2009 Dodge Ram cuts fuel usage by 20 percent
Click above for more high-res shots of the 2009 Dodge Ram
Despite getting an impressive boost in power from 345 hp to 380 hp and from 375 ft-lbs. of torque to 404 ft-lbs., the engineers at Dodge have found a way to increase the fuel efficiency of the full-size Ram pickup a welcome twenty percent. What magic secrets were required to achieve this efficiency improvement? A weight decrease and more favorable aerodynamics are said to play a large role in the achievement. In fact, the engine itself is only directly responsible for five percent of the twenty percent gain.
The 2008 edition of the Ram pickup was EPA rated at 13 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway when equipped with the last-generation 5.7 liter Hemi V8. For '09, expect the highway mileage to shoot up to 23 miles per gallon, which should be very competitive when judged against its peers, which struggle to break 20 miles per gallon based on last year's ratings. Still, the Ram will have a tough time in the full-size segment as it competes against a brand-new F-150 as well, which we also suspect will post improved fuel economy.
[Source: The Detroit News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Murc 1:57AM (5/30/2008)
wow, good work dodge.
its always good to see newer models being more efficient, cause some people NEED trucks, and are forced to (really) pay for it at the pump, so its nice to see bigger vehicles having a good mpg.
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philmcneal 8:32PM (5/29/2008)
bout time someone gave a shit about aerodynamics, I don't understand what's so great about boxy shapes... besides the, "I got a big penis" factor.
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rob 8:55PM (5/29/2008)
So... Does it cost the same? Was the first 20% fuel economy improvement "free"?
Because if it costs the same, they've been lying to us, through their teeth, for years. Aerodynamics isn't exactly a "new" science (although the analytic tools do get constantly cheaper and better).
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sensitive_man 10:40PM (5/29/2008)
we can't, we won't, it won't sell.. oh wait, we can. We can have our cake and make a profit too!
Now imagine if they kept the HP the same or reduced slightly! Asking too much I guess. I know bubba gotta tow them 4 wheelers 3 times a year.
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rj 7:43AM (5/30/2008)
Explain to me why the dodge with a 5.7 L V8 with 380 hp 404 ft-lbs of torque gets better mpg than a honda ridgline with a 3L v6 247 hp 245 ft-lbs.
Both the 2008 ram and the ridgline tip the scales at around 4500 lbs.
For that matter the CRV awd is only rated at 26mpg hwy.
The tundra has similar ratings for its 5.7 l V8 at 381 hp and 401 ft-lbs with a curb weight of a little over 5500 lbs it only manages 17 mpg hwy.
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BJ 10:41AM (5/30/2008)
MORE HP BURNING LESS GAS IS THE KEY. I SELL DCJ AND IN GA FOLKS GOTTA HAVE A TRUCK SO GETTING BETTER GAS MILAGE IS A PLUS IN A HARD TRUCK MARKET WITH GAS PRICES SO HIGH AND DON'T FORGET HEMI'S RUN ON MID GRADE.
P.S. BOUT DAMN TIME FOR A REAL FULL SIZE PICK UP AND NOT AN EXT CAB WITH FOUR DOORS
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MikeW 11:14AM (5/30/2008)
Lets see here. 17/23 is only one trim model, like the Cobalt XFE. A rear drive automatic with a tall axle ratio.
The Ridgeline isn't offered in a front drive model so compare apples to apples.
Also Honda isn't all that and a bag of chips.
Honda doesn't not have variable valve timing on their V6 (by definition they can't, because it is a single camshaft per head), nor do they have variable camshaft timing (which the hemi is endowed with)
http://www.mechadyne-int.com/vva-reference/papers/the-impact-of-variable-valve-actuation-on-engine-performance-and-emissions.pdf
The hemi takes premium, while the Honda takes regular (though Honda suggest mid-grade for heavy duty usage)
so the Hemi is programmed to extract every last BTU, while the Honda is not.
So even though the Ridgeline is 15/20, a compareable Dodge Ram would have its mileage reduced from 17/23 to 15/21.
So the ball is in Honda's court to offer a cylinder shutoff system on the Ridgeline to improve highway mileage 1mpg.
Honda wasted a lot of time/energy on the worthless Accord Hybrid when they could have developed cylinder shutoff for all their 3.0 V6 models.
Then Honda should have put the 3.0 V6 into the CR-V instead of the 2.4 I4. That would have lead to greater performance/mileage 20/27 front drive 20/26 'real time' BS.
The CR-V has too much aero drag.
The Tundra 5.7 gets 14/18 in rear drive models, and did Toyota eliminate any axle ratio choices? Is 4.3 the only ring/pinion. They used to offer a 4.1 (there is an extra 1mpg 15/19, and that is still not at tall as the Dodge offering, and they toyota doesn't take premium, or have cylinder shutoff)
Well, here is to hoping that Toyota puts direct injection & the 8 speed automatic into the Tundra some time soon.
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rev0lver 2:31PM (5/30/2008)
The ridgeline has a 3.5l V6
Ever hear of SOHC VTec?
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NG 3:32PM (5/30/2008)
And all the technology that the Honda ridgeline and Toyota tundra is lacking the dodge has….. hmmm and it cost less.
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Kevin Nugent 8:53PM (5/30/2008)
But besides people who need to tow on occasion why would you get a dodge ram pick up . How about you just get a ford f-150 i know for sure they will definitely boost fuel economy . Its a nice "green " move in all but what erks me the most is that it uses a v8 . The techonology is out there for trucks to go on v6's with the same power using turbo chargers and using regular fuel . It is all up to the manufacturer, sometimes i wonder if those in charge ever graduated high school ?
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Cam 12:44AM (4/13/2009)
i dunno about all this. my brother has 8,000 Km on his right now and the average mileage is 15 MPG. Unless it is talking a while to break in but i dunno we have an 08 as well and it was getting 20 mpg on the highway when we only had it a few months. If he sees even close to this 23 mpg highway in his 09 i'll be surprised.
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