The new Pentastar powered 2013 Ram V6 packs 305hp, best mpg while the Hemi gets more power

This morning, the Chrysler Group announced the full
specifications for the new 3.6L Pentastar V6 offered as the standard entry
level engine in the 2013 Ram 1500 – officially making the V6 Ram the most
powerful, most efficient and one of the least expensive entry level half ton
trucks on the market.  In addition to the
new V6 engine, the 5.7L Hemi V8 gets a few more ponies along with an 8-speed
manual transmission that will arrive later this year.

The 2013 Ram 1500 is now powered by the 3.6L Pentastar V6
that offers 305 horsepower and 265lb-ft of torque which, when mated to a rear
wheel drive configuration and the new 8-speed automatic transmission offers
best in class fuel economy measures of 18 miles per gallon around town and 25
miles per gallon on the highway when fitted with the HFE package.  However, even without the high fuel economy package,
the 2013 Ram V6 still offers 17mpg around town and 25 on the highway.  These numbers are more than 20% better than
the 3.7L V6 offered in the 2012 (and earlier) Ram 1500 V6.

In addition to being the most efficient half ton truck on
the market, the 2013 Ram V6 is also the most powerful “entry level” truck on
the market with 305 horsepower comfortably besting the 3.7L Ford F150 (302hp), the 4.0L Toyota Tundra (270hp), and the 4.3L Chevrolet Silverado
(195hp).  The available power allows the
2013 Ram 1500 with the proper configuration to tow up to 6,500 pounds which
also makes it the most capable half ton V6 truck in the US with the closest
competition being the Ford F150 which can pull 6,100lbs.

The new Pentastar V6 in the 2013 Ram 1500 makes the new “entry
level” Ram pickup the most powerful, the most capable and the most fuel
efficient but the best news for Ram truck fans is that it is also one of the
least expensive half ton trucks on the market. 
With a starting price of only $23,585, the 2013 Ram 1500 V6 is $2,565 less
than the comparably equipped Toyota Tundra and $910 less than the entry level
V6 Ford F150.  The only half ton truck on
the market that is less expensive than the 305 horsepower Ram 1500 is the 195
horsepower Chevy Silverado which is $395 less than the Ram – but is saving less
than $400 bucks really worth the massive decline in power and
capabilities?  I would give that a hearty
“hell no” and I bet that most of you reading this would agree.  When you remove that super cheap Silverado
WT, the Ram 1500 is comfortably the least expensive half ton truck available in
the US.

In other engine news, the 2013 Ram 1500 pickups equipped
with the 5.7L Hemi V8 will receive an increase of 5 horsepower as the Hemi now
packs 395hp and 407lb-ft of torque.  The
Hemi Ram 1500 will also get its own version of the 8-speed automatic
transmission later this year that will likely help to make the 5.7L Hemi the
most efficient V8 powered truck on the market. 
That new transmission is a late availability feature so we can expect
fuel economy figures closer to the launch of that new gearbox.

Click here to head into the DodgeForum.com Ram truck section to discuss all of the generations of the awesome Ram pickup!

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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