No Diesel Engine For The Ram 1500

[HBarlow]

From RV E News.

"Chrysler to dump plans for light trucks with Cummins diesel engines


Greg Gerber posted on June 18, 2009 04:26
#ad


CLEVELAND -- If you were expecting to buy a diesel-powered light pickup within the next few years, it's time to give up.

Chrysler, the last company that had plans to offer such a truck, plans to cancel its contract with Cummins Inc. that called for the Indiana company to produce engines for its Dodge Ram 1500 line starting next year. The contract cancellation was one of a large group of supplier deals that Chrysler filed to cancel in Bankruptcy Court late Wednesday.

Popular in heavy-duty pickups, diesel engines provide as much as a 30 percent boost to fuel economy while offering the towing and hauling power that pickups owners seek. On the down side, they're more expensive that gasoline engines, adding as much as $8,000 to a vehicle's sticker price.

Chrysler's plans follow recent announcements by Ford Motor Co. and General Motors, both companies that had also planned light-duty diesels. Toyota Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. have also backed away from plans to make heavy-duty trucks featuring diesel engines, said Paul Lacy, an analyst with IHS Global Insight in Detroit.

Dodge and Cummins announced the new diesel engine in late 2006. The engine was not only intended to boost the fuel economy of the Ram line, it was going to reopen a plant in Columbus, Ind. , for Cummins. The company had expected to spend $250 million in plant upgrades.

To read the complete report in the Plain Dealer Reporter, click here. "

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Toyota Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. have also backed away from plans to make heavy-duty trucks featuring diesel engines

HMMmmmm - looks like the "heavy duty" diesel truck market belongs to GM, Ford and Chrysler for the foreseeable future - and if GM and Chrysler can't make a go of it after all OUR tax $$$, doesn't leave much, does it!



OF course, Toyota and Nissan MIGHT just see the handwriting on the wall for GM and Chrysler - and figure that instead of spending lots of $$$ producing their own, wait a bit, and simply pick up one or the other of GM/Chrysler for a song when when THEY go broke...



IF that happens, wonder if us sucker taxpayers will get a tax rebate on our "investment" in GM and Chrysler...

 

[HBarlow]

I don't believe Japanese auto makers will buy Fiat/Chrysler or Government Motors. I don't think they want anything to do with the UAW.

 

[fmj]

seems like this is going back and forth. this one's from a few minutes later (5. 24 vs 4:26 :-laf):

Quote:

Cummins renegotiating new deal with Chrysler

Associated Press
5:24 PM CDT, June 18, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS - Columbus, Ind. -based Cummins is renegotiating a contract to make light-duty diesel engines for Chrysler.

Chrysler canceled the new contract as part of its bankruptcy proceedings. But Cummins spokesman Mark Land says that frees Cummins to negotiate a deal with the new company that was created by the sale of most of the automaker's assets to a group led by Italy's Fiat Group SpA.

The cancellation doesn't affect Cummins' deal to make engines for heavy-duty Dodge Ram pickup trucks. The plant that makes those engines was closed last month but Land says it's expected to reopen when Chrysler resumes truck production.

The production line for the light-duty engines is being built at a different Cummins plant in Columbus. Land says that work has been slowed until the situation is clarified.

 

[CurtLee]

It'll be interesting to see what they do after the OP and post #4. I'd like to see a light duty cummins in a 1500.

 

[HBarlow]

Interesting.

If a new contract is agreed upon it would seem to indicate Fiat/Chrysler is financially solvent and confident that sales will increase. I will watch for more news.

 

[TRoss]

IIRC, the US Government (EPA, maybe) payed Cummins to develop that light duty diesel . . .

 

[surfbeetle]

Damn Harvey, you beat me to it.

http://www.allpar.com/news/

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Damn Harvey, you beat me to it.

http://www.allpar.com/news/

A quote from a related article:

In short, Chrysler will get small and mid-sized cars, small engines, lightweight transmissions, new fuel saving technologies, long-awaited distribution channels in Europe and Latin America, and an equity owner that can easily outvote Daimler-Benz - and has a vested interest in Chrysler's success, with no emotional need to destroy the company. What's more, Cerberus will still be pushing for Chrysler's success, since they own the loan company - which will thrive if Chrysler the car company does.



There are concerns. This will make Chrysler foreign-owned again, even if Cerberus buys back Daimler's 20%, because Fiat has an option to buy another 20%, pushing their share alone up to 55%. In addition, with more than half of Cerberus' equity going to Fiat, there is little left for the mandated payments to medical and pension

 

['strokeThis_'07]

Im hoping itll see the light of day, but it has to be in a Dodge/Chrylser product for me to buy...



Hows about a Smarty/TST, twins, dual pumps (I think its using a CP3) straight pipe, built auto... yea, shed move REAL good!!

 

[SNiebaum]

perhaps a 'not so fast'...

Cummins Renegotiating Engine Deal With Chrysler

this 'spin' seems to be that the contract was 'canceled' so that it can be renegotiated with the new company... whatever it's called.

 

[HBarlow]

Damn Harvey, you beat me to it.
http://www.allpar.com/news/

Only because my news source posted it earlier than yours. I'm on the free internet mailing list from RVeNews and get Greg Gerber's news blog every weekday afternoon about 4 or 5 p. m. I always scan the articles and read the ones I'm most interested in. I read allpar occasionally also but not every day.

 

[AHarris]

Ford, Dodge, and Chrysler are shooting themselves in the foot by not offering a mid-size or half ton truck with a diesel engine. Even among the small/mid-size trucks, you're looking at a real world 15 mpg in mixed city/highway driving with a small V6 and 4 wheel drive. You can get diesel Rangers and other similar fare in Europe (where emissions standards are EVEN MORE stringent) but you can't get then here. WTF, over?

If I could get a smaller diesel truck with a decent back seat, ability to tow 6-7K comfortably when I need it, and 25mpg when I don't need it I would be buying one tomorrow. I know I'm not alone.

As abysmal as everyone says 6. 7 fuel economy is, I would have to step down to a Toyota Tacoma 4 cylinder 4 X 2 or a Ford Ranger to match the real world, hand calculated 14. 5 city/17. 5 highway/12mpg towing (5,500# travel trailer) that I get with mine.

And to top it all off, diesel is currently cheaper than gasoline.

Maybe when the automakers get their heads out of their arses and start making decisions that make sense they will have a chance at survival!

The first automaker that makes a small diesel pickup will get my business!

 

[MMeier]

Anyone here know anything more about Mahindra? Are they still coming out this fall?

 

[Dieselnut59]

Anyone here know anything more about Mahindra? Are they still coming out this fall?

That is what I have been wondering... and AHarris, I agree... anyone who makes a good small truck with a diesel will have my business... . and many other people's. We have waited YEARS for this, since the mid 80's!

 

[Dieselnut59]

Mahindra

Mahindra Clean Diesel Pickup Trucks and SUVs

 

[JApol]

Any updates on this?
Military car sales says that they have no idea on this but the new software for the 2010 models is showing up tommarrow and on sunday I am going to see what they have any maybe get somewhat of a price/spec sheet.

 

[RVTRKN]

Motor Trends "Trucks Trends" claims its official, no Cummins V8 for 1500's.

 

[LHarper]

From a sorce inside chrysler the v8 5. 0l cummins is still alive for the 1500

as the mileage standards kick in , the 5. 7l hybrid power train used in the durango /aspen wiil be in the 1500 truck first sometime next year in 2010 the diesel will follow 2011 0r 2012 ?

 

[Dieselnut59]

Hybrid? Are you kidding? I am so damn sick of this hybrid garbage! Give us some reliable, real world usable power and fuel economy with a diesel dammit!