Autoblog

Chicago 2011: 2011 Ram 3500 HD High Output takes the torque war nuclear

Zach Bowman — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:41:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Truck, Work, Chrysler

2011 Ram 3500 HD High Output - Click above for high-res image gallery

The minds at Chrysler have set out to make sure that buyers who need to tow small planetary bodies on occasion are taken care of with its new high-output 6.7-liter Cummins turbo diesel engine. The oil-burning mill churns out 23 percent more torque than the old engine, and the final figure now sits at an astronomical 800 pound-feet. There's also 390 horsepower on hand, and combined, those numbers are good enough to help the 3500 HD tow up to 22,700 pounds. The big-daddy Ram also packs a ridiculous gross vehicle rating of 30,000 pounds when equipped with the optional Max Tow package.

Those impressive ratings are partially thanks to the truck's braking system. Chrysler's engineers folded in the largest brakes of any full-size pickup with 14.17-inch rotors up front and 14.09-inch discs out back, and the 3500 HD wears what Chrysler calls the strongest exhaust brake available on any heavy-duty pickup.

Additionally, that meaty Cummins block is said to be good for over 350,000 miles before requiring a major overhaul, and unlike competitors from Ford and General Motors, this beast requires no diesel exhaust fluid to pass emissions. Hit the jump for the full press blast.

Gallery: 2011 Ram 3500 HD High Output

Gallery: 2011 Ram 3500 High Output

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Zach Bowman / AOL

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Chicago 2011: 2011 Ram 3500 HD High Output takes the torque war nuclear

Chicago 2011: 2011 Ram 3500 HD High Output takes the torque war nuclear originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #204: Top Gear USA interview, Chrysler refreshes, LA Auto Show, HD Pickups and Lamborghini Engines

Dan Roth — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 19:55:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Podcasts, Etc., Chrysler, Dodge, GM, Lamborghini, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Design/Style

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Episode #204 of the Autoblog Podcast is awesome. Not only are we joined by David "the new guy" Kiley, but wait, there's more! Jeremy Korzeniewski got the Top Gear USA crew on the phone for a chat. After that, Chris, Dan, Zach and David talk Chrysler's pile of revamped models, the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, the Pickuptrucks.com HD smackdown, Lamborghini's new powertrain, and as always, we finish with your questions and feedback. It's a satisfying two hours and fifteen minutes this week. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #204: Top Gear USA interview, Chrysler refreshes, LA Auto Show, HD Pickups and Lamborghini Engines

In the Autoblog Garage:

Lincoln MKS Ecoboost
Land Rover LR4
Mazda CX-9

News Topics:

Hosts:
Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman, David Kiley
Runtime: 2:14:15

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Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
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Autoblog Podcast #204: Top Gear USA interview, Chrysler refreshes, LA Auto Show, HD Pickups and Lamborghini Engines originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevy challenges Ford to HD towing contest, gets turned down

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 08:27:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Marketing/Advertising, Work, Chevrolet, Ford, GM, Diesel

Numbers like maximum horsepower, torque and tow ratings are the heart and soul of the full-size heavy duty pickup truck segment. No shocker there. But how much reliance can consumers actually put on figures provided by the manufacturer? And, keeping in mind that the average test drive doesn't include hooking up a ten-ton trailer, how might we all get a proper frame of reference when judging one massive diesel beast with another?

Such questions may soon get an answer... other than this one, decided upon just a few weeks back. It seems that General Motors has issued a pretty straightforward challenge to Ford: a towing duel up mountain grades, followed by a comparison of factory-issued exhaust brakes on the way back down. (Sorry, Ram... guess you're not invited out to play.) Seems simple enough, no?

Here are some relevant statistics: Ford's (reflashed) 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel V8 engine punishes the tarmac with an even 400 horsepower and 800 pound-feet of torque. That's class-leading, as GM's 6.6-liter Duramax pumps out 397 horses and 765 pound-feet. Looking at those numbers, Ford wins... right?

Not so fast, says Chevrolet Silverado Marketing Manager Tony Truelove, "Numbers on paper are fine," he said. "Let's go work these trucks in the mountains, and may the best truck win." To which Ford Trucks spokeswoman Anne Marie Gattari replied, "We challenge our trucks against the competition in grueling prove-out tests continually, and the customer gives us the results - sales leadership year after year."

That's right, The Blue Oval plainly and unsurprisingly declined Chevrolet's invitation. But the show must go on, and our friends at Pickuptrucks.com promise to be on hand in their very best black-and-white-striped shirts to serve as referees for the main event. Let's get ready to rumble!

Gallery: PickupTrucks.com Heavy-Duty shootout 2010

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Chevy challenges Ford to HD towing contest, gets turned down originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Fuel economy standards could add up to $15K to price of heavy-duty pickups

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Government/Legal, Work, Diesel

It's no secret that today's crop of full-size heavy duty pickup trucks cost a pretty penny to purchase and operate. To wit, the 2010 Dodge Ram 3500 Heavy Duty Mega Cab that we recently reviewed carried a sticker price of over $56,000. A large chunk of that asking price can be accounted for by the 6.7-liter Cummins diesel engine - largely responsible for the truck's massively impressive capabilities.

Of course, it's also going to cost quite a few Benjamins to keep that truck running on a steady diet of low-sulfur diesel fuel, and the Feds are considering some legislation that could potentially have a massive impact on both fuel consumption and the aforementioned bottom line... both positively and negatively, depending on your point of view. While we all want better fuel efficiency, we doubt many would be willing to front a staggering $15,000 surcharge on top of their already pricey work truck for the mileage benefits.

According to a new study by The National Academies, there are lots of ways to increase the fuel economy of a full-size HD pickup, some of which cost just a few hundred dollars. Others, such as adding a hybrid powertrain or switching from a gasoline-fed engine to a diesel, cost several thousand dollars each.

At present, truck manufacturers aren't required to meet any specific fuel mileage requirements. But that's soon to change, as the the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Transportation are drafting up a series of regulations for these types of trucks. Exactly what those regulations will entail - and, of course, how much added price they will require to meet - isn't yet known. Stay tuned, and check out PickupTrucks.com for more data from the study.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Report: Fuel economy standards could add up to $15K to price of heavy-duty pickups originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM announces best-in-class towing, payload figures for heavy-duty Silverado, Sierra

Zach Bowman — Tue, 18 May 2010 11:37:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Work, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD - Click above for high-res image gallery

General Motors has just announced the hauling capacities for the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD pickups. The new trucks can now pull up to 21,700 pounds in fifth-wheel configuration and lug around 6,635 pounds worth of payload, thereby making them the new best-in class champions. The traditional tow rating sits at 17,000 pounds. What did GM change to give the trucks their new credentials? The company says that it extensively tested the trucks' systems, including the engine, transmission and brakes at the new gross combined vehicle weight and found that the thing could handle the abuse.

Both the Silverado HD and the Sierra HD now come with tougher bed rails, though. GM specified a new high-strength steel that can take more of a beating compared to last year's pieces. The new tow ratings best the next closest competitor, the 2011 Ford F-350, by 1,000 pounds on the conventional towing front and a more modest 100 pounds under fifth-wheel conditions.

How did we ever live in a world where pickup trucks couldn't tow three Bentley Continental GT coupes and a gooseneck car trailer? Hit the jump for the press release.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Silverado Heavy Duty

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD at Chicago Auto Show

[Source: GM]

Continue reading GM announces best-in-class towing, payload figures for heavy-duty Silverado, Sierra

GM announces best-in-class towing, payload figures for heavy-duty Silverado, Sierra originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 May 2010 11:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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