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Diesels From Chrysler = Cummins

On Feb 03, 2010 Cummins Inc. announced a multiyear extension of its current agreement with Chrysler Group LLC. Cummins will supply 6.7-liter Turbo Diesel engines for Ram Heavy Duty pickups and Chassis Cab trucks while continuing to grow its partnership with Chrysler, which began 21 years ago.

Cummins has produced more than 1.7 million Cummins Turbo Diesel engines for Dodge Ram Heavy Duty trucks since 1989. Today, more than 80% of Ram Heavy Duty truck customers purchase their truck with the turbo diesel.

The first Cummins Turbo Diesel was used in the 1989 Dodge Ram, with projected sales of less than 5,000 engines. Actual sales exceeded 20,000 engines in the first year, signaling to the market that a powerful new combination had been created.

The first Cummins Turbo Diesel was a 5.9 liter at 160 hp (119 kW) and 400 lb-ft (542 N•m) of torque. Today’s 6.7-liter Turbo Diesel delivers 350 hp (261 kW) and 650 lb-ft (881 N•m) of torque. This 118 percent increase in horsepower and 86 percent increase in torque have been achieved while also reducing exhaust emissions by 90%. In 2007, Dodge and Cummins produced the cleanest heavy-duty diesel pickup in the market by meeting U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2010 emissions levels a full three years ahead of the deadline.

“Cummins and Chrysler have a long and important history together,” said Dave Crompton, VP and General Manager, Midrange Engine Business. “The Chrysler business continues to be a key part of our MidRange engine business. Cummins is proud to supply engines for the award-winning Ram Heavy Duty and to continue working with Chrysler to develop best-in-class products that customers can trust and depend on now and in the future.”

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JD Power says that, while we are at three percent diesel penetration in the US now, we will be at nine percent around 2015.  If true, the diesel market in the US is about to take off.  The last few years have seen dozens of diesel models introduced by the OEMs to the US market and even more promised.  Forecasters are projecting a growth rate comparable to that in Europe.

In Europe the diesel has already established itself.  As of the end of 2008 nearly 51% of all vehicles registered in Europe were powered by diesel engines.  The diesel growth trend in Europe has been significant, going from just over 31% of all registered vehicles in 2000 to a high of nearly 52% in 2007.

Even though some US consumers had bad experiences in the 1980s with diesels, and other drivers have suffered behind smoke and fume belching trucks and buses, today’s diesel owners are telling a much different story.  For some, it is hard to tell if the engine is really a diesel.  Which leads us to think that hot rods and muscle cars could increasingly be powered by diesels.

Source: Cummins Inc. and Fast Lane Research