Saturday, December 4, 2010

1/2-ton Diesel


In order to meet future CAFE standards in light-duty trucks, Chrysler will probably replace the standard 3.7 V6 it currently uses with the new 3.6 Pentastar V6 (hopefully with a six or eight-speed transmission). However, in order to meet the performance expectations of truck buyers while still improving fuel economy, I think they will eventually have to offer a diesel engine in the Ram 1500. Whether this engine comes from Cummins or Fiat, it would be desireable to have close to 250 hp with at least 350 lbs of torque and fuel mileage in the high-teens in town and mid-twenties on the highway. Cummins was working on a 4.6 V6 for the Ram 1500 that fell by the wayside when Chrysler went through bankruptcy. I wonder what kind of performance could be had with a turbocharged 2.5 I4 or 4.0 I6 design?

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