forget about this tranny

they need a 6 speed tranny and a diesel engine in the ram 1500 but make it a Cummins.....and you'll see sales go up..

go DODGE RAM!!

"orget about this tranny

they need a 6 speed tranny and a diesel engine in the ram 1500 but make it a Cummins.....and you'll see sales go up..

go DODGE RAM!" - billiejoe

Screw that. We want that 8-speed automatic transmission.

GO RAM!!!

Step right up and buy your one of a kind, limited edition, soon to be out of business, collectors edition Ram pickup. Batteries NOW included!

So this will be offered for two model years? I see how that helps GM/MB/BMW with amortization costs, but I can't see it helping Dodge that much. Maybe MB will hook them up with something?

Cost premium? I'd guess that 200K miles in gas savings would barely cover the extra cost. I hope I'm wrong. This is likely be be Prius heavy. Don't buy to save money, buy to feel good.

Who knows what Ford is working on, but I hope it's a small displacement DI Turbo V-8 gas motor, with seven speed tranny. That, I'd pay a premium for.

Can't find the article right now but I remember reading that an 8 speed IS NOT worth it.

I am interested in engine/trans lineup in 2012.

Something like:

Engine: 4.7L Pentastar V8 (~325 HP, 18/24 avg MPG)
Trans: 6 speed dual clutch

Can't find the article right now but I remember reading that an 8 speed IS NOT worth it.

I am interested in engine/trans lineup in 2012.

Something like:

Engine: 4.7L Pentastar V8 (~325 HP, 18/24 avg MPG)
Trans: 6 speed dual clutch" - AJ

I will take your word for it.

However, how about a 2-speed rear differential?

http://www.tpub.com/content/construction/14273/css/14273_190.htm

shoulda gone with the cummins, screw hybrids

Why would you want a 7 or 8 speed tranny? It'll be shifting up and down continuosly. I go for the first one that builds a 1/2 ton pickup with a diesel!

I think these type of trucks defeat the whole purpose. Trucks are built to tow and haul. These types of trucks will only have a towning capacity of a Ford Ranger.

I think they are aiming at Soccer Moms and grocery getters.

I don't know, what do you guys think?

Frank, it still tows more then the Raptor, and people seem to be buying those "trucks."

The truck itself is good for 1500s. Most people who have halfers dont tow/haul enough to even come close to 6100. While I'm not a hybrid fan, for a person who does alot of city driving and needs a truck to do small amout towing, this truck will suit them great.

This tech would never fly in HDs.

A.J. Dodge is killing the 4.7 by 2012. The only V8s offered will be the HEMIs (5.7 and 6.4)

I agree with CreigMac - This is likely be be Prius heavy. Don't buy to save money, buy to feel good.
Dodge Ram sales may indicate that Tony (in his own sarcastic way) may be right. I hope not for the truck market's sake.

"Frank, it still tows more then the Raptor, and people seem to be buying those "trucks."

The truck itself is good for 1500s. Most people who have halfers dont tow/haul enough to even come close to 6100. While I'm not a hybrid fan, for a person who does alot of city driving and needs a truck to do small amout towing, this truck will suit them great.

This tech would never fly in HDs". - Fupa

The Raptor can fly through the desert at 100 mph. How long will it take for this truck to make it to 100 mph? I don't have a sun dial to tell you, joking.

However, this apple does not taste like an orange.

The money could be better spent elsewhere for the RAM, like a 6 speed trans. Not a believer in the whole Hybrid pickup idea. Might work for cars but I dont see much difference in mpg to justify the cost for pickups with todays technology.

I can't under stand the thinking process of the guys in charge at Chrysler. Their last hybrid (Durango and Aspen) were on sale for less than a year if my research is correct. There is no way the sales of those vehicles paid for the developement costs of the hybrid system. Hind site being 20/20 seems like the first hybrid was a bad idea. SO THEY DECIDED TO DO IT AGAIN????? I really hope that Chrysler pulls out of their current problems and can begin offering more high quality vehicles like the new 1500 and HD trucks. But after reading this article I fear the company is doomed and I will be forced to pull wrenches on a Ford or GM instead. They need to get some people in charge who have a little more foresite.

The thing about hybrids is they increase city mileage of trucks a lot, which is good for CAFE since city mileage is weighed heavier in their numbers. That's why manufacturers keep pushing for them in trucks (which get terrible city mileage, but are bought in big enough numbers to effect CAFE ratings).

However, I know for a fact that most truck aficionados, myself included, aren't too keen on the concept of hybrids and would rather own a diesel. Unfortunately, diesels are most effective at achieving increased highway mileage and increased mileage under load, which isn't weighted as heavily under CAFE. This, combined with them being just as expensive a proposition as a hybrid initially, are big reasons why we aren't seeing manufacturers rush into making them. It's a real shame too, as diesels and trucks go together like peanut butter and jelly.

@ Frank

2 speed diffs are a great idea; I see them as a possibility in future HD trucks. However, they are probably unjustifiable in 1/2 tons.

@MotorParts

Please read my post again...

"Engine: 4.7L Pentastar V8 (~325 HP, 18/24 avg MPG)"

There are whispers about a V8 being developed with the technology of the Pentastar V6.

If not, I do not need a HEMI, so I would hope opt 2 would be
a Pentastar V6 with AT LEAST 300 lb-ft.

Wishful thinking...?

I dont want one of these at all. I want a F-250 FX4 Hoss Edition not a Hybrid Blah.

Why not just make the truck totally electric driven,and power a huge generator with an old 2.2 OHC TBI engine.That should be good for 50mpg and have instant electric acceleration.This should be a no brainer....that would eliminate the range issue and the weight of batteries (not needed now).

I can't believe these manufacturers are wasting their time and money developing something as pointless as a hybrid truck. I understand the point of hybrid cars where you make the engine smaller and more efficient but with little reserve power, so you supplement the engine with the battery system when you need more power for brief periods such as accelerating onto a freeway, and you end up getting 10mpg better fuel economy. The down side is that you have to pay an additional $5k to $8k up front for a hybrid, then you have to factor in more expensive maintenance and repairs.

Trucks are meant to tow and haul, so they have to keep the original engine size or performance would suffer, so you end up getting only 1 or 2 mpg better fuel economy, with all the same downsides. The only possible purpose for the hybrid truck is to give it better mileage when using it as a commuter vehicle, not for what a truck is typically used for.

If fuel economy is what you are after, go ahead and save up the money for a hybrid truck, but then buy the regular model, and use the money you saved to pick up a cheap used commuter car. The car will get 30-35 mpg and tires and brakes are half the price, so you will recover your investment in the car in a couple of years.

Then there is resale value, who knows what the resale value of a hybrid of any type will be 5 years down the road, but if you rack up the miles on your commuter car and your truck has 60k fewer miles on it i guarantee it will be worth more at trade in than the hybrid would be.

I'm pretty sure these hybrid trucks are brought to us by the same engineers who came up with the idea for diesel exaust filters on the new diesel trucks...where you install a filter to keep the soot from coming out, and then you clean that out by dumping large amounts of raw fuel straight into the exaust, which along with other "advances" reduces fuel economy by 40%. The bright side is this will make the air better for the space ailiens that come along after we destroy ourselves with too many rules and regulations...

Bring on the small diesels,it wont be that hard to get the Urea,but guys-you are not seeing the whole picture-Kevin

If "Chrysler will have to find a new hybrid powertrain if the Ram is to continue to be offered with a gas-electric propulsion system.", after 2012, they should look at Raser Technologies. https://www.rasertech.com. They were building a Hummer and fleet trucks. The tech looks promising.
I too would like to see a small block diesel though.

i can see ford and dodge designing new engines or improving the current(s).......but what is GM doing?

i like the idea of a pentastar v8

how about a pentastar v10? but as effcient as a v8.