It was just a year ago that I ran a post about the 2014 Ram 1500 and the class challenging 3.0 liter V-6 diesel that was to come with it. According to the press release the V-6 Ecodiesel was to be available starting in the 3rd quarter of 2013. That time frame has since come and gone. Bad sign? Hardly. Checking the Ram Trucks website the diesel is still an coming option but this time for early 2014. Just recently, like within the past weekend, Ram dealers were finally allowed to place orders for Ecodiesel. In the first three day window nearly 8,000 orders were placed. This amounts to nearly half of the Ram 1500 monthly production. Oh yeaaaaaaah. Here come the diesels! The number of trucks ordered is nearly double what was expected. In the long term it is believed the Ecodiesel option will be found in nearly 30% of all Ram 1500 pickups.
Congratulations to Ram on being the first U.S. manufacturer to realize there is sizable and pent-up demand for a diesel power plant in a 1/2 ton pickup. Now who will be the next to join the party? The new generation of Nissan Titan is on the way (finally!) and will have the option of a Cummins 5.0 liter diesel. Sensing a growing trend Toyota is set to offer the same engine in their 2016 Tundra. Will it be different? Know one knows at the moment and if they do, they ain’t sharing. Wards has complete breakdown of the two rivals who will soon be offering the same engine here.
Obviously there are two rather large names that I have yet to mention, Ford and GM. At one point both companies had a diesel engine in the development stage for their lighter pickups. GM was working on a V-8 Duramax with Ford pursing a similar venture. Had the auto industry not imploded in 2008/09 it’s very possible both of the engines would have seen the light of day. For the moment both companies seem content to place their new and fuel efficent gas powerplants into combat while leaving diesels on the sideline. I doubt this will be the case for long as there will be a 2.8L Duramax available in the redesigned Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon starting for the 2015 model year. Over on the blue oval side of things a 3.0L V-6 diesel is rumored to be in the next engine source for the F-150
At this point the only question is who will be the last to offer a diesel. We already know who was first and more often than not the first to cross the line is the winner.
Sources:
Dealers order more than 8,000 diesel-powered Ram 1500s in 3 days – AutoNews
Toyota Tundra Set to Receive Cummins Diesel – Wards Auto
Ford Planning V6 Diesel For F-150, Super Duty Stays With Steel – The Truth About Cars
Who was first? I think it was technically GM, but International would special-order a diesel in their pickups back in the ’60s.