Chrysler is moving ahead with plans to deliver its light-duty Ram pickups with a diesel option, sourced from none-other than the automaker’s long-time heady duty diesel partner, Cummins.

Joe Veltri, VP of product planning at Chrysler told PickupTrucks.com that they are currently in discussions with Cummins, commenting that, “There’s no contract [with Cummins], but [a light-duty diesel] is in our plan.”

Chrysler had planed to introduce a diesel for the Ram 1500 already, but any existing contracts were voided when Chrysler filed for bankruptcy over the summer. The rumored new engine is said to be a 5.0-liter V8 that Veltri says could also be used in the heavy duty pickups as well, something that would certainly give Dodge (or the new Ram brand we should say) a unique offering in the light-duty truck segment.

With talks ongoing, there’s still no word on when a light-duty diesel Ram could make it to market.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

A month after the debut of the all-new 2011 Chevy Silverado HD, GMC has now announced its version of the work truck, the Sierra Denali HD. Powered by the same 6.6-liter Duamax engine and 6-speed Allison transmission, the truck gets best-in-class power of 397-hp at 3000 rpm and best-in-class torque of 765 ft-lbs at 1600 rpm. This tops the new Ford F-Series, but only slightly, while coming slightly under the new Ford truck in both payload and tow ratings, with a 6,335 lb. and 20,000 lb rating, respectively. The trucks conventional (non-fifth-wheel) towing cappability is up significantly, to the tune of 23 percent, and is now rated at 16,000 lbs.

The engine block itself is a carry-over from the past model but the majority of moving engine parts are new, as is the entire fuel system. NOx emissions are also down 63 percent thanks in part to an exhaust after treatment system that is used because it won’t interfere with the engine’s ability to create power. The Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) used in the process does require refilling every 5,000 miles. In addition, the new engine is B20 biodiesel capable.

As for the new Allison transmission it has been strengthened to work with the added torque of the new engine and features an optional exhaust brake, Power Take Off and a Driver Shift Control (DSC). It’s also designed to work with the new Duramax engine to give improved fuel economy by 11 percent and GMC says to expect a fuel range of 680 miles on the new 36 gallon tank.

In addition to the fuel economy improvements, GMC claims improved acceleration with Duramax/Allison combo, resulting in a 0.3-second improvement to 60 mph and a 0.5-second improvement in the quarter-mile for a rating of less than 9 and less than 16 seconds respectively.

Like it’s Chevy counterpart, the Sierra gets a new front suspension with forged steel upper control arms and cast iron lower control arms with the new front independent suspension now delivering a 25 percent improved front axle weight rating. The new 6,000 lb rating now means a snow plow can be used on all 4WD cab models equipped with the snow plow prep package. In addition, rather than a single torsion bar like on the previous model, the 2011 gets five different torsion bar rates for five different gross axle weight ratings, allowing height adjustability in accordance with the weight of a snow plow or other accessory.

As for the rear suspension, the leaf springs are now 20 percent wider, helping to improve the truck’s rear gross axle weight rating. Now 2500 models are rated to 6,200 lbs, while 3500 models get a 7,050 rating for single wheel or 9,375 of dualies. The new rear suspension is also designed to reduce wheel hop.

We could probably go on forever discussing the upgrades to the new 2011 Sierra HD, so we’ll try and wrap this up with a few more important things you should know. For 2011 the brakes are larger, measuring 14-inches at all four corners while the swept area of the brake pads has been increased with 13 percent more area covered on the front rotors and 17 percent more covered on the rear. Gone are 16-inch wheel fitments, with 17s now the new base wheel, while 20s can be had on the 2500HD.  Safety equipment includes StabiliTrak and Trailer Sway Control on all single-rear-wheel models as well as a new Hill Start Assist feature, that holds the truck for 1.5 seconds when leaving a stop on a hill. GMC also says that under heavy load it has reduced noise vibration and harshness (NVH) by as much as 30 percent.

Finally, let’s not forget the standard engine, a 6.0-liter Vortec V8 and six-speed 6L90 automatic transmission., It gets 360-hp at 5400 rpm and 380 ft-lbs of torque at 4200 rpm. A total of 90 percent of the engines torque is available from 2000 rpm allowing for a 13 percent increase in fifth-wheel towing for a total tow rating of 14,700 lbs.

GALLERY: 2011 GMC Sierra Denali HD

Get all the 2011 GMC Sierra Denali HD details and model info after the jump:

With Ford announcing its F-Series Super Duty power, payload and towing capabilities just a few weeks ago, Chevrolet has responded with some big numbers for the all-new 2011 Chevy Silverado HD. The new 6.6-liter Duramax V8 is rated at 397-hp at 3000 rpm  and 765 ft-lbs of torque at 1600 rpm. This tops the F-Series Super Duty that’s rated at 390-hp at 2800 rpm and 735 ft-lbs of torque at 1600 rpm. The increase for Chevy is a total of 32-h and 105 ft-lbs over the previous Duramax.

Those numbers don’t tell the whole story, however, as the new truck still follows behind the Ford in payload and towing capability. The new Duramax Silverado HD can tow up to 20,000 lbs and has a payload rating of 6,335 lbs. The F-Series Super Duty is rated at 21,600 lbs and a payload rating of 6,520 lbs.

GM is proud to boast that fuel economy with the new engine has been increased by 11 percent (although not mpg numbers are available), with a total driving distance of 680 miles on a tank.

As for the new base Vortec 6.0L V8, it gets 360-hp at 5400 rpm and 380 ft-lbs of torque at 4200 rpm. A total of 90 percent of the engines torque is available from 2000 rpm allowing for a 13 percent increase in fifth-wheel towing for a total tow rating of 14,700 lbs.

GALLERY: 2011 Chevy Silverado HD

See the official release after the jump, plus full info on the all new GMC Sierra Denali HD:

Nissan will unveil its facelifted and updated Pathfinder and Navara (Frontier) models for the European market at the Geneva Auto Show later this week. The style of the trucks has changes to resemble their North American counterparts, with revised grille and bumper assemblies as well as new hoods. New for 2011 are updates to the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder diesel, as well as an impressive new 3.0-liter V6 diesel. The 4-cylinder gets improvements in refinement as well as a slight power increase from 169-hp to 187-hp. Torque is also up, and rated at 332 ft-lbs. Fuel economy gets a marked improvement and is now rated at 27.7 mpg (European test cycle) on average.

The new 3.0-liter V6 delivers a more respectable 235-hp and a very impressive 406 ft-lbs of torque (369 ft-lbs of which is available from 1500 rpm), all while getting 28 mpg (European test cycle) on average.

Both new models will be available in Europe in April, with the 3.0-liter V6 diesel joining the lineup in June.

AutoGuide will bring you more on both trucks from the Geneva Auto Show with coverage starting March 1st.

Click here for AutoGuide’s live Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

GALLERY: 2011 Nissan Pathfinder and Navara (Frontier)

Official release after the jump:

The small pickup truck segment seems to be a dying category, with the future of the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon now in doubt. According to a report by PickupTrucks.com, GM’s product boss Bob Lutz has said that both models may not live on to see another generation. “It’s uncertain at this point,” he said. “They may well [go away].”

GM has yet to announce any plans for the trucks and last year it was announced that production at the Shreveport plant where the trucks are assembled would cease by 2012.

Ford has already said that it will stop production of its Ranger pickup by the end of 2011, and Dodge has decided to kill-off the Dakota pickup around the same time. Dodge is likely to replace the Dakota with a new model, however. Ford is debating several changes, with the potential to bring over the Ranger model currently overseas or offer a stripped-down version of the F-150. Currently, the only automaker having any success in the segment is Toyota with its dominant Tacoma, selling more than double the number of Rangers as last year.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Ford has just released the full stats on its new 2011 F-Series Super Duty, powered by an all-new 6.7-liter Powerstroke V8. The engine makes 390-hp at 2800 rpm and a tremendous 735 ft-lbs of torque at just 1600 rpm. A standard 6.2-liter gasoline, which replaces the old 5.4-liter V8, makes 385-hp and 405 ft-lbs of torque, an improvement of 85-hp and 40 ft-lbs of torque. Both engines are mated to an all-new 6R140 heavy-duty TorqShift six-speed automatic transmission

Ford rates this new engine in the F350 to tow a max of 21,600 lbs and a payload rating of 6,520 lbs. As for the F450 model, it is rated to tow 24,400 lbs.

Chevy has yet to release engine output figures for its Silverado HD model, but at this point that’s pretty much irrelevant as the F350 outshines it in towing and payload by 1,600 lbs and almost 200 lbs respectively.

See the full release after the jump and browse through our new gallery of almost 100 F-Series Super Duty photos:

GALLERY: 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty

Official release after the jump:

Honda will deliver an all-new second-generation Ridgeline pickup for the 2011 model year. Vicki Poponi, Honda’s VP of product planning told PickupTrucks.com in an interview that the truck will arrive in 2011 as a 2011 model year, so expect it very early on – likely at the Detroit Auto Show.

Introduced in 2005 the Ridgeline embodies Honda’s “I did it my way” philosophy, which sometimes works. In the case of the Ridgeline it certainly didn’t, with low sales that keep getting lower. Last year Honda moved just 16,464 Ridgelines, a drop of over 50 percent from the year before.

And while the truck was never intended to appeal to the hard-core truck audience, it’s even loosing ground with its less-traditional customer due to fuel economy that is less than stellar – particularly for a Honda. So expect a more fuel-efficient engine and improved aerodynamics, for starters. Otherwise, it’s likely to keep the crew-cab layout with an independent rear suspension. Knowing Honda, we expect some impressive new innovations as well.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Chevy chose the Chicago Auto Show to debut its all-new 2011 Silverado Heavy Duty pickup truck with more power and capability. New Silverado HD models sit on new frames and come with an optional all-new 6.6-liter Duramax V8 and Allison 1000 six-speed transmission. The truck’s base tow rating is now 16,000 lbs, while a 3500 crew cab/long box can pull up to 20,000 lbs. For the record, that’s 2,400 lbs more than the RAM 3500 and 1,200 lbs more than the 2010 F-350 – although no 2011 F-350 stats are available. Maximum payload is now 6,335 lbs, well above both the Ford and Dodge, although (again) Ford claims segment-best payload… but that was before the new Silverado HD was unveiled.

With wheelbases ranging from 133.6 inches to 167.7 inches (depending on how you order your truck), along with wider front and rear tracks, the new Silverado HD delivers a smoother ride and better handling.

Chevy hasn’t given any new performance stats on the all-new 6.6-liter Duramax diesel, but has said it expects segment-best torque. The block itself is a carry-over from the past model but the majority of moving engine parts are new, as is the entire fuel system. NOx emissions are also down 63 percent thanks in part to an exhaust after treatment system that is used because it won’t interfere with the engine’s ability to create power. The Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) used in the process does require refilling every 5,000 miles. In addition, the new engine is B20 biodiesel capable.

As for the new Allison transmission it has been strengthened to work with the added torque of the new engine and features an optional exhaust brake, Power Take Off and a Driver Shift Control (DSC). It’s also designed to work with the new Duramax engine to give improved fuel economy by 11 percent and Chevy says to expect a fuel range of 680 miles on the new 36 gallon tank.

In addition to the fuel economy improvements, Chevy claims improved acceleration with Duramax/Allison combo, resulting in a 0.3-second improvement to 60 mph and a 0.5-second improvement in the quarter-mile for a rating of less than 9 and less than 16 seconds respectively.

A new front suspension with forged steel upper control arms and cast iron lower control arms is also a part of the 2011 package with the new front independent suspension now delivering a 25 percent improved front axle weight rating. The new 6,000 lb rating now means a snow plow can be used on all 4WD cab models equipped with the snow plow prep package. In addition, rather than a single torsion bar like on the previous model, the 2011 gets five different torsion bar rates for five different gross axle weight ratings, allowing height adjustability in accordance with the weight of a snow plow or other accessory.

As for the rear suspension, the leaf springs are now 20 percent wider, helping to improve the truck’s rear gross axle weight rating. Now 2500 models are rated to 6,200 lbs, while 3500 models get a 7,050 rating for single wheel or 9,375 of dualies. The new rear suspension is also designed to reduce wheel hop.

We could probably go on forever discussing the upgrades to the new 2011 Silverado HD, so we’ll try and wrap this up with a few more important things you should know. For 2011 the brakes are larger, measuring 14-inches at all four corners while the swept area of the brake pads has been increased with 13 percent more area covered on the front rotors and 17 percent more covered on the rear. Gone are 16-inch wheel fitments, with 17s now the new base wheel, while 20s can be had on the 2500HD. Safety equipment includes StabiliTrak and Trailer Sway Control on all single-rear-wheel models as well as a new Hill Start Assist feature, that holds the truck for 1.5 seconds when leaving a stop on a hill. Chevy also says that under heavy load it has reduced noise vibration and harshness (NVH) by as much as 30 percent.

As for the truck’s new look, well, there’s not much to talk about because there’s not a lot that’s new. With tight budgets at GM as of late, the Silverado HD team was given limited funds to build the truck and so they chose to put the money where those who really need a heavy duty truck will appreciate it most. Aesthetically, the only real changes to the 2011 model are a new chrome bumper, a “power-dome” hood and a revised grille. Expect more significant changes in a few years time.

Finally, let’s not forget the standard engine, a 6.0-liter Vortec V8 and six-speed 6L90 automatic transmission. With no output numbers yet available, Chevy does claim roughly 90 percent of the engines torque will be available from 2000 rpm and that it will allow for a 13 percent increase in fifth-wheel towing for a total tow rating of 14,700 lbs.

Take a look through a gallery below, as well as our additional gallery showing the Silverado HD’s new frame and underpinnings.

GALLERY: 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD

GALLERY: 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD Frame

The all-new 2011 Chevrolet Silverado Heavy Duty models might not look all that new and there’s a good reason for it. With tight budgets at GM as of late, the Silverado HD team was given limited funds to build the truck and so they chose to put the money where those who really need a heavy duty truck will appreciate it most. Aesthetically, the only real changes to the 2011 model are a new chrome bumper, a “power-dome” hood and a revised grille. Changes to the rest of the truck, however, are significant.

For starters, new Silverado HD models sit on new frames and come with an optional all-new 6.6-liter Duramax V8 and Allison 1000 six-speed transmission. The truck’s base tow rating is now 16,000 lbs, while a 3500 crew cab/long box can pull up to 20,000 lbs. For the record, that’s 2,400 lbs more than the RAM 3500 and 1,200 lbs more than the 2010 F-350 – although no 2011 F-350 stats are available. Maximum payload is now 6,335 lbs, well above both the Ford and Dodge, although (again) Ford claims segment-best payload… but that was before the new Silverado HD was unveiled.

With wheelbases ranging from 133.6 inches to 167.7 inches (depending on how you order your truck), along with wider front and rear tracks, the new Silverado HD delivers a smoother ride and better handling.

Chevy hasn’t given any new performance stats on the all-new 6.6-liter Duramax diesel, but has said it expects segment-best torque. The block itself is a carry-over from the past model but the majority of moving engine parts are new, as is the entire fuel system. NOx emissions are also down 63 percent thanks in part to an exhaust after treatment system that is used because it won’t interfere with the engine’s ability to create power. The Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) used in the process does require refilling every 5,000 miles. In addition, the new engine is B20 biodiesel capable.

Chevy says the engine has been tested to 200,000 miles under extreme conditions, using what the engineers refer to as a “95th percentile” customer.

As for the new Allison transmission it has been strengthened to work with the added torque of the new engine and features an optional exhaust brake, Power Take Off and a Driver Shift Control (DSC). It’s also designed to work with the new Duramax engine to give improved fuel economy by 11 percent and Chevy says to expect a fuel range of 680 miles on the new 36 gallon tank.

In addition to the fuel economy improvements, Chevy claims improved acceleration with Duramax/Allison combo, resulting in a 0.3-second improvement to 60 mph and a 0.5-second improvement in the quarter-mile for a rating of less than 9 and less than 16 seconds respectively.

A new front suspension with forged steel upper control arms and cast iron lower control arms is also a part of the 2011 package with the new front independent suspension now delivering a 25 percent improved front axle weight rating. The new 6,000 lb rating now means a snow plow can be used on all 4WD cab models equipped with the snow plow prep package. In addition, rather than a single torsion bar like on the previous model, the 2011 gets five different torsion bar rates for five different gross axle weight ratings, allowing height adjustability in accordance with the weight of a snow plow or other accessory.

As for the rear suspension, the leaf springs are now 20 percent wider, helping to improve the truck’s rear gross axle weight rating. Now 2500 models are rated to 6,200 lbs, while 3500 models get a 7,050 rating for single wheel or 9,375 of dualies. The new rear suspension is also designed to reduce wheel hop.

We could probably go on forever discussing the upgrades to the new 2011 Silverado HD, so we’ll try and wrap this up with a few more important things you should know. For 2011 the brakes are larger, measuring 14-inches at all four corners while the swept area of the brake pads has been increased with 13 percent more area covered on the front rotors and 17 percent more covered on the rear. Gone are 16-inch wheel fitments, with 17s now the new base wheel, while 20s can be had on the 2500HD.  Safety equipment includes StabiliTrak and Trailer Sway Control on all single-rear-wheel models as well as a new Hill Start Assist feature, that holds the truck for 1.5 seconds when leaving a stop on a hill. Chevy also says that under heavy load it has reduced noise vibration and harshness (NVH) by as much as 30 percent.

Finally, let’s not forget the standard engine, a 6.0-liter Vortec V8 and six-speed 6L90 automatic transmission. With no output numbers yet available, Chevy does claim roughly 90 percent of the engines torque will be available from 2000 rpm and that it will allow for a 13 percent increase in fifth-wheel towing for a total tow rating of 14,700 lbs.

GALLERY: 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD

GALLERY: Duramax 6.6 and Allison 1000

Official release and complete model specifications after the jump:

Ford has just announced two new versions of its Transit Connect commercial vehicle, which recently won the 2010 North American Truck of the Year award. Up first is the Transit Connect Electric, the first electric vehicle Ford will offer, using a lithium-ion battery. It can travel up to 80 miles on a charge, which takes about 6 to 8 hours to complete from either a 120-volt or 140-volt outlet. Ford claims a similar acceleration time to the gas-powered model although storage space is reduced somewhat to 135 cu.-ft. The vehicle is designed for fleets where driver’s have a pre-set route and a centralized location for recharging.

The Transit Connect Electric will go into production later this year, with a Focus Electric planned soon after.

Ford will show the TC EV at the Chicago Auto Show later this week, alongside another new Transit Connect model, the TC Taxi. Set to go on sale later this year as well, the TC Taxi features as second row seat that has been moved back by 3-inches for added legroom, while the engine has been converted to run on either natural gas or propane. Ford says the TC Taxi should deliver a 30 percent fuel economy improvement over traditional taxis. Other highlights include rear-seat climate controls, rear power windows and a touch-screen in the rear that can show things like maps, TV shows or payment info.

Both the Transit Connect Electric and Transit Connect Taxi will be officially unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show on Wednesday, February 10th.

For complete 2010 Chicago Auto Show coverage click here

GALLERY: Ford Transit Connect Electric

GALLERY: Ford Transit Connect Taxi

Official release after the jump: