A diesel Ram 1500 will be on sale soon.  According to Allpar, the Ram 1500 is being fitted with diesel engines for testing right now, though the actual production has not started.  Ram is testing the diesel engine in this generation of the Ram though, so expect it to launch in the next few years, before the next model generation comes along.

A diesel version of the Ram 1500 Express is an intriguing idea, especially if the aftermarket embraces the 1500 Ram like it has the Cummins powered Rams.

The diesel engine destined for the Ram 1500 is apparently not the 4.2-liter Cummins engine that was rumored to be in the works some months back, but instead the 3.0-liter V6 engine built by Fiat and used in the current European Jeep Grand Cherokee.  Since the Diesel Grand Cherokee is slated to appear in the U.S. soon, it makes sense that Chrysler would use the same engine in the Ram 1500. That engine is available in two trims and makes either 190-hp and 325 lb-ft of torque or 241-hp and 406 lb-ft of torque.

While the U.S. media and truck fans have been clamoring for a diesel 1500 for some time, I think it was always on the assumption that it would be an upgrade from the V8 models, not a fuel economy special.

The Cummins Diesel upgrade to the Ram 2500 costs $7,795.  The Cummins Ram has 350 horsepower and 800 lb-ft of torque while the V8 Ram 2500 has 383-hp and 400 lb-ft of torque.  The Ram 1500 actually gets a more powerful version of the Hemi V8 engine with 390-hp and 407 lb-ft of torque.

Since the 3.0-liter diesel is outgunned by the Hemi and it will probably cost more than the Hemi, it will probably be souped up a bit to compete with Ford’s  EcoBoost turbocharged V6 and offer comparable performance to the top of the line V8 engines with a lot more MPGs to justify its price.

Image via Ram.