The toughest Dodge Ram pickups ever made need powertrains to match, and nothing less than the legendary HEMI? and Cummins names are worthy enough to power the all-new 2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty.

"Truck customers don't want complicated hardware. They want torque, power and durability and that is what we have delivered with the new HEMI Magnum and Cummins Turbo Diesel engines," said Rich Schaum, Executive Vice President, Product Development and Quality.

More than just a famous name, the all-new, 345 horsepower, 5.7-liter HEMI Magnum V-8 is a melding of the much revered hemispherical combustion system architecture and modern materials, electronics and manufacturing technology. Designed to create class-leading performance while maintaining heavy-duty truck durability, the new HEMI Magnum boasts best-in-class acceleration and towing.

With legions of loyal owners, the Cummins name is as well respected in the heavy-duty market as HEMI is in relation to Chrysler and Dodge. With the new high-pressure, common-rail Cummins Turbo Diesel, the Cummins legend grows. The new 5.9-liter inline six turbo diesel is now simply the most powerful heavy-duty truck diesel engine available.

"When you combine the advances we have made in hydroformed frames, chassis design and class-leading interior packaging, with the new 345 horsepower, 5.7-liter HEMI Magnum and High Output Cummins Turbo Diesel, you get the best heavy-duty truck on the market," added Schaum.

Ram V-10 Rounds Out Class-Leading Powertrain Offerings

Rounding out the engine offerings for the all-new Dodge Ram Heavy Duty is the famous 8.0-liter, V-10 Magnum engine. Known for its massive 440 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,800 rpm, the V-10 Magnum provides effortless acceleration and powerful towing capabilities for those who want massive torque in a gasoline engine. Ram was the first V-10 powered truck, and the durable V-10 Magnum returns to offer Ram customers one of the most complete powertrain lineups of any manufacturer.

The HEMI is back...The all-new 345 horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI Magnum V-8

The all-new 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 herald the return of one of the most legendary names in automotive lore: HEMI. The new 5.7-liter HEMI Magnum engine is the standard engine on the all-new Dodge Ram Heavy Duty, producing a class-leading 345 horsepower at 5,400 rpm and 375 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,200 rpm. The 5.7-liter HEMI Magnum provides more power than competitive standard V-8 engines. In fact, versus competitive vehicles with similar size gasoline engines, it provides best-in-class acceleration and towing capability.

"We liked the elegance and simplicity of the HEMI design and it beats a dual overhead camshaft design in terms of torque and power for a heavy-duty truck," said Schaum. "We think that the central camshaft, pushrod design is the optimal solution for vehicles with large mass designed to carry heavy loads."

Although the HEMI name is linked historically to performance vehicles, its power, durability and torque made it an ideal and long-serving truck engine. Dodge debuted its original HEMI in 1953, and the very next year saw the first application of Dodge HEMI power in a heavy-duty Dodge truck. In 1954, Dodge offered the 241 cubic inch HEMI V-8 in its two-and-a-half ton K model. Just as today, Dodge was the only manufacturer offering a HEMI V-8 engine, which was an ultra-modern engine that could out-accelerate and out-tow its competition. Some things never change.

To power a Dodge Ram Heavy Duty, an engine needs more than just class-leading power and a great name. Reliability and dependability are hallmarks of all heavy-duty Dodge Rams, and to ensure that the new 5.7-liter HEMI Magnum upholds those traditions, it was subjected to a rigorous reliability program, accumulating more than 10 million customer-equivalent miles.

"This is one of the most technologically advanced engines ever engineered by the Chrysler Group," said Floyd Allen, Vice President, Product Powertrain Team. "Durability and power were key points for this engine, but the new 5.7-Liter HEMI Magnum has such advances as a composite integrated air fuel module and electronic throttle control. Its hemispherical head design allows the use of larger valves and provides better air flow to the combustion chambers. We were also able to reduce emissions and gain approximately an eight percent fuel efficiency improvement."

The all-new HEMI Magnum also features cross-flow aluminum cylinder heads with hemispherical combustion chambers and investment cast, steel rocker arm actuated splayed valves for high air flow; two spark plugs per cylinder for fast, efficient combustion and improved idle quality; and a new direct ignition system with high-power coils ensuring consistent, complete combustion. A fully-balanced, cast, nodular iron crankshaft running in cross-bolted steel main bearing caps reduces deflection and vibration for reduced noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).

The All-New High Pressure Common Rail Cummins Turbo Diesel: Torque, torque and more torque!

Delivering 555 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,400 rpm and 305 horsepower at 2,900 rpm, the new 5.9-liter High Output Cummins Turbo Diesel is the most powerful turbo diesel engine available in the heavy-duty market. The new High Output Cummins Turbo Diesel also delivers a class-leading trailer towing rating of 23,000 lbs. (GCVWR).

With nearly 75 percent of Ram 2500/3500s being sold with the Cummins Turbo Diesel engine option, it has one of the most devoted followings of any heavy-duty pickup. Cummins owners will accept nothing but the best, and the new turbo diesel delivers with improvements ranging from an all-new block to a new high-pressure, common rail fuel-injection.

"Dodge Cummins owners are very exacting in what they want," said Dennis Hurst, Executive Engineer, Cummins Engineering. "Simply put, they want the strongest and most durable product available and they will not be disappointed with this engine. We have delivered the most powerful diesel available in this class, while improving the drivability, durability and fuel efficiency. This new engine is also much quieter than its predecessor, but still retains all the diesel power, torque and toughness that our customers demand."

In fact, the new 5.9-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel is so tough it is certified to a longer engine life compared to the diesels offered by top competitors from Chevrolet and Ford. The Cummins engine, which is available in either Standard or High Output designs, has an average major overhaul interval of 350,000 miles, providing a substantial advantage over the competition. An inline six, the new 5.9-liter Cummins has 25 to 30 percent fewer parts than typical

V-8 diesels, which means added durability and better reliability-critical when downtime can mean lost business and revenue. Additionally, to provide additional customer benefits, oil drain/filter service intervals have been doubled from 7,500 miles to 15,000 miles for schedule A service and from 3,750 miles to 7,500 miles for schedule B service.

New High-Pressure Common Rail Injection System

More than just the master of big twist, the all-new Cummins Turbo Diesel has been radically overhauled. Quietness, power and durability are hallmarks of the new Cummins. The new high-pressure common rail fuel injection systems designed for the 2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty use pilot injection-the injection of a small amount of fuel to start combustion-before the main, power-producing fuel charge is injected. This has the effect of smoothing out combustion pressure in the cylinder, which can be the primary source of low- and mid-range speed noise in diesel engines.

A gear-driven fuel pump delivers fuel to the rail and is electronically controlled to optimize fuel pressure at the individual injectors. The system provides injection pressures up to 23,200 psi (1600 Bar) and is less dependent on engine speed than traditional pump-line injection systems. The result is cleaner combustion and higher low-speed torque with better vehicle response and acceleration.

In addition to the use of pilot injection to smooth combustion pressure, the fuel-injection calibration-timing, pressure and quantity-has been refined across the entire range of speeds and loads to ensure smooth, quiet combustion. The use of pilot injection during starting also provides gasoline engine-like cold starting capability (verified at temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit during testing above the Arctic Circle).

Class-Leading Power and World-Beating Durability

Not only is the Cummins Turbo Diesel the most powerful diesel engine available in a full-size pickup, it is also one of the most drivable throughout all operating ranges. Maximum torque for the common rail injected Cummins Turbo Diesel occurs 400 rpm lower than the GM Duramax, and 100 rpm lower than the Ford Power Stroke. The Cummins Turbo Diesel engine also produces 20 percent more torque at 1000 rpm, and 10 percent higher clutch engagement torque than its predecessor. That relates to noticeably better vehicle launch when towing and accelerating, better drivability, and fewer and smoother shifts.

In addition to the High Output version, the Dodge Ram Heavy Duty is available with a standard Cummins Turbo Diesel, which also employs high-pressure, common rail injection. The standard Cummins Turbo Diesel boosts its horsepower rating to an impressive 250 horsepower at 2,900 rpm (up from 235 horsepower at 2,700 rpm) and produces an equally impressive 460 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,400 rpm.