The all-American pickup. From Texas ranchers to blue-collar workers in Pennsylvania state, the pickup truck is forever embossed in hearty American culture.
But automotive columnist, Christopher Demorro at gas2.org questions whether these trucks can survive in a world of $4.00-a-gallon gasoline and an increasingly urban population. But apparently there is hope for Chrysler, given pickup trucks are the bread-and-butter for this manufacturer.
Chrysler has announced that the new Ram 1500 can achieve up to 25 MPG on the highway. And according to Demorro, that’s big news for pickup enthusiasts nationwide. He goes on to say that Chrysler’s achievement puts it “leagues ahead” of the current competition and sets a new standard for the industry.
The next-best rated pickup is the Chevy Silverado Hybrid. It reportedly delivers an EPA-rated 23 MPG on the highway and 20 MPG in the city. And yes, it does have substantially more horsepower and torque than the Ram 1500. But according to Demorro, that extra power is merely going to waste most of the time. The automotive expert goes on to say that for the average person who needs a pickup for its ability to haul volume (as opposed to weight) the new Ram 1500 is a “godsend”.
The new Ram 1500 reportedly has the same MPG rating as the mid-size segment of pickups like the 4-cylinder powered Toyota Tacoma. The above-mentioned Silverado Hybrid also demands a huge price premium of over $15,000 more than the 2013 Ram 1500. So Demorro believes the new Ram is basically a full-size truck with the fuel economy of a mid-size.
Demorro goes on to write, “Chrysler’s new Ram 1500 pickup is a shot across the bow to its Detroit rivals, both of whom are ramping up their own next-generation pickup trucks … Can Ford and GM match the capability of the new Ram without running up costs? Or does America have a new contender for the pickup truck crown?”
