The country that elected Donald Trump as its leader and just named its “Green” truck of the Year.
And, guess what, it’s not Elon Musk’s embarrassing Cybertruck with its so-called ‘bulletproof’ windows.
No, siree. America’s loud and proud Green truck of the Year is the Ram 1500 — for the second year in a row — a pickup that comes with V8, V6 hybrid and diesel powertrain options.
Mind you, it still measures 5.8 metres in length, weighs 2.7 tonnes and even in diesel form uses 11.9L/100km (according to the Australian standard).
Green Car Journal has named the Ram 1500 as its 2020 Green Truck of the Year.
The announcement was made at the 51st annual San Antonio Auto & Truck Show in San Antonio, Texas.
The Ram 1500 was also the publication’s pick last year.
Green Car Journal editors consider all potential truck models in the US market, weighing environmental attributes alongside traditional criteria that define what makes a great pickup, such as capability, versatility, safety, value and style.
The winner was selected from five finalists by a Green Truck of the Year jury, comprised of automotive experts and Green Car Journal staff.
“The Ram 1500 stands out in the pickup field, not only with its exclusive use of eTorque mild-hybrid technology, but also with a more powerful EcoDiesel engine that’s EPA rated up to 32 highway mpg (7.4L/100km),” said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and GreenCarJournal.com.
“That kind of fuel efficiency – and attendant carbon emissions reduction – is particularly impressive in a pickup offering the great functionality, recreational and work capabilities, and overall driving enjoyment of the Ram 1500.
“Its distinction as the 2020 Green Truck of the Year™ is well deserved.”
No mention of our leading utes: the Toyota HiLux or the Ford Ranger, which are tiddlers in comparison (but use less fuel).
The Ram 1500’s all-new 3.0-litre V-6 EcoDiesel leads the half-ton pickup truck segment with 650Nm of torque and up to 5.7 tonne tow capacity.
It’s best-in-class 650Nm of torque, delivered at 1600 rpm, represents a 14 percent increase from the previous-generation engine.
Power, 194kW at 3600 rpm, is up 8 per cent.
The 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel also leads the segment for range.
Paired with an available 150-litre fuel tank, it can travel more than 1600km on a single tank.
In Australia, the Ram 1500 Laramie with the 3.0-litre diesel retails for $109,950.
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