changes for Ram, Dakota, Jeep

[haven]

Automobile Magazine just posted an article talking about Chrysler's truck plans. The article says the Dakota will switch from body on frame construction to car-like unibody to make the truck lighter (better fuel economy) and to better compete with the comfortable ride and features offered by the Honda Ridgeline.

This change to the Dakota won't sit well with traditional truck buyers, so the article predicts the Jeep Wrangler line will expand to include a body-on-frame pickup. The most likely design is the Jeep J8, the version with rear leaf springs that Jeep builds for the Egyptian army. Here's the version Jeep showed at Moab this year.



For production, they might want to make the bed a little longer.

The article also has some details about the Ram pickup. The Ram 1500 will get a hybrid package in 2010 that is expected to increase city MPG by 40%.

The heavy duty Ram with 6.7L Cummins diesel may be de-tuned a bit to save fuel. It will be interesting to see how this will affect sales. Ford and GM are expected to introduce new, more powerful diesels in 2010.

Here's the link to the article
http://www.automobilemag.com/new_and...a_and_m80.html

Chip Haven

[762X39]

I think that building the Dakota as a unitized body could be a selling feature for the 90% of folks that sort of need a truck and if the Ridgeline in my company fleet is any indication, they won't be giving anything up. We have this funny perception of our trucks that frame on construction is macho and unibody is pussy but we don't feel the sameway about our sports cars or jet airplanes. Also I don't think that 90% of us (including everyone on this list) actually require a full house powered cummins diesel in a pickup truck. In Europe or Asia, such power is unheard of. Also my favourite truck (Mercedes) is tougher than anything the domestic market has to offer yet they rarely have engines over 200hp.

[boblynch]

Not sure a unibody Dokota will find a market. It's grown too close in size to the 1500 over the years. They should focus on the 1500 and the J8.

The Jeep J8 would be a hit. Fitted with the new baby Cummins, manual tranny, and longer bed (plus the wheels and payload specs of the Egyptian version) this would be a very practical vehicle for contractors, farmers, and recreational users.

Ford, GM, and Dodge should offer the new smaller diesels in their 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks. These days most diesel owners would trade hp for mpg.

[97 zj steve]

Ford, GM, and Dodge should offer the new smaller diesels in their 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks. These days most diesel owners would trade hp for mpg.

they already are with the ford 4.4L and GM's 4.5L diesels to come out in 2010 or 2009 as a 2010 not to sure on exacts