2013 Dodge Ram 1500: up to 20% better MPG (factory mods)
 

Saw this article on the new 2013 Dodge Ram:

Light & Medium Truck | 2013 Ram Boosts Fuel Economy

Supposedly, it'll have the following features:
-8 speed automatic transmission
-active grille shutters
-active ride height adjustment
-stop/start technologies

Supposedly it will have best-in-class fuel economy. It'll be interesting to see how it pans out. The article doesn't disclose any EPA ratings.

They don't have an EPA rating on it yet but they're looking for 24 highway. They also removed a lot of weight from the truck (about 100kg) by using aluminum in the hood, suspension and bed, 8 speed gear box is also lighter than the old 6 spd. Also has electric PS and a lot of aero tweaks. Its funny how the manufacturers seem to have no problem finding huge FE gains now that fuel prices are forcing them to do it. A few years ago they were blathering on that higher CAFE standards would kill jobs. What a bunch of BS.

Active grill block detail
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog....ram-150011.jpg

Air suspension that lowers the truck at highway speed.
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog....ram-150016.jpg

Well, for those that need a real truck, there's still half ton offerings from Toyota, Ford and Dodge ...

The Dodge half ton "truck" died when they went coil spring rear end.

It's obvious that most people don't use them for truck purposes, why not get a crossover SUV that gets better mileage?

And 8 speed automatic from Chrysler - that just spells disaster.

Chrysler makes me shrudder. I work for a big rental car company. Over 2/3 of the warranty work we have done on our cars are Chryslers. It's kind of scary. That said, I still like seeing the car companies making all these advances for fuel economy. Don't kid yourself though. It's not the price of gas that's driving the advances. It federal mandates on fuel economy. 50 mpg fleetwide mandated in 2035, I think it is.

If you buy a crossover your dick is smaller. Simple as that. Here I am driving a B*tch Basket... I must be a bonafide woman! :rolleyes:

I find it amusing when they (and GM and Ford) blather on about "weight savings" if they replaced an iron chunk with an aluminum one, when their current "1/2 Ton" offerings weigh a ton (literally!) more than the old school all steel full-sized trucks.

you know that some doofus is gonna rip the shutters out as soon as he gets home.

Well its built to Chrysler's usual high quality standards, I would be ripping them out too. It took some doofus to figure out how to disable 8-6-4 function on GM's old V8s in the 80s.

I don't know about you, but my '65 F100 doesn't have satellite navigation, radio, overdrive, power steering, power brakes, power windows, crumple zones, air bags, air conditioning, automatic transmission, cruise control, shoulder belts, DRL, HID, ABS, traction control, stability control, fuel injection, or any semblance of safety.

But hey, people like their gadgets.

And the double whammy re: old school vs new, in one measure of efficiency, is that back in the day trucks were mainly hauling stuff vs now with all the empty solo commuting. Pound for pound, your '65 creams the '12s.