2011 Dodge Ram 1500

Check out our New Dodge Ram Inventory!!!

Summary

The price of diesel fuel (the lifeblood of heavy-duty pickups) shows no sign of losing its 20 percent price premium over gas. The regulations will ratchet down NOx levels to the lowest on the planet - more than 90 percent lower than 2006 levels.

2011 Full Preview

In 2007, it introduced for its heavy-duty pickups an enhanced and innovative 350-horsepower, 650-pounds-feet-of-torque, 6.7-liter six-cylinder Cummins diesel, based on the previous 5.9-liter Cummins engine. The new diesel added a segment-exclusive exhaust brake, like over-the-road trucks use. The 6.7-liter motor not only met new 2007 EPA limits on soot emissions, but it reached 2011 NOx emissions requirements three years early. Ford and GM also launched new diesels in 2007 in order to meet the reduced soot emissions levels, but they didn't have 2011-ready NOx traps (please see our 2007 Heavy Duty Shootout for an in-depth comparison of these trucks).

While Ford and GM spend time and money to develop these new engines, Chrysler is sticking with its proven Cummins 6.7-liter for its 2011 heavy-duty pickups.

Cummins Diesel Engine Dead in the Water?

It seems the idea of a half-ton truck with a light-duty diesel engine has officially died now that Dodge has joined Ford, GM, and Toyota in at least stalling, if not killing completely, production of such a truck.

Previously, Dodge, Ford, GM, and Toyota had promised a light-duty diesel engine for their half-ton pickup trucks by 2011. Ford, GM, and Toyota all stalled the projects several months ago, leaving Dodge as the only possible company to build a half-ton diesel truck. Dodge's truck could now be dead after its contract with Cummins was canceled in bankruptcy proceedings for the automaker.

The contract Cummins had with Chrysler was voided during Chrysler's Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. It seems the contract was thrown into Old Chrysler and not assumed by Fiat when New Chrysler and Fiat merged.

Land did say that development of the light-duty diesel engine would continue with or without Chrysler.

Interior Styling

In the past Dodge received a lot of complaints about its truck interiors, and that's an issue Ralph Gilles, vice president of Jeep, truck, and advanced interior design, took to heart. Being mostly utilized in fleets, these heavy duty trucks are mostly geared towards the fleet managers who are interested in lowering costs rather than having outrageous power output.

Powertrain Options

Dodge will likely stick with the Ram HD's current absorber NOx catalyst system, for future 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty trucks instead of the urea treatment most diesel passenger cars use to meet EPA regulations. However, Dodge will use urea for its class 4 and 5 cab and chassis Rams because the emissions certification process is different for the larger trucks. Ram 1500's multi-link coil suspension makes a lot of sense for light-duty trucks; it doesn't in the heavy-duty segment. Dodge's current strategy gears the 2500/3500 trucks for maximum towing and hauling, so the traditional leaf springs will remain on these models.

Dodge will continue to play in the class 4 and 5 truck segment, an area where it performs well, but these trucks will strictly be cab-chassis vehicles for commercial users.

Hybrid Available for 2011

For 2011 Dodge has also begun production on a Hybrid model. The hybrid and diesel offerings for Dodge Ram are in addition to three gasoline powertrain options:

A new for 2008 4.7-liter flex-fuel V-8, that resulted in an increase in fuel economy while producing 310 horsepower and 330 lb.-ft. of torque.

The renowned HEMI power plant, now in hybrid form, will continue to feature Chrysler's Multi-displacement System (MDS), which allows the engine to seamlessly alternate between four-cylinder mode when less power is needed and V-8 mode when more power is in demand. The two-mode hybrid system provides assistance from electric motors allowing the HEMI V-8 to remain in four- cylinder mode more often than without a hybrid powertrain, improving overall fuel economy.

Chrysler's advanced, state-of-the-art two-mode full hybrid system integrates proven automatic-transmission technology with a patented hybrid-electric drive system to deliver the world's first two-mode full hybrid.

In the first mode, at low speed and with light loads, the vehicle can operate in three ways: Electric power only, Engine power only, and any combination of engine and electric power.

Improving fuel economy is a major focus for the Ram team. It makes most sense for the Cummins to be tuned for fuel economy, not outright power. With a new optimized engine design and an addition of the HEMI hybrid option, the 2011 Dodge Ram appears on the verge to make strides into a market where people are shying away from large trucks and going with crossover vehicles for the added fuel economy. Dodge has high hopes and we share them.

Manufacturing

The all-new 2011 Dodge Ram will be built in two locations: Quad Cab and Ram Crew 1500 models will be built at the Warren (Mich.) Assembly Plant, and regular cab and Ram Crew 1500 models will be built at the St. Louis North Assembly Plan in Fenton, Mo.

Early Conclusions 2011

With a U.S. market share of 6.4 percent, Dodge is Chrysler LLC's best-selling brand and the fifth largest nameplate in the U.S. automotive market. In 2006, Dodge sold more than 1.3 million vehicles in the global market. In the highly competitive truck market, Dodge has a 15 percent market share. Dodge is entering key European volume segments with Nitro, Caliber and Avenger. For the 2011 model year, Dodge will offer the all-new Dodge Ram with an advanced two-mode hybrid system.

With the introduction of the Hybrid engine to the 2011 offerings, is the truck back?