RAM 1500 Gets V6 Pentastar, 8-Speed Transmission
The Ram 1500 is getting some new powertrain options, the Pentastar 3.6L V6 and an eight speed transmission. These new upgrades will bring the Ram into even closer contention with Ford’s Ecoboost engine.
The Pentastar has been a successful engine for Chrysler, and Ram is now the newest of a long list of vehicles to incorporate the motor. The current 3.7L V6 offering in the Ram 1500 puts out 215 hp, while the Pentastar 3.6L V6 will make 285 hp.
The new eight speed transmission “reduces fuel consumption by up to 12 percent over our current five-speed transmissions,” according to a Chrysler group filing with the Securities and Exchange commission. The Pentastar and the six-speed operate at 14mpg in the city and 22mpg on the highway according to EPA estimates.
The filing also revealed that the newest generation Ram will utilize lightweight axle engineering to help reduce weight and therefore increase fuel efficiency.
The six cylinder Ford Ecoboost engine found in the F-150 gets 16mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. The Ecoboost still beats the Ram when it comes to numbers, but surely the engineers at Ford are looking over their shoulders as the usually thirsty Ram gets a little leaner, and a little more appealing to buyers.
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>
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"The Pentastar and the six-speed operate at 14mpg in the city and 22mpg on the highway according to EPA estimates." This does not sound correct. I think the new V6 will likely be rated at 17/24 or maybe even 18/25
The Ecoboost is not the F-150 engine to be compared with the proposed Pentastar. It is more expensive and only gets 16/22 MPG. It is the entry-level Ford 3.7L V-6 that gets just over 300 HP and 17/23 MPG to which the Pentastar in a 1500 should be compared.