The 2014 Ram 1500. Photo courtesy Chrysler.

The 2014 Ram 1500. Photo courtesy Chrysler.

Chrysler announced it will offer a new 3.0L EcoDiesel engine for its 2014-MY Ram 1500 pickup truck. The automaker said this engine will be matched with a TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission.

You can view a photo gallery of the 2014 Ram 1500 here.

The new EcoDiesel is a turbocharged, 60-degree, dual overhead camshaft 24-valve V-6. It can produce 240 hp and 420 lb. ft. of torque. This engine is developed and manufactured by VM Motor and it features a diesel oxidation catalyst, diesel particulate filter, and selective catalytic reduction so it’s emissions-compliant in all 50 states. The automaker hasn’t yet announced fuel-economy figures for this new engine.

Other engine choices for MY-2014 include Chrysler's 3.6L Pentastar V-6 and a 5.7L HEMI V-8.

The new TorqueFlite eight-speed transmission has double the number of gears compared to the four-speed automatic that Chrysler offered previously. This transmission is also available with the 5.7L HEMI V-8 engine, according to the automaker.

For emissions control, the automaker added a variable displacement compressor, a pulse-width modulated blower; a humidity sensor; and updated air-conditioning refrigerant technology. Pulse-width modulation (PWM) is a fuel-saving technology designed to reduce parasitic electrical load. It eliminates unnecessary load on the alternator and improves the durability of connected systems. The fuel delivery system and forward cooling fan benefit from PWM, and by itself it improves fuel-efficiency by 0.4 percent, according to Chrysler.

The variable displacement compressor (VDC) varies its pumping capacity to meet air-conditioning demands, lessening the load on the engine and reducing parasitic loss in order to improve fuel efficiency. The new humidity sensor (located behind the rear-view mirror) measures the potential for humidity to form on the windshield’s interior, enabling improved defogging, and the VDC and PWM to run at optimal speeds to reduce humidity. For 2014, the Ram 1500 has F1234yf refrigerant, which is designed to produce less emissions than previous refrigerant types.

For 2014, Chrysler’s Ram Truck brand also offers Blue Streak and Granite Crystal (in monotone or two-tone, depending on the model) as new color options for the Ram 1500 pickup.

MSRP for the 2014 Ram 1500 starts at $24,200, plus $1,095 destination.

Originally posted on Automotive Fleet

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