new diesel power for USA vans

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Full size vans: Diesel arrives

The diesel-powered Mercedes Sprinter van has proven to be very popular in the USA van market. Other manufacturers have taken notice. Full size diesel vans from Ford and Dodge are scheduled to arrive in USA showrooms this Fall or early 2014. Nissan is pondering a diesel van, too. This means more choices for overland travelers who prefer a van.

RAM (formerly Dodge) showrooms will soon be home to the ProMaster, a design based on the Fiat Ducato. Diesel power is provided by a 3.0L four cylinder engine that produces 295 ft lb of torque. Note that this is not the VM Motori diesel that Jeep uses in the European Wrangler. It's a truck motor made by Iveco. The Promaster automatic transmission is a 6 speed model.

The ProMaster is front wheel drive. It remains to be seen how FWD affects traction in the loaded van. (I remember traction problems in the FWD motorhomes that GM built in the 1970s using the Toronado V8). Maybe modern traction control systems have rendered this issue moot. The Ducato is very popular as a van and RV chassis in Europe.

In part because of the FWD, RAM claims the ProMaster will have the van industry's lowest step-in height, lowest load floor height, largest cargo volume, smallest turning circle, and best MPG.

The ProMaster will have a 5 year, 100K drivetrain warranty. RAM will build the ProMaster in Mexico.

Ford will offer the Transit van, a full size design introduced in Europe several years ago. The Transit has a conventional rear wheel drive layout. Diesel power will be provided by a 3.2L inline 5 cylinder engine, attached to a six speed automatic transmission. The Transit van will be available in two wheelbases and three roof heights. The Transit will be manufactured in Kansas City.

The Transit's diesel engine produces about 350 ft lb of torque. This engine is used worldwide in the Ford Ranger pickup. The EcoBoost gas turbo V6 is another option, generating 420 ft lb. It will be interesting to see how Ford prices these engine options, and what sort of fuel economy the two engines return.

I have not found information on drivetrain warranty for the Transit.

A fourth generation Sprinter has been spotted testing on American roads. Initial reports indicate the new model will update appearance and convenience features, while retaining today's powertrain.

Ford, RAM and Mercedes all offer their vans in several wheelbases, and with van bodies that offer standing room inside. All three offer the van in cab/chassis form (a cab like a pickup, and a naked frame in the rear, waiting for an upfitter to install a custom body, such as a box truck). Ford and Dodge also plan to offer a model with cutaway cab (the cab is missing the rear wall, making it easier to integrate with a custom body like an ambulance or a FedEx truck). I think that Mercedes is letting third parties produce the Sprinter cutaway chassis.

GM is standing pat with its old-school van design, the Chevy Express and GM Savana. The 2500 (single rear wheel) and 3500 (dual rear) models offers a V8 diesel as an option. The 6.6L V8 diesel produces 525 ft lb of torque, the most in a USA van. GM's diesel uses exhaust gas recirculation as its primary emissions control system, rather than the urea injection system used by other manufacturers.

For 2013, Nissan's full size van, the NV, is powered by gas V6 or V8 engines. However, Nissan and Cummins continue to develop a 3 liter, four cylinder diesel that would be right at home under the hood of the NV and Nissan's Titan pickup. I expect Nissan will add a diesel option in a year or two.

Now for the bad news.

None of the diesel vans described above will offer AWD or 4x4 in USA for 2014. GM offers all wheel drive as an option on its 1500 series vans, but only with the 5.3L gas V8. Quigley will convert a GM 2500 or 3500 diesel van to 4x4 with 2 speed transfer case for about $12K.
 

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