First Drive Review: 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty

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First Drive Review: 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty



October 22, 2009

Could Dodge’s timing be any worse in launching its new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups? The economy remains firmly in the crapper, pickups have fallen from 15% to 10% of vehicles sold and the average price of diesel fuel – the lifeblood of HD pickups – stubbornly remains higher than regular gas. Plus, come January 1, all new diesel-powered vehicles will have to meet tough 50-state diesel emission standards that will reduce allowable nitrogen oxide levels by 90 percent from today – this has already caused price spikes of more than $6,000 for big over-the-road trucks from manufacturers like Navistar and Hino.

But Chrysler’s competitors in the HD segment aren’t sitting still either. The new 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty and updated 2011 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Heavy Duty pickups are expected to arrive in the next six months. The Super Duty will feature two all-new engines: a 6.7-liter V-8 Power Stroke turbodiesel and a 6.2-liter V-8 gasser. The GM twins will feature a significantly updated 6.6-liter V-8 LML Duramax turbodiesel. The new Power Stroke and Duramax are also expected to generate significantly more power than the current 350-horsepower, 650 lbs.-ft. of torque that Ford’s diesel does, and the 355-hp, 660 lbs.-ft. that GM diesels do today. Dodge is carrying over its current 350-hp, 650 lbs.-ft. 6.7-liter Cummins six-cylinder diesel.

If all of that sounds bad, in actuality, the timing of the new Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickups probably couldn’t be better, considering the challenges that three-quarter and one-ton pickups face.

Much Much More Continued Here:

Part 1 - First Drive Review: 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty - PickupTrucks.com News

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YouTube - The 2010 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty MegaCab

YouTube - The 2010 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty MegaCab