Just read this on PickupTruck.com -

When it goes on sale next summer, expect to see four all-new or revised engine choices. The base 215-hp/235lb-ft 3.7-liter V6 will be replaced with the 260-hp/265lb-ft 4.0-liter V6 used in the Dodge Nitro SUV. The Ram’s current 235-hp/300lb-ft 4.7-liter V8 gets the same makeover the 2008 Dodge Dakota received, boosting power to 300-hp/330lb-ft, and the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 will get a bump in displacement and power from current 345-hp/375lb-ft levels. A new Cummins V8 diesel motor will also be available. Both gas and diesel V8s will use 6-speed automatic transmissions.

You can read the article at http://www.pickuptruck.com/html/2009...ied/page1.html

 

Interesting - a possibilty of a light-duty diesel.

But I'm not too happy about Dodge's move away from unique front-end design. They are right, even through the camoflage it's apparent tehy are reverting to a standard hood design (note the Durango's major change this year too) and while it may be fractionally more "aerodynamic" (as if that will help on a 6000 lb truck) there is another term I'll use: Cost savings.

I really wasn't a fan of the design change from the second to third gen truck, lost a lot of character overall. This iteration will likely be similar to the new Chevy's which are very, very bland. At least they are not trying to copy the new Tundra.

 

I like the 02-05 front end a lot. I never prefered the 06-07 frontend over it although I like them too (I have one)...

Wish they'd put a smaller I6 turbo diesel into the halfton, or maybe even a I4... Or better yet a diesel hybrid 1500 .

 

If thats the front end whats with those 2 big ugly squares for a grille

 

I read an article awhile ago about cummins developing a v6 and v8 engine.... I'll have to see if I can dig them up

 

Hate the truck from what I can see, but I like the godzilla vs bambi on the right side of the page

 

How is that front end any more aerodynamic than the current? That just does not seem right...

I'm interested to see it. It almost looks more "bigrig-ish" than the current, to me. I guess we'll see!

 

I like the visual reference on page 4

 

It WILL NOT be a V-8, its a Light Duty V-6, somewhere between 260 and 300HP, and it will not make the torque of the ISB. It will however be about 1 sec slower to 60 than the current Hemi, so around 9-9.5 seconds.

 

You are incorrect. Cummins has developed both a V8(5.6L) and V6(4.2L) for light-duty applications. The V8 is destined for the Ram 1500 and the V6 will find it's way into other smaller applications: test/comparison vehicle was a Durango but I would imagine they'll explore putting it into the Dakota.

This information is far from new and the actual announcement of the lucky auto company came last fall. The engines were rumored and reports circulated the internet back in the 2003 timeframe. At that time, the speculation was that they would be put into Dodge vehicles... nobody thought it would take this long. I think the real hangup on the engines was in the use of piezo injectors and the necessity of using ULSD. The 2007 mandatory change to ULSD has made these engines go from test phase to reality. These engines will also come equipped with all of our favorite emissions reducing technologies... EGR, DPF... and a VGT akin to what's on the 6.7L.

 

I am in agreeance with the body change. Its not "retro", but it still is kind of a throwback to the 40's/50's Dodge pickups. I like that.

A V8 Cummins...hmm. Wonder what kind of gas mileage will be lost with that. Thats the main reason I am going to get a Cummins, versus a 7.3PSD. Both are great motors, but the I-6 gets better mileage, so I can justify the purchase in the money aspect.

 

I would think that a ram 1500 with a V8 diesel will get better mpg then our 3/4-1 ton diesels. Just for the fact that a 1/2 ton will weigh much less.
To bad they just don't put the 4.5L I-4 Cummins in.

 

I think I'm going to wait to see what the new Ram will actually look like and then decide if I'll buy an '08 or '09 next summer (I'm literally dying to buy my first diesel, but good things come to those who wait). I love the current style and am looking to future improvements to the Ram. However, I fear that DC will regress when it's comes to the style of it's new body (like the new Chevy trucks, which are a capital U G L Y). I wonder what car manufacturers are thinking when they come out with new and revamped vehicles (i.e. Chevy HHR, Avalanche (gotta love all that plastic), Honda Ridgeline, PT Cruiser, and I could go on). Anyway, it's about time we see a diesel in a 1/2 pickup!

 

I agree 100%!

 

Give me a 4x4 quad cab dakota with a solid axle up front, good build quality and that I4 turbo diesel please . That would be a hell of a truck kinda like the Hilux but bigger.