Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Delayed Until Early 2014

When the Chrysler Group introduced their new diesel-powered Ram 1500, the company had hoped to offer the new V6 EcoDiesel engine for the 2013 calendar year but with unexplained delays slowing the launch process - it seems as though it could be early 2014 before the Ram EcoDiesel begins hitting showrooms around the country.

The Ram 1500 EcoDiesel was slated as the first light duty diesel powered full size truck offered in the modern American market and the Chrysler Group planned on launching this powerful and efficient 3.0L V6 during the 2013 calendar year as a 2014 model. When the rollout process of the Jeep Grand Cherokee powered by the same 3.0L EcoDiesel engine backed up the launch of the EcoDiesel powered Ram 1500, Chrysler moved the diesel half ton Ram project further into the 2014 model year. The original plan would indicate that the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel would arrive sometime in the second half of the 2013 calendar year but as we near the start of the fourth quarter without any real news on the EcoDiesel Ram – word on the street is that the diesel Ram 1500 will not arrive until mid January 2014.

The Chrysler Group has been very hush-hush on the repeated delays of the 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel but there are a variety of possibilities as to what may have caused the push from 2013 to 2014 for the new Ram 1500 diesel. According to Allpar, a large number of the EcoDiesel engines have been held at the VM engine plant in Ferrara Italy to be recalibrated to meet the American emission standards. Allpar also reports that the VM production line that was tasked with producing the EcoDiesel 3.0L V6 has been paused and should the calibration issue reports be true – it would make good sense for Chrysler to stop producing the engines until they are able to ship those engines that have already been produced.

In addition to the possible calibration issues with the 3.0L V6 EcoDiesel engine that will eventually show up in the 2014 Ram 1500, there is also the possibility that the production of the Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel models have backed up the Ram diesel production. The two vehicles use the same engine built in the same facility so if there was an emissions calibration issue with the new EcoDiesel engine in the Ram – the Jeep engine likely had the same issue. Word on the street is that the EcoDiesel Jeeps are now in production but a delay in production could have pushed back the expected launch dates of both the Jeep and the Ram. Since the Jeep was introduced first and was slated to launch first, the Jeep would have been the first priority and that would have pushed back the Ram EcoDiesel. In any case, it appears as though prospective Ram 1500 diesel buyers could be waiting at least a few more months before they are able to run to their dealership to snatch up this power, efficient oil-burning half ton Ram.

When the 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel does arrive, it will pack a new VM Motori diesel V6 measuring 3.0L with 240 horsepower and 420lb-ft of torque. More importantly (to some people), the EcoDiesel Ram should make it the most efficient half ton truck sold in America thanks to the new ZF 8-speed automatic transmission while also boasting the hauling and towing capacities of a much less efficient engine.

Source: Allpar