2006 Ram Information

[TBrennan]

A good article here if you want to see what might be coming next year.



Of note, the long awaited 6. 1L Hemi in the HDs and some exterior tweaks. Possibility of HID lights for the Laramie package. Major interior redesign (similar to new Durangos and Dakotas), and the the much discussed Mega (Crew) Cab. Oo.



A 6 speed MB automatic behind the Hemi but no mention of the Cummins.



I'm hoping the Mega cab is real and they suprise us with a new HD 5/6 speed auto for the Cummins along with all the other goodness. The HID lights would be great also (but the parts will be on national back order 36 minutes after you can buy them from the dealer )

 

[wcjp]

Thanks for the link.

 

[Spunkys Ram]

We'll see what happens. Seems like once you finally start to like something they go and change it. Decisions, decisions!!

 

[JeffreyHahn]

I worked on the 6. 1 in 2004. The original goal was 425/425. DCX's PVO Division originally had the project, but let it sit for a year. Wolfgang Bernard (the once future head of MB, now deposed) was upset (6. 1 was his pet project) and gave the project to Ricardo Engineering. Ricardo did a great job, considering they had already lost a year of development (DCX didn't want to change the release date) and, according to the article, they surpassed the original goal.

 

[Bill Stockard]

... and meanwhile over at Ford.



http://www.detnews.com/2004/autosinsider/0405/24/a04-161700.htm



Bill

 

[CJEliassen]

Did you notice that the picture of the dash for the Durango had a RAM emblem in the center of the steering wheel?

 

[stevenknapp]

The Ram head is on all the trucks and cars. It's as much a dodge logo now as anything.

 

[DPelletier]

"Should help Ford stay at the head of the pack"

" up the 6. 0 l PSD power by 10 ft lbs to 570"



They need to try harder to keep up, not worry about maintaining superiority!



Dave

 

[DGFoster]

I like the Dodge just like it is,I thought with the smaller back seat it would be a pain,but actually the kids have it pretty good back there.

 

[TBrennan]

Looks like the Mega Cab is real and it's coming. Check out this forum at the Allpar website here.



Full size crew cab plus storage behind the rear seats. I just wish they hadn't taken so long to come out with it.

 

[BRayls]

the hemis use a 5 speed built by chrysler ,not MB, in a local plant (ITP II). which is just getting ready to up production for the increased demand. it is a MB design but not built by them. as for the 06 trans,yes it is just rumor,I can assure you it is not a MB trans though,all I can say is they are working on the new trans. I was told it was a 6 spd. the room for the collaboration is being used for the design of the unit. the old light duty line as well as the 606(lh front driver) lines are being pulled out now to make way for the new line. I will post when I know for sure what we are looking at. but if its a MB trans ,why all the new design work locally?

 

[zstroken]

transmission updates

transmission for the current truck/suv Hemi is made at ITP 1. ITP 2 makes the transmission for the hemi cars. The ITP2 expansion is to deal with the shutting down of the old light duty rear wheel drive. I believe new grand cherokee may get some ITP2 trannys The 606 lines being retrofitted at KTP are for the new front wheel drive transmission. 58RE will replace the 48RE in about 2-3 yrs! There has been some on-off- back on again talk of another transmission for the heavy dutys but it is still talk.

 

[BRayls]

62te

 

[BRayls]

actually now that I think about it,every hemi I have seen has the 5spd auto trans. that would be a ITP II trans ,not ITP I which is the light duty 4 spd. the ITP I trans is in trucks/suvs with the 4. 7. I might be wrong but I thought all hemis came with the 5 spd. as for the 62te I am pretty sure thats the 48re replacement ,and in the local union paper it says that is what is going to be online in 14 months or so.

 

[zstroken]

62TE

62TE=6=speed, 2=torque rating, T=transverse(front wheel drive), E=electronic shift. The 40/41te is made in dept 91. the 5-45RFE(ITP1 is the 4. 7/5. 7 truck transmission) The ITPII(or the deuce) is a lighterduty rear wheel drive luxury transmission. That is the one that is in the 300c/magnum R/T. 58RE is in the works as we type. Planned to be machined at KTP and assembled at ITPI.

 

[BRayls]

after researching, I stand corrected. only lost on the ITP I trans. is that unit built as both 4 and 5 speeds?thats the confusion with me