VM Motori has worked with Chrysler for several decades, supplying small diesel engines for Wranglers, Grand Cherokees, Ram 1500s, and even David Tracy’s old Chrysler Voyager. The EcoDiesel is a 3.0 liter turbocharged V6, produced by VM Motori in Italy. My loaner truck was equipped with the $4,995 EcoDiesel engine, which Ram claims is an optimal choice for towing up to 12,560 pounds. Ram sent me this fully-loaded 1500 Limited to sample both in general and as a tow vehicle. When these “DT” Ram 1500s launched to replace the old “DS” Ram 1500 (still sold new as “Ram 1500 Classic”), they were seen as a significant step forward from the first-launched-in-2009-updated-in-2013-prior-generation, of which I’m an owner. While the current-generation of Ram trucks came out for the 2019 model year, the 2020 (and upcoming 2021) are still highly-regarded despite minimal changes since their launch. I recently spent about 350 miles towing my enclosed trailer behind a 20 Limited with FCA’s EcoDiesel engine and found it to be a bit of a “momentum truck” of the towing world. They are competent, they are charming, and they will disappoint if you expect them to be something they’re not – quick in a straight line. In the track-day world, some cars are referred to as “momentum cars.” They aren’t the most powerful, but they make up for it with many other redeeming qualities and often end up turning similar lap times as those with more power but worse handling.
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