Dodge Reveals New 2006 Ram 1500: First Pickup Truck to Offer Cylinder Deactivation
16 Juin 2005 - 6:30PM
PR Newswire (US)
Dodge Reveals New 2006 Ram 1500: First Pickup Truck to Offer
Cylinder Deactivation Technology to Save Customers 60 Million
Gallons of Fuel Annually CHELSEA, Mich., June 16
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Consumers have a lot of reasons to get
"pumped" about the new 2006 Dodge Ram 1500. (Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050616/DETH003 ) In addition
to being the first pickup truck to offer Chrysler Group's MDS
technology, the new 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 -- the most powerful
light-duty pickup truck on the market -- boasts an all-new frame
and suspension, an all-new interior, and an even bolder new Dodge
Ram exterior. The new truck arrives in Dodge dealerships this fall.
"The boldest and most powerful light-duty pickup on the market just
got better," said Darryl Jackson, Vice President - Dodge Marketing,
Chrysler Group. "Packed with refinement, technology, best-in-class
HEMI power and a new bold appearance, the new 2006 Dodge Ram 1500
continues to lead the competition. And in true Dodge fashion, we
will offer our new Ram at an incredible value." The new 2006 Dodge
Ram 1500 is the first pickup truck and latest Chrysler Group
vehicle to feature standard MDS with the 5.7-liter HEMI. Without
compromising its best-in-class 345 horsepower, the new 2006 Dodge
Ram 1500's HEMI V-8 engine seamlessly alternates between
four-cylinder mode when less power is needed and V-8 mode when more
power is in demand. "Chrysler Group was the first to offer a modern
cylinder-deactivation system, the first to offer MDS in an SUV and
now the first to offer MDS in a pickup truck," said Mike Donoughe,
Vice President - Body-on-frame Product Team. "By offering MDS as a
standard feature on the HEMI-powered Dodge Ram 1500, customers will
experience the most powerful and capable V-8 engine in the pickup
truck market, with an improvement in fuel economy of up to 20
percent." With the introduction of the new 2006 Dodge Ram 1500, 60
million gallons of fuel will be saved annually by 2007 thanks to
the HEMI V-8 engine's MDS technology -- to be offered on seven
large-volume Chrysler Group vehicles by year's end. Chrysler
Group's MDS-equipped lineup also includes the HEMI-powered Chrysler
300C, Jeep(R) Grand Cherokee, Dodge Charger, Dodge Magnum and Dodge
Durango, with the all-new 2007 Jeep Commander arriving in showrooms
this fall. By 2007, Chrysler Group will have nearly 1 million
vehicles on the road with MDS. IMPROVED RIDE AND HANDLING Building
on the previous Dodge Ram 1500's superior ride quality, the new
2006 Dodge Ram 1500 again raises the bar with an all-new
hydroformed, fully- boxed frame and suspension that deliver a
smooth, confident and highly capable driving experience. The Dodge
Ram 1500 4x4 model utilizes a new coil-over shock absorber and
double wishbone front suspension. Mounting the shock absorber
inside the coil spring enables four-wheel-drive models to benefit
from the coil spring's added tuning characteristics. All 2006 Dodge
Ram 1500 models feature monotube shock absorbers that deliver a
controlled, steady and predictable ride with superb handling. In
addition, the new 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 features retuned springs,
jounce bumpers and suspension bushings. The new 2006 Dodge Ram
1500's Hotchkiss-design rear suspension utilizes leaf springs that
are designed to reduce wheel hop and improve durability. Spring
rates have been selected to provide a poised ride when unloaded,
and stable, confident handling when fully loaded to its 6,800-lb.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). A rack-and-pinion steering
system with new steering gears on both the two- and
four-wheel-drive Dodge Ram 1500 models provides a precise and firm
steering feel. ALL-NEW INTERIOR The interior of the new 2006 Dodge
Ram 1500 complements the bold exterior by taking luxury and
refinement to new levels in the pickup truck market. Enhanced
driver and passenger comfort and more feature content is abundant
inside the new 2006 Dodge Ram 1500. Driver and passengers will
experience an interior environment that is 20 percent quieter than
the previous Dodge Ram 1500, achieved by employing laminated
front-door glass and improved door seals. In addition, extensive
use of Polymer Constraint Layer (PCL) and new body mounts reduces
road noise and resonance between the engine and cabin. All-new
seats, including optional bucket seats with available leather trim,
provide substantial bolstering and generous support while adding a
rich appearance to the new 2006 Dodge Ram 1500's interior. A new
instrument panel cluster -- placed underneath a redesigned cluster
brow -- is designed to reduce glare, and a new, wide center stack
contains a new audio system and new heating, ventilation and
air-conditioning controls. Premium amenities -- including a new GPS
Navigation radio, new rear-seat DVD (Quad Cab(TM) only),
Infinity(R) sound system, UConnect(TM) hands-free communication
system, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, sun roof, adjustable pedals,
dual-zone climate control, heated seats and a new power-sliding
rear window -- are available on the new 2006 Dodge Ram 1500. EVEN
BOLDER RAM DESIGN Dodge Ram's distinguished and bold "big rig"
design is expressed in greater magnitude in the new 2006 Dodge Ram
1500. A chrome crosshair grille with surround collar and new
distinctive headlamps retain Dodge Ram's robust and chiseled
front-end appearance. The 2006 Dodge Ram 1500's new fully chrome,
ingot-like grille highlights a massive front bumper, creating a
bold, protective appearance. The substantial grille remains a
mainstay of the Dodge Ram design signature, with the large
crosshair as the focal point. Moved to the center of the crosshair
from the top of the grille is the signature Ram's head. Large
angular headlamp modules on the new 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 provide 22
percent more light intensity and 40 percent improved beam spectrum
than the previous Dodge Ram 1500. POWERFUL ENGINE LINEUP The new
2006 Dodge Ram 1500 offers three powerful engines, including the
5.7-liter HEMI V-8 with MDS, providing a best-in-class 345
horsepower and 375 lb.-ft of torque. "With a 58 percent take rate,
the HEMI continues to resonate with consumers and is extremely
popular among Dodge Ram Light Duty customers," said Jackson. With
300 lb.-ft. of torque, the Magnum(R) 4.7-liter V-8 provides smooth
and responsive performance, and is available with a five-speed
automatic transmission. The 3.7-liter Magnum V-6 engine is standard
on the two-wheel-drive Dodge Ram 1500 regular cab and the
two-wheel-drive Quad Cab with the standard bed configuration. The
3.7-liter Magnum V-6 delivers 215 horsepower and 235 lb.- ft. of
torque. The 3.7-liter Magnum V-6 and the 4.7-liter Magnum V-8
engines feature a standard Getrag six-speed manual transmission.
NEW LEVELS OF EFFICIENCY The new 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 leaps to new
heights in performance and efficiency in the full-size pickup
segment, providing the most state-of-the- art technology available
to meet the needs of today's pickup truck buyers. Dodge engineers
perfected several areas of the Dodge Ram 1500 -- from powertrain to
aerodynamics -- to create a more fuel-efficient light-duty,
full-size pickup truck. With the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine, the
Dodge Ram 1500 is the most powerful light-duty pickup truck in the
market. Without compromising its venerable power, the new 2006
Dodge Ram 1500's HEMI V-8 engine features the first-ever fully
functioning cylinder deactivation system -- MDS -- on a pickup
truck. Customers receive the powerful benefit of the HEMI V-8
engine with the fuel economy that they -- until now -- could only
expect from a smaller, less powerful engine. The HEMI V-8 engine
can transition from eight cylinders to four in 40 milliseconds
(0.040 seconds) -- quicker than the blink of an eye. Improved fuel
economy is realized without any change in customer experience as
drivers receive the benefit of MDS without changing their driving
habits. Customers will experience fuel economy gains of up to 20
percent under certain driving conditions. A new Variable Line
Pressure (VLP) transmission for the 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 with the
3.7-liter V-6 engine improves fuel economy and provides smoother
shifts between gears. Adding to the fuel-efficiency formula, the
2006 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 model is equipped with a
front-axle-disconnect system, designed to disengage the front-axle
driveshaft when operating in two-wheel drive. This minimizes the
front-drive system's energy consumption and improves fuel economy.
The 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 also features new reduce-drag brake
calipers, low- rolling resistance tires and a rear spoiler to
improve vehicle aerodynamics. The spoiler is positioned on the rear
liftgate. VERSATILE CABS The new 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 is available
in regular cab and Quad Cab body styles, in both two-wheel drive
and four-wheel drive, and with six-foot or eight-foot beds.
Available trim levels are ST, Sport, SLT and Laramie. A Mega Cab
body style will also be available this fall. The Dodge Ram Quad Cab
features four standard doors, available 60/40 folding rear seats
and a folding load floor that ensures both passengers and gear fit
in the back simultaneously and comfortably. By allowing seats to
fold up, tools and other items may be securely locked away. The
Dodge Ram regular cab offers just as much flexibility, with storage
behind rear seats and enough seat travel for ease in reclining of
driver and passenger seats. Both the Dodge Ram Quad Cab and regular
cab feature numerous front-seat storage areas and convenience
features. The 40/20/40 front seat provides comfortable seating for
three or ample center storage for one or two occupants. The center
console offers room for a laptop computer and features fold-down
storage dividers. The center "20" portion of the seat offers
additional "hidden" storage under the cushion. FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE
SYSTEM The 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 model offers a new standard
electronic-shift transfer case, with the more fuel-efficient,
disconnecting front axle. The new on-demand four-wheel-drive system
includes two-wheel-drive and four-wheel- drive "high" and "low"
modes, plus a new four-wheel-drive "auto" mode that provides torque
to the front axle only when required. DUAL-MODE TOW/HAUL FEATURE
The 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 also offers a "Tow/Haul" feature that
provides crisp shifts and reduces gear searching, and an "Overdrive
Off" mode that delivers maximum trailer towing performance. These
systems will also select a lower gear in downhill conditions in
order to utilize the engine's braking capability. DODGE RAM TRUCK
LEADERSHIP Dodge Ram continues to strengthen its leadership
position as the dominant truck brand with a lineup long on
superlatives: * Most POWERFUL pickup: Dodge Ram 1500 with legendary
HEMI power is the most powerful mass production light-duty pickup
on the market * FASTEST pickup: Dodge Ram SRT10 is the Guinness
Book of World Records' fastest production pickup * STRONGEST
pickup: Dodge Ram Heavy Duty Cummins Turbo Diesel is the strongest
pickup on the market, with 610 lb.-ft. of class-dominating torque *
Most CAPABLE pickup: Dodge Ram Power Wagon is the most capable off-
road factory pickup ever created * LARGEST pickup cab: Dodge Ram
Mega Cab will be the most spacious and versatile pickup on the
market DODGE BRAND With a U.S. market share of seven percent, Dodge
is the fifth-largest nameplate in the United States and the
eighth-largest nameplate in the automotive industry. In 2004, Dodge
sold more than 1.4 million vehicles in the global market. Dodge
continues to lead the minivan market segment with a 20 percent
market share in the United States. In the truck market, Dodge has
an 18 percent market share. In the car market, Dodge has a 4.5
percent market share. The new 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 will be built at
the Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Warren, Mich., and at the St.
Louis (Mo.) North Assembly Plant.
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050616/DETH003
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Chrysler Group CONTACT:
Colin McBean, +1-248-512-0155, , or Todd Goyer, +1-248-512-0041, ,
both of Chrysler Group Web site:
http://www.media.daimlerchrysler.com/
http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/
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