Ram 1500 to get Pentastar V6 option in top-shelf models

Tue, 25 Mar 2014

Ram has seen such positive customer feedback from its 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 and TorqueFlight eight-speed automatic transmission in the Ram 1500 that it's bringing the powertrain upmarket, and it's now going to be available in truck's Laramie trim level (Laramie Limited pictured above). The new choice means better fuel economy and lower pricing in one of the 1500's higher-end models.

A Ram 1500 Laramie Quad Cab 4x2 with the 3.6-liter Pentastar and eight-speed automatic will retail for $38,775, plus a $1,195 destination charge. It's a savings of over $1,000 over the trim's current starting price.

Ram says the decision to offer the V6 option was customer driven. "Today's V6 engine is a lot stronger than yesterday," said Nick Cappa of Ram Truck media relations to Autoblog. Cappa notes that dealers have reported buyers returning from test drives who can't believe there are only six cylinders operating underhood.

The Pentastar Laramie uses the same 3.6-liter V6 with 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque as other trims. In rear-wheel drive configuration, it is rated at 17-miles-per-gallon city, 25-mpg highway and 20-mpg combined. With six-cylinder Laramie models not available yet, their popularity is probably too early to forecast, but Cappa says his company believes that "the demand is there."

By Chris Bruce