RAM 1500 Diesel Could Be in the Works
In today’s pickup truck market, you can only get a diesel engine if you step past the half-tons and get into a 3/4 ton or 1 ton truck, but that won’t be the case for long as RAM may be testing out a small diesel option for its 1500 pickup.
A photo of a Ram prototype was taken somewhere in the Detroit area, and in it you can see a large black stain on the bumper right behind the exhaust. This is a tell-tale sign that the engine is a diesel, as the black stain is caused by certain particulates released by diesel burning engines.
With the announcement of a Grand-Cherokee diesel for 2013, the move to mount the 1500 with the same diesel engine would be easy, as the research and development has already been done. The real road-block in the situation has to do with customer perception, and whether or not a 1500 diesel would sell. As diesel engines have long been associated with large trucks, there may still be too much of a stigma to make the jump to the 1500 smoothly.
When asked about a diesel 1500, a Chrysler spokesman responded, “[We are] looking at putting a diesel in a light-duty pickup.”
[Source: Automotive News]
Stephen covers all of the day-to-day events of the industry as the News Editor at AutoGuide, along with being the AG truck expert. His truck knowledge comes from working long days on the woodlot with pickups and driving straight trucks professionally. When not at his desk, Steve can be found playing his bass or riding his snowmobile or Sea-Doo. Find Stephen on <A title="@Selmer07 on Twitter" href="http://www.twitter.com/selmer07">Twitter</A> and <A title="Stephen on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/117833131531784822251?rel=author">Google+</A>
More by Stephen Elmer
Comments
Join the conversation
Yup, finally they might release a diesel half ton, but now they are gonna go and screw it up by putting in something other than the cummins they developed years ago. I would buy one day one if it was a cummins, but this VM Morori engine will see me hold off until I see if there are any issues with them. 10:1 says chrysler wusses out to all the nancy boys out there and only offers this in a slush box too. Chrysler, give me afreakinghalf ton with a cummins and a 6 speed manual with a manual shift transfer case, and I have cash for you.
I'm just wanting a truck with diesel, my ford 1/2 ton eats gas. I don't tow anything, I just perfer trucks