Official '09 Ram Figures: 390hp/407lb-ft

[Buick61]

Dodge Announces Improved Fuel Economy and Best-in-class Horsepower (390) and Torque (407 lb.-ft.) for All-new 2009 Dodge Ram

New Ram Will Also Offer Best-in-class Aerodynamics (.419 Cd) and Performance (0-60 in less than 6 seconds)


All-new 5.7-liter HEMI® with fuel-saving Multiple Displacement System (MDS) technology offers 4 percent improved fuel economy, 13 percent more horsepower, 8 percent more torque over 2008 engine
Best-in-class performance: R/T regular cab 4x2 model (0-60 in less than 6 seconds)
Best-in-class aerodynamics: .419 coefficient of drag (Cd) for crew-size 4x4 models to help fuel economy
Flexible-fuel-capable 4.7-liter V-8 offers 6 percent increased fuel efficiency, more performance and refinement over previous-generation 4.7-liter engine
6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel engine in Dodge Ram Heavy Duty achieves 2010 NOx emission standards in all 50 states right now, making it the cleanest and best-performing diesel available on the market
All-new light-duty diesel to be introduced after 2009 — up to a 25-percent improvement in fuel efficiency and a 20-percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions over a gasoline engine with equivalent horsepower and torque
All-new Ram 1500 Hybrid model to be introduced in 2010 model year – up to 40 percent fuel economy improvement in the city and 25 percent overall


Chelsea, Mich., Jun 26, 2008 - This morning, Dodge will showcase its new 2009 Dodge Ram powertrain lineup at the company’s proving grounds. Powertrain choices in all-new 2009 Dodge Ram models will offer improved fuel economy plus more power, torque and refinement than ever before.
Engines available in all-new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 models include the all-new, best-in-class, 390-horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI®, flex-fuel 4.7-liter and 3.7-liter gasoline engines. The 2009 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty models (with current 2008 design) are available with either the 5.7-liter HEMI or the 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel engine, which already achieves 2010 NOx emission standards, making it the cleanest and best-performing heavy-duty pickup truck in the market.

“While the all-new HEMI engine maintains the key characteristics that makes HEMI a household name in powertrains, we added new technologies, including Variable Valve Timing, that substantially improve fuel economy and refinement and maximize performance,” said Bob Lee, Vice President – Powertrain Product Engineering Team, Chrysler LLC.

“Our all-new Dodge Ram also offers best-in-class aerodynamics to go hand-in-hand with Chrysler’s fuel-saving technologies,” said Mike Accavitti, Director – Dodge Brand and SRT Global Marketing and Communications, Chrysler LLC. “And, with Dodge Ram’s first-ever crew cab, first-in-segment coil-spring rear suspension, industry-first RamBox cargo management system and more than 35 new or improved features, we’re changing the game in the truck market.”

All-new 5.7-liter HEMI to Offer Best-in-class Horsepower and Torque
For 2009, Dodge offers a new generation of the famous 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 in its Ram trucks, with best-in-class horsepower and torque. The new HEMI powers the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram to best-in-class performance: the R/T regular-cab 4x2 model equipped with a short bed and 4:10 gears can accelerate from 0-60 mph in less than 6 seconds.

While the all-new engine maintains many of the basic features that make “HEMI” synonymous with “power,” several technologies were added or improved:

Variable Valve Timing (VVT)
Expanded operating range of the fuel-saving Multiple Displacement System (MDS)
Increased compression ratio
Active intake manifold with long runners for low-end torque and short runners for high-rpm power
Improved cylinder head port flow efficiency
Reduced-restriction exhaust and induction systems
The result is improved idle quality and overall refinement, more horsepower (13 percent), more torque (8 percent) and better fuel economy (4 percent).

“The all-new 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine will offer our customers better fuel economy, improved idle quality and overall refinement, along with more horsepower and torque,” said Lee. “HEMI has always been synonymous with power, and now – thanks to VVT, expanded four-cylinder mode in our MDS system, and a host of other technologies – Chrysler’s new HEMI delivers more fuel efficiency and refinement, along with even more power.”

The new 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 delivers best-in-class 390 hp (291 kW), a 13-percent improvement, and 407 lb.-ft. (552 N•m) of torque, an 8-percent improvement, while providing an estimated improvement of 4 percent in fuel economy.

The HEMI’s new VVT improves fuel economy under some conditions in two ways. First, it reduces the engine’s pumping work by closing the intake valve later. Second, it increases the expansion process of the combustion event. This allows more work to be transferred to the crankshaft instead of being rejected out of the exhaust port as heat. Essentially, VVT optimizes engine breathing, which improves engine efficiency and power.

Dodge’s fuel-saving MDS system seamlessly alternates between smooth, high-fuel-economy four-cylinder mode when less power is needed, and V-8 mode when more power from the new 5.7-liter HEMI engine is in demand. An expanded MDS operating range in the new-for-2009 HEMI — aided in part by the Ram’s best-in-class aerodynamics — will allow customers to realize an even-greater fuel economy benefit. When MDS is operating, it is indicated by the fuel-economy-mode readout in the 2009 Dodge Ram’s Electronic Vehicle Information Center.

Chrysler estimates that since its inception of MDS in 2005, nearly 100 million gallons of gasoline have been saved, along with reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of close to a million metric tons.


Much, much more here. Including diesel news.

[Michael_S]

That's a fantastic output.

The problem is, Dodge couldn't have timed the new Ram's debut worse if they wanted to. Hell of a time to bring out your flagship model.

[1931Chevy]

hmm so the myth about the ram having a FE of 23 mpg combined is dead

[Buick61]

Originally Posted by 1931Chevy

hmm so the myth about the ram having a FE of 23 mpg combined is dead

How is it dead? And who said it was a combined rating?

The Ram is also offered with a 215hp V6 engine.

[VMax2007]

Originally Posted by Buick61

Best-in-class performance: R/T regular cab 4x2 model (0-60 in less than 6 seconds)

yeah, only cuz GM refuses to put it's 6.2 liter (403 HP/401 Tq) in a reg cab.

[Michael_S]

Originally Posted by VMax2007

yeah, only cuz GM refuses to put it's 6.2 liter (403 HP/401 Tq) in a reg cab.

With $4 per gallon gas, the people buying a regular cab pickup with a big engine as a modern day muscle car will be much fewer than they were five years back. It's not worth getting upset over it.

[WishIhadatruck]

Originally Posted by Buick61

How is it dead? And who said it was a combined rating?

The Ram is also offered with a 215hp V6 engine.

I recall the rumor being a Hemi with 23mpg HWY, not combined.

I didn't notice the mpg ratings in the above link but in this article they say 20mpg hwy is the highest available and that is with the 3.7L.

http://www.leftlanenews.com/09-dodge...ore-power.html

[Michael_S]

My cousin has a Ram with the 3.7, and he says the V6 moves it well enough that he doesn't miss a V8 but it has to rev so hard even under light acceleration that he still only gets about 16 miles per gallon.

[CHASLS2]

If Dodge really does come out with a Hemi R/T regcab with 390hp, then i will buy one.
I could do a cam , headers and a dyno tune and have a pretty fast truck.

[CHASLS2]

Originally Posted by VMax2007

yeah, only cuz GM refuses to put it's 6.2 liter (403 HP/401 Tq) in a reg cab.

I agree!

I am a 100% GM guy, but if a regcab R/T comes out with the Hemi then i will go over to Dodge since i have no other choice in a regcab truck with the power i'm looking for.

[Michael_S]

Originally Posted by CHASLS2

I agree!

I am a 100% GM guy, but if a regcab R/T comes out with the Hemi then i will go over to Dodge since i have no other choice in a regcab truck with the power i'm looking for.

There's always the Tundra reg-cab with the 5.7.

[big swede]

I wonder what, if anything, this means for the Challenger RT. I guess with that much power it would be stepping on a few too many SRT toes. They really need to pump up the 6.1 now.

[CHASLS2]

Originally Posted by Michael_S

There's always the Tundra reg-cab with the 5.7.

That is a full size heavy tank. I am hoping the R/T is not much bigger than my 08 Colorado regcab.

[kneedragger]

All this power and isn't dodge going to gimp towing and payload numbers even futher?

[1931Chevy]

Originally Posted by Buick61

How is it dead? And who said it was a combined rating?

The Ram is also offered with a 215hp V6 engine.

http://www.leftlanenews.com/2009-dod...l-economy.html

sorry for some of the wrong info but the 23 jumped on my mind from here

Dodge engineers worked diligently to make the 2009 Ram more aerodynamic, and even managed to shave 80 pounds off the truck’s curb-weight. Despite the Ram’s more powerful 5.7L V8 engine — now producing 380 horsepower and 404 lb-ft or torque — the engine is about 5 percent more efficient than the one found in the 2008 model.

These factors combined will improve the 2009 Ram’s highway fuel economy by as much as 20 percent. “We expect to see a 10 to 20 percent gain in highway efficiency,” Mike Cairns, the Ram’s chief engineer, told The Detroit Free press.

A two-wheel drive 2008 Ram equipped with a Hemi V8 returns about 19 mpg on the highway, meaning the new model could potentially achieve 23 mpg on the highway — a figure that would be tops in the segment.