Posted by Mark Williams | February 13, 2013

It's official: The Ram 1500 will be the only half-ton pickup to offer a small turbodiesel as one of its engine options. Set to go on sale by the third quarter of this year, the Ram 1500 will get the same small turbodiesel that's supposed to go into the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is the VM Motori 3.0-liter V-6 EcoDiesel rated at 240 horsepower and 420 pounds-feet of torque.

According to USA Today, Fred Diaz, CEO of Chrysler's Ram brand, said that customers have been asking for this and, according to some sales experts, the move is likely to add as many 10,000 sales annually. Pricing has not been announced but it's likely the diesel option will be more expensive than the Hemi premium engine option, meaning several thousands above the base 4.7-liter V-8/six-speed transmission combination. We expect the new ZF eight-speed transmission will be the standard transmission.

No word yet on whether there will be a manual or automated-manual transmission option.

This new engine option will make the Ram half-ton the first in the current segment to offer the torquey motor, and it is likely to significantly help the lineup improve its fuel economy averages. Pricing and EPA mileage numbers will be released closer to the on-sale date, but fuel economy numbers for the Grand Cherokee, on average a few hundred pounds lighter than a Ram 1500, are 21 city/30 highway (EPA estimates) for the 4x2 and 20 city/28 highway for the 4x4. Those numbers are likely to be similar for the half-ton truck as well.

To read the full press release, click here.

Quick Specs

Type and Description 60-degree V-type, liquid cooled

Displacement 182 cubic inches, 2988 cubic cm

Bore x Stroke 3.27 in. x 3.60 in., 83mm x 92mm

Valve System Chain-driven DOHC, 24-valves

Fuel Injection Common rail, solenoid injectors, 2000 bar

Block Construction Iron block, aluminum heads

Compression Ratio 15.5:1

Assembly Plant VM Motori Cento, Ferrara, Italy