Chrysler boasts 8,000 orders of Ram 1500 diesel in a matter of three days

Chrysler has officially announced to have received overwhelming success with the sales pre-order roster for the highly-demanded light-duty diesel-powered Ram 1500, which recently received the EcoDiesel treatment with the help of an all-new 3.0L V6 compression ignition motor, good for 240hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. Power is channeled through a ZF-sourced TorqueFlight branded eight-speed automatic for a tow rating of 9,200lbs.

Diesel motors have long been the engines of choice for pickup drivers, though they were only made available on the far more heavy-duty variants. Now, with diesel finally gaining more traction in the US market, it seems the Big Three finally answered the calls from consumers.

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Within a matter of three days, 8,000 orders for the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel have been placed, which Chrysler says is the record number of customer orders places for a vehicle in such a short period of time.

In addition to the useful amount of torque, the EcoDiesel motor is also expected to reward owners with 28 mpg on the highway, a best-in-class figure. Production for the 2014 model year EcoDiesel line of Ram 1500 trucks began this month with deliveries commencing in March.

For full details, check out the press release after the jump.

2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Orders Top More Than 8,000 Units in Three Days, Filling Initial Allocation

• Between the afternoon of February 7th and the morning of February 10th, Ram Truck received more than 8,000 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel orders, which quickly filled the initial allocation for the exclusive powertrain
• First round of Ram 1500 EcoDiesel orders account for more than 50 percent of the total order mix
• Special order rate nearly twice the corporate average – an all-time high
• Overwhelming response attributed to best-in-class 28 MPG with 9,200 lbs. of towing capacity and strong consumer demand for exclusive light-duty diesel
• Actual customer orders for the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel take priority over dealer stocking orders

On the heels of EPA’s certification of 28 MPG, Ram Truck opened the initial order allocation for the 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel to receive a flood of orders from dealers across the nation. More than 8,000 trucks equipped with the fuel-sipping engine that packs 420 lb.-ft. of torque have been placed-just over 50 percent of the total mix. Even more surprising is the amount of orders already paid for by customers- twice the corporate average of sold customer orders on a truck that customers have yet to test drive.

“The Ram 1500 is the only half-ton truck available with a diesel, so we see this as incremental business by having the only truck that can offer best-in-class fuel economy of 28 MPG combined with 9,200 lbs. of towing capacity,” said Reid Bigland, President and CEO – Ram Truck Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “It’s every truck manufacturer’s dream to have this kind of initial order demand for a product. Fuel economy is the No. 1 request of half-ton buyers and the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel delivers without compromising capability.”

The EcoDiesel-powered 2014 Ram 1500 has earned a 28-mpg rating from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the best highway-cycle test result ever achieved by a full-size, half-ton pickup. It also exceeds the EPA highway rating for the top-ranked small pickup. The breakthrough results mean Ram keeps the half-ton fuel-economy record set last year by the 2013 Ram 1500. Equipped with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 gasoline engine, the truck earned 25 mpg highway, a rating that stands for model-year 2014. The Ram 1500 now owns the half-ton pickup segment’s top two spots in the EPA’s 2014 highway fuel-economy rankings.

Production of the 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel began in February with a group of specialized trucks in popular configurations. Normal processes place the initial build under quality review to assure every truck meets or exceeds targets. Shipping is expected in March, keeping the planned delivery within the first quarter of 2014.

Although Ram has reached its first planned order allocation numbers in three days, customers who special order the new truck will have priority in the build. Orders for dealer stocking will be filled once sold customer orders are filled. The next order allocation of Ram 1500 EcoDiesel trucks will open in early March.

Ram 1500
Ram 1500 – the most recognizable pickup on the road – delivers best-in-class fuel economy of 18 MPG city and 25 MPG highway with a truckload of pioneering, fuel-saving systems including a fuel efficient and powerful 3.6-liter V-6 engine and first-in-segment technologies: TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission, stop-start system, thermal management system, pulse-width modulation and active aerodynamics, including grille shutters and air suspension. For 2014, the Ram 1500 offers a new, 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engine that delivers an outstanding combination of best-in-class fuel efficiency 28 miles per gallon (mpg) – unsurpassed torque and up to 9,200 pounds of towing capability.

About Ram Truck Brand
The Ram Truck brand continues to establish its own identity and clearly define its customer since its launch as a standalone vehicle brand. Creating a distinct brand for Ram trucks has allowed the brand to concentrate on how core customers use their trucks and what new features they’d like to see. Whether focusing on a family that uses its half-ton truck day in and day out, a hard-working Ram Heavy Duty owner or a business that depends on its commercial vehicles every day, Ram has the truck market covered.

The Ram Truck brand has the most innovative lineup of full-size trucks on the market. Ram Truck has emerged as a full-size truck leader by investing substantially in new products, infusing them with great looks, refined interiors, durable engines and features that further enhance their capabilities. Truck customers, from half-ton to commercial, have a demanding range of needs and require their vehicles to provide high levels of capability. Ram trucks are designed to deliver a total package.

Chris Chin

Chris Chin is the Editor-In-Chief of egmCarTech and is a regular contributor to Automobile Magazine.

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