7/31/2019 Local Economic Snapshot: 2013 Ram illustrates challenges of upgrading pickups' fuel economy

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Active grille shutters that close when

cooling is needed least, directing air flow

over and around the front of the truck

and improving fuel economy by 0.5

percent. They open when additional

cooling is required.

Air suspension that automaticallylowers the truck 1.1 inches at speed,

decreasing aerodynamic drag

and improving fuel

efficiency by up to

1 percent.

Pulse-width modulation limits the

amount of electricity drawn by the fuelpump and cooling fan to what they

actually need, much like a

light-dimmer.

Stop-start increases fuel efficiency

by shutting the engine off when the

truck comes to a complete stop. The

engine restarts automatically when

the driver releases the brake,

allowing seamless acceleration.

A thermal management system that

heats engine and transmission fluids to

reduce friction when the engine is

cold, improving fuel efficiency 1.7

percent.

A redesigned frame that reduces

weight by 30 pounds using high-

strength steels. New cross-members in

the pickup bed eliminate 7 pounds of

weight, a redesigned front bumper

saves 4 pounds, and an aluminum

hood cuts weight by 26 pounds.

Electric power steering rather than a

belt-driven hydraulic pump that should

improve fuel efficiency 1.8 percent.

Low rolling-resistance tires that move

more easily, increasing fuel economy.

An 8-speed automatic that will be

standard on the new upgraded base V-6

and will later be available on Hemi V-8

Rams. The transmission has twice as

many gears as the previous transmission

for the V-6, which should make it much

more efficient.

LOCAL ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT | FUEL EFFICIENCY

By TERRY BOXAutomotive Writer

tbox@dallasnews.com

All cars and trucks face much tougher fuel-economy standards between now and 2016, with requirements jumpingdramatically to 54.5 miles per gallon in 2025. In the next three years, full-size pickup trucks must increase their

mileage by about 22 percent a real challenge for vehicles that can weigh 5,000 pounds or more and need heavyframes and powerful engines for hauling and towing.

The bottom line

Reg Modlin, director of regulatory

affairs at Chrysler Group

George Hoffer, business professor

at the University of Richmond

who follows the auto industry

Terry Box, auto writer,

The Dallas Morning News

We can make smaller engines with

the same capability as larger ones,

but will a customer buy a

four-cylinder pickup? Performance

and utility are what sell these

vehicles. The great test for us is can

we develop these [fuel-saving]

technologies and

make themcommercially

viable in the

time-frame we

are dealing

with?

SOURCES: Dodge; Edmunds.com; Dallas Morning News research

Automakers walk a thin line in

trying to wring fuel-savings from

pickups. Truck-buyers pay close

attention to a trucks towing and

hauling capabilities. They may not

be willing to trade reduced

capabilities for better

fuel mileage.

I dont think the cost for all this new

technology will cut too deeply into

[automakers] profit margins. Pickups

and truck-based SUVs traditionally have

the largest margins and still do so

they would have more to play with.

Also, so much of the cost of what they

are doing is spread

across the largestbase of vehicles

that most

manufacturers

have pickups.

2013 Ram illustrates work needed

to get better fuel economy

Many small steps to savingsThese are some of the steps that the 2013 Ram pickup the most recently

redesigned truck in the segment is taking in hopes of achieving an estimated

21 miles per gallon combined economy, which would be best in class:

Reaching the2016 standardsCar and Drivercalculated how

much each must improve its

fuel economy to achieve the

2016 numbers.

Current fuel economy

Chevrolet Silverado 1500

regular cab

Chrysler trucks 22.9%

Ford trucks 19.1%

GM trucks 19.3%

Nissan 26%

Toyota 21.8%

City Highway Combined

15

20

17.5

15

20

17.5

Ford F-150 regular cab

17

23

20

GMC 1500 regular cab

Nissan Titan crew cab S

13

18

15.5

Ram 1500 regular cab

14

20

17

Toyota Tundra regular cab

16

20

18

2012 model pickup trucks