We have a report that suggests that the upcoming 2025 Ram Hd will go to a single more powerful Cummins turbo-diesel engine option and a new ZF 8-speed Powerline automatic transmission. This information comes to us via MoparInsiders. Let’s dig in!
The Ram heavy-duty pickup truck lineup currently offers the following turbo-diesel engine options:
- Ram 2500: standard output 370 hp @ 2,800 rpm & 850 lb-ft of torque @ 1,700 rpm
- Ram 3500: high output 420 hp @ 2,800 rpm & 1,075 lb-ft of torque @ 1,800 rpm (or standard output).
The new reports says that the upcoming 2025 Ram HD trucks will offer a single Cummins turbo-diesel engine option that will have a higher output than what is available now. The current 6.4L HEMI V8 gasoline engine will remain. No power ratings has been disclosed. None of this information is officially confirmed by Ram Trucks.
There is another unconfirmed report that Ram and Cummins are working on a larger displacement inline-6 engine that could measure 7.2-liters. The current power leader in the segment is Ford’s high-output 6.7L PowerStroke V8, which is rated at 500 horsepower and 1,200 lb-ft of torque. Ram’s new diesel may at least match Ford’s torque number, we will have to wait and see.
Ram said that it will unveil the new Ram HD lineup later this year, but we do not have an exact date yet.
The second report says that the Ram HD pickup trucks will use the new Powerline 8-speed automatic transmission by ZF. We recently visited Germany to attend ZF’s Global Technology Day, and we saw the new 8-speed Powerline transmission and spoke to the engineers that designed it. This is an impressive unit with a maximum torque rating of up to 1,400 NM or 1,035 lb-ft for commercial truck applications. This torque rating may be higher to lighter heavy-duty pickup trucks.
ZF is well-known for their capable and durable transmissions across the industry. The Ram 1500 trucks have used several versions of lighter 8HP75 transmission by ZF. The 2025 Ram 1500 continues to use this transmission. The current Ram HD with the 6.4L gas V8 also uses a version of the 8HP75 transmission. We expect the new HD version of the transmission to be referred to as 8HP140, but this is still speculation.
Ram has not yet confirmed that their HD diesel pickup trucks will be using a ZF transmission. Some of the new transmission benefits include improved fuel efficiency and improved acceleration. We will have to wait and see how a new transmission may work when towing trailers. We will have to put these new truck in the Ike GauntletTM – the world’s toughest towing test.
Please join Kase and I in the TFLtruck video for more details and discussion.
