I'd bet that America is in a place now where a half ton diesel will find its place in "common place" trucks. Everyone is looking for better fuel efficiently and more power. The diesel 1/2 ton does that. It will tow and drive better than a v8 garrentied. It might take a year for people to catch the vision of a 1/2 ton diesel but when they do I bet ford Chevy and Toyota sing a different tune.

 

I've been looking on lots of sites for a ford again, But I ended up with trading my Bobcat for a '97 Ram 1500 . The 5.9 is getting 18 mpg.
Went form 1 size extreme to an other and get about the same mpg. no bs!

 

Thats not entirely true;
The hemi v8 is almost 400 HP.
The ecoboost is 365 HP.

Sure, a half ton with a little 250 HP diesel would get better mileage and tow better, people with half tons are more likely to to RARELY, not all the time.

 

Regarding recent diesel developments in North America, where Chrysler has adopted the VM Motori 3-litre V6 diesel engine (with CGI components) in the Ram 1500 pickup, Aldea assured the audience that Ford was “well aware” of the pending diesel introductions in the SUV and light duty pick-up sectors.

Aldea said Ford will continue leadership on top of its continuous string of 36 years with the F-Series as North America's best-selling pick-up.

Auto Industry Newsletter: Ford aware of pending US diesel introductions

 

I want the Ranger Diesel

 

Had a peek a the new F-150 Heavy Duty. It will be worth waiting for.

 

Well that's a pretty big, but useless tease...got any details to add? I'd love to hear them, this is the first mention I've seen of a new F-150 HD coming out.

 

They gave out pretty much zero details when I saw it but were mentioning and comparing it to an F-250 and if they had similar "capabilites" (whatever that means). We shall see I suppose. Truck looked awesome though.

 

Seems odd that Ford would produce a F-150 with load capabilities near that of a SuperDuty. Would think they want to keep the markets distinctly separate, but who knows. I'm assuming this is gonna be a 2015 or later model? Can't see them introducing it for the last year of the current model.

 

I dunno where you are from but where I'm from people work the **** out of half tons because they are cheap. It's almost cheaper to work and kill a 1/2 ton and buy another than buy a diesel. A diesel 1/2 ton is perfect. A gasser might make 400hp but it sure doesn't do it at 2000 rpm like a diesel. That's the point of a diesel. Make more power at lower rpm. It's only a matter if time before just about everything is diesel. Hybrid stuff is a joke and the technology to support all electric power is too expensive to mass produce. Diesel is the future trust me on that.

 

Announced today: Nissan Titan is getting a Cummins. I'm still waiting for Fords 1\2 ton diesel.

 

I'd like to see where it goes, I think it's a pretty cool step in the right direction, Power/TQ, MPG, how cant you love that

 

There is an 90 Ranger frame, cab, and bed sitting off to the side of our shop. A very good friend of mine had plans of doing a 4BT swap in it to make a decent daily driver that was also decent off road. He has an identical looking(paint and all) 89 Ranger that his family has racked up over 200k of it's 250k. The hope was for better than 15mpg, and some some torque that his 2.9 V6 lacks. Plan was put on the back burner, while he is saving and looking to buy a house. I hope within a few years we get started on it.

 

all about the Torque , without it you would go no where

 

Now Nissan are on the move too by using the new Cummins 5-litre V8-diesel.

Auto Industry Newsletter: Cummins breaks cover with CGI V8 diesel