2 model (0-60 in less than 6 seconds)
- Best-in-class aerodynamics: .419 coefficient of drag (Cd) for crew-size 4x4 models to help fuel economy
- Flexible-fuel-capable 4.7-liter V-8 offers 6 percent increased fuel efficiency, more performance and refinement over previous-generation 4.7-liter engine
- 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel engine in Dodge Ram Heavy Duty achieves 2010 NOx emission standards in all 50 states right now, making it the cleanest and best-performing diesel available on the market
- All-new light-duty diesel to be introduced after 2009 - up to a 25-percent improvement in fuel efficiency and a 20-percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions over a gasoline engine with equivalent horsepower and torque
- All-new Ram 1500 Hybrid model to be introduced in 2010 model year – up to 40 percent fuel economy improvement in the city and 25 percent overall
Chelsea, Mich., Jun 26, 2008 - This morning, Dodge will showcase its new 2009 Dodge Ram powertrain lineup at the company's proving grounds. Powertrain choices in all-new 2009 Dodge Ram models will offer improved fuel economy plus more power, torque and refinement than ever before.
Engines available in all-new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 models include the all-new, best-in-class, 390-horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI®, flex-fuel 4.7-liter and 3.7-liter gasoline engines. The 2009 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty models (with current 2008 design) are available with either the 5.7-liter HEMI or the 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel engine, which already achieves 2010 NOx emission standards, making it the cleanest and best-performing heavy-duty pickup truck in the market.
"While the all-new HEMI engine maintains the key characteristics that makes HEMI a household name in powertrains, we added new technologies, including Variable Valve Timing, that substantially improve fuel economy and refinement and maximize performance," said Bob Lee, Vice President – Powertrain Product Engineering Team, Chrysler LLC.
"Our all-new Dodge Ram also offers best-in-class aerodynamics to go hand-in-hand with Chrysler's fuel-saving technologies," said Mike Accavitti, Director – Dodge Brand and SRT Global Marketing and Communications, Chrysler LLC. "And, with Dodge Ram's first-ever crew cab, first-in-segment coil-spring rear suspension, industry-first RamBox cargo management system and more than 35 new or improved features, we're changing the game in the truck market."
All-new 5.7-liter HEMI to Offer Best-in-class Horsepower and Torque
For 2009, Dodge offers a new generation of the famous 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 in its Ram trucks, with best-in-class horsepower and torque. The new HEMI powers the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram to best-in-class performance: the R/T regular-cab 4x2 model equipped with a short bed and 4:10 gears can accelerate from 0-60 mph in less than 6 seconds.
While the all-new engine maintains many of the basic features that make "HEMI" synonymous with "power," several technologies were added or improved:
- Variable Valve Timing (VVT)
- Expanded operating range of the fuel-saving Multiple Displacement System (MDS)
- Increased compression ratio
- Active intake manifold with long runners for low-end torque and short runners for high-rpm power
- Improved cylinder head port flow efficiency
- Reduced-restriction exhaust and induction systems
"The all-new 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine will offer our customers better fuel economy, improved idle quality and overall refinement, along with more horsepower and torque," said Lee. "HEMI has always been synonymous with power, and now – thanks to VVT, expanded four-cylinder mode in our MDS system, and a host of other technologies – Chrysler's new HEMI delivers more fuel efficiency and refinement, along with even more power."
The new 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 delivers best-in-class 390 hp (291 kW), a 13-percent improvement, and 407 lb.-ft. (552 N•m) of torque, an 8-percent improvement, while providing an estimated improvement of 4 percent in fuel economy.
The HEMI's new VVT improves fuel economy under some conditions in two ways. First, it reduces the engine's pumping work by closing the intake valve later. Second, it increases the expansion process of the combustion event. This allows more work to be transferred to the crankshaft instead of being rejected out of the exhaust port as heat. Essentially, VVT optimizes engine breathing, which improves engine efficiency and power.
Dodge's fuel-saving MDS system seamlessly alternates between smooth, high-fuel-economy four-cylinder mode when less power is needed, and V-8 mode when more power from the new 5.7-liter HEMI engine is in demand. An expanded MDS operating range in the new-for-2009 HEMI - aided in part by the Ram's best-in-class aerodynamics - will allow customers to realize an even-greater fuel economy benefit. When MDS is operating, it is indicated by the fuel-economy-mode readout in the 2009 Dodge Ram's Electronic Vehicle Information Center.
Chrysler estimates that since its inception of MDS in 2005, nearly 100 million gallons of gasoline have been saved, along with reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of close to a million metric tons.
4.7-liter V-8
An available 4.7-liter V-8 delivers 310 horsepower (231 kW) and 330 lb.-ft. (447 N•m) of torque.
The 4.7-liter V-8 shares some of the HEMI engine's combustion technology with its twin spark plugs per cylinder. It also makes use of increased compression ratio, improved cylinder head port flow and a new slant/squish combustion system designed to optimize fuel economy, power and torque.
This engine is also compatible with E85 fuel, earning the Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) designation that provides customers the option of operating their vehicle on mixtures of gasoline and ethanol.
3.7-liter V-6
Unlike some others in the marketplace, Dodge will continue to offer customers a V-6 engine.
Standard on all-new 2009 Dodge Ram two-wheel-drive regular cab and Quad Cab® models is a 3.7-liter Magnum V-6 engine, generating 215 horsepower (160 kW) and 235 lb.-ft. (319 N•m) of torque.
Similar to the 4.7-liter and 5.7-liter V-8 engines, the 3.7-liter V-6 is equipped with Electronic Throttle Control, which provides engine torque control while compensating for changes in engine load caused by the air conditioning compressor, alternator and power steering pump.
The 3.7-liter V-6 also offers fuel economy and performance benefits from technologies including exhaust gas recirculation, compacted graphite-iron bedplate and internal balance shaft.
6.7-liter Cummins Turbodiesel: Cleanest on the Market
The Dodge Ram Heavy Duty's 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel engine already meets 2010 truck emissions standards in all 50 states, making the 2009 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty the cleanest diesel truck available on the market today.
The inline six-cylinder turbodiesel engine uses a diesel particulate filter (DPF) to virtually eliminate particulate matter emissions and an adsorber catalyst to reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by as much as 90 percent.
In addition to the NOx adsorber and the DPF, the 6.7-liter turbodiesel engine includes other technologies to improve fuel efficiency and reduce unburned hydrocarbons:
A cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system combines with a uniquely designed piston combustion bowl and a high-flow, electronically controlled Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT™), matching boost pressure with the engine's performance needs to reduce emissions and improve drivability
Within the exhaust system, a self-cleaning DPF and an oxidation catalyst reduces particulate matter by a factor of 10. The emissions system is designed for a government-certified 120,000 miles
A closed crankcase ventilation system eliminates crankcase fumes and oil carry-over, a common process with past diesels
As durable as it is powerful, the 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel has life-to-major overhaul intervals of 350,000 miles, providing more than a 100,000-mile advantage over the competition.
All-new Light-duty Cummins Turbodiesel
Dodge will introduce an all-new Cummins turbodiesel engine in its light-duty pickup trucks after 2009.
The new engine will provide a dramatic increase in low-end torque, up to a 25-percent improvement in fuel efficiency and a 20-percent reduction in carbon dioxide (C02) emissions when compared to an equivalent gasoline engine.
With new, clean, quiet diesel technology, the new diesel engine will meet 50-state emissions standards for 2010.
All-new Dodge Ram 1500 Hybrid
The Dodge Ram 1500 Hybrid, available after 2009, will be the latest addition to Chrysler LLC's fuel-efficient lineup, joining clean diesel, HEMI and flex-fuel vehicles.
Combining Chrysler's Multi-displacement System (MDS) and two-mode hybrid technology to greatly improve fuel economy, the 5.7-liter HEMI Hybrid V-8 offers performance and efficiency with up to 40 percent fuel economy improvement in the city and 25 percent overall. The two-mode hybrid system is currently being introduced in the company's 2009 Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid and 2009 Chrysler Aspen HEMI Hybrid.
The two-mode hybrid system uses electric motors to allow the HEMI V-8 to remain in four-cylinder mode more often, improving fuel economy.
In the first mode – at low speeds and with light loads – the vehicle may operate on electric power only, on engine power only, or any combination of the two. The Dodge Ram 1500 Hybrid may operate in electric-only mode during slow starts (city driving) up to 25 mph, further conserving fuel and reducing emissions. In addition, the HEMI V-8 can shut down when the vehicle comes to a stop or during deceleration, to conserve fuel and then seamlessly restart when power is necessary.
The second mode, used primarily at highway speeds, augments electric assist with full power from the 5.7-liter HEMI when conditions demand it.
The Dodge Ram 1500 Hybrid also features regenerative braking, which recycles electric energy that would normally be lost during braking or deceleration. This energy is reused to power the vehicle.
The Dodge Ram 1500 Hybrid will also benefit from Dodge Ram's best-in-class aerodynamics, which allows a greater operating range of MDS.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
TJ 10:08AM (6/26/2008)
Timing may be bad, but this appears to be one hell of an entry to the market.
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rar 12:30PM (6/26/2008)
Will the new R/T Challenger with the 5.7 also have 390hp?
Dustin 1:36PM (6/26/2008)
rar, the Challenger will have 370hp for auto and 375hp for manual.
Dude 10:09AM (6/26/2008)
14/20 MPG. That's gotta hurt.
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Guenther 10:57AM (6/26/2008)
Oil is at $138.50
MKULTRABLIZZARD 11:06AM (6/26/2008)
that's just for the V6 4x2... i can't even begin to imagine what the Hemi 4x4 delivers.
Dan 12:23PM (6/26/2008)
If the current model is any indication, 13/18. Maybe 14/18.
User 1:55PM (6/26/2008)
I just paid $5.29/gallon here. :(
Yar 10:09AM (6/26/2008)
"we have a case of underpromising and overdelivering"
Always a good thing.
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MikeW 11:30AM (6/26/2008)
No, they are under-delivering on the the transmission if there is no 6 speed automatic.
545RFE? 4.5:1 ratio spread-try again
Toyota has 5.7:1, Ford has 6:1(on models with 6 speed autos), GM also has 6:1(with 6L80), Nissan could use the 7 speed automatic (6.3:1) hopefully for '09.5, otherwise they are at 4.6:1
The 545RFE is going to hold back the premium fuel hemi.
RJ 12:44PM (6/26/2008)
Well, what they really need is to get those rumoured dual clutch sequentials out and running.
6 spd or not, with a traditional slushbox, you'll still end up with relatively high parasitic loss.
Dan 12:45PM (6/26/2008)
More to it than overall spread. 4.5:1 can do just fine if the ratios are spaced right.
The problem with the 5-45 is 2 of its gears are OD's right on top of each other. And outside of getting a heavy trailer started 1st gear is so high it's barely used. So for nearly all acceleration it's really a very widely spaced 2 speed.
The Tundra powertrain isn't great because it has such a wide spread - although that doesn't hurt - it's because it has such narrow spacing between the gears to keep the engine in the most efficient part of its powerband when you're easy on it and the most powerful part when you're not.
Chris 10:12AM (6/26/2008)
This just may be my next purchase
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SkiD666 10:14AM (6/26/2008)
I was wondering how they were going to leapfrog Ford/GM/Toyota to 23 MPG, I guess it wasn't true afterall.
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Soccer Mom 10:16AM (6/26/2008)
14/20 MPG, what will that be in GPM?
Doesn't look very aerodynamic. I likes Dodge truck more than any other for they always looked better than Fords and GMs. Now, I think Toyota stole that title from Dodge. While appearing more refined for pushing itself through air, Toyota looks very nice. Dodge isn't bad, but there is nothing to get excited about its looks.
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Kimura 11:35AM (6/26/2008)
I disgaree. I think the Tundra suffers from Toyotas styling trend of making their products look bloated. It looks like a bloated version of the better looking tacoma. Then there's that nasty interior...bleh.
To each their own of course. :)
Val 10:18AM (6/26/2008)
That will sure help you do your contractor's job building America a lot quicker: under 6 seconds from 0 to 60, that's fast! And then you scratch your head and say "wow, we should make fuel out of corn, this foreign-oil dependance is hurting America, and there is nothing we cando about it..."
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MemphisNET 10:19AM (6/26/2008)
Fuel stings, and ever bit of efficiency will help - but realistically, if people are using this as their secondary vehicle for towing and work - then it shouldn't be as big of an issue.
If you're commuting, yea, could be bad but I think that goes without saying.
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Kimura 10:21AM (6/26/2008)
This appears to be a hell of a truck, and for those not scared of paying 1 massive dollar more per gallon, it should be an excellent choice. Gotta love when they underpromise and overdeliver.
Now, if Chrysler can put that much effert into their NG small and midsize cars, there might be hope yet.
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MemphisNET 10:39AM (6/26/2008)
Now that nickle & daimler is gone, that is more realistic than ever. They were actually on an very big upswing before the merger.