According to reports the VM motori group stopped developement and production for vehicle application in 2022 and redirected their focus on industrial marine engines and generators. I am sure emissions regulations are not yet that tight and the challanges are lower.
I read a couple of years ago that Cummins had developed a smaller engine and I always wondered if that would be a good fit since they already have a long standing relationship with Ram.
Now that would be exciting
We are all capable of well above fast lane freeway speeds. The 3.6L has no problem hitting the 100mph limiter in the dirt in the mojave on 37s but you need the diesel to drive on the freeway? The ecodiesel has a slight advantage 0-60, but it's low rpm hurts it at freeway speeds which is why the diesel does the 1/4 mile in 15.6s at 87mph and the 3.6L does it in 15.5 at 89mph. All that extra power... and it's slower at freeway speeds.
Huh ?
Hard to explain. The quick burst getting on the highway and effortlessly holding 80-90+ with big tires. The diesel power band just fits my driving style atm. I've had some fast Hondas back in the day and understood high reving.
I get the draw of the diesel from a torque standpoint, but at 85-90mph it's just not any gain overall the 3.6L. Sure it'll downshift less so the 3.6L might be working harder, but from a driver's standpoint both will effortlessly maintain speed. If they offered the EcoD in 2023 and in the mojave when I was shopping for the JT I would have considered it but I'm happy with the 3.6L. The lighter weight probably helps when all 4 tires leave the ground at speed too.
No doubt, lighter in the front helps. I was pretty banged up on the 50 miles washboard going from Big Pine to Saline Valley and then through the Grandstand to the dune.
The Gladiator with the EcoDiesel needs better coils/shocks to perform well on washboard roads. The factory springs are pretty soft on my 2023 Rubicon, and that's with the improved Mopar 'red' shocks.
