FCA Scores Wards 10 Best Engines 'Three-Peat' With EcoDiesel V-6

Lone Diesel on List for Second Straight Year

3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 named one of Wards 10 Best Engines for third straight year - the longest tenure of any engine on annual list

Lone clean diesel among Wards 10 Best for second consecutive year

Sixth consecutive year FCA US is represented on prestigious list

3.0-liter EcoDiesel in Ram 1500 produces best-in-class fuel-economy ratings of 21/29/24 (city/highway/combined) mpg

Delivers best-in-class highway-cycle fuel-economy rating of 30 mpg in 2016 Jeep® Grand Cherokee, the most-awarded SUV ever

AUBURN HILLS, MI -- December 10, 2015: The FCA US LLC 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 is one of Wards 10 Best Engines for 2016.

It is the third consecutive year EcoDiesel has been named to the prestigious list - the longest tenure of any 2016 honoree. This also marks the second straight year the EcoDiesel has been the lone representative of clean diesel technology among Wards 10 Best Engines.

"We are never content to rest on our laurels, so our engineering team worked overtime to make a great engine even greater," said Bob Lee, Vice President and Head of Engine, Powertrain and Electrified Propulsion Systems Engineering. "For model-year 2016, customers who choose our 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 will experience more of the attributes they were seeking when FCA US became the first automaker to equip a light-duty pickup with clean diesel technology."

FCA US powertrain engineers introduced new strategies to better manage combustion in the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the 2016 Ram 1500 pickup at 21 miles per gallon (mpg) city, 29 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined.

Further, FCA US engineers developed additional controls to shape torque demand. The outcome improves part-throttle performance during rolling pedal tip-in, as well as acceleration from stop.

The 2016 EcoDiesel's enhanced response affords greater control of the engine's prodigious torque for a driving experience that is smoother and more comfortable.

"The 3.0-liter from FCA was one of three diesels in pickup trucks we tested this year for Wards 10 Best Engines, and we expected a tough fight among them all," said Tom Murphy, executive editor WardsAuto World. "But the Ram 1500 proved superior and continues to impress us with ideal measures of power, torque, refinement and luxury-car smoothness. "

The 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 also is available in the 2016 Jeep® Grand Cherokee, the most-awarded SUV ever. When so equipped, the Grand Cherokee is rated at 30 mpg on the highway, which is best in class.

In addition, the EcoDiesel-powered Grand Cherokee boasts unsurpassed driving range of more than 730 miles.

In the 21-year history of Wards 10 Best Engines, seven engines produced by FCA US and its predecessor companies have accounted for 16 awards. The 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 and 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 accounted for six and three trophies, respectively. The remaining winners were:

83-kW electric motor (Fiat 500e) 4.7-liter SOHC V-8 (Jeep Grand Cherokee) 5.9-liter Cummins Turbodiesel I-6 (Ram HD) 6.2-liter Supercharged HEMI Hellcat V-8 (Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and Charger SRT Hellcat) Specifications: 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6
Type and Description:    60-degree V-type, liquid-cooled
Displacement:                 182 cu. in. (2988 cu. cm)
Bore x Stroke:                 3.27 in. x 3.60 in. (83 mm. x 92 mm.)
Valve System:                 Chain-driven DOHC, 24 valves
Fuel Injection:                 Common-rail, 2000 bar, Solenoid Injectors
Construction:                  Cast-iron block, aluminum alloy heads
Compression Ratio:        16.5:1
Power:                             240 hp (179 kW) at 3,600 rpm
Torque:                           420 lb.-ft. (569 N•m) at 2,000 rpm
Max. Engine Speed:        4,800 rpm (electronically limited)
Fuel Requirement:           Ultra Low-sulfur diesel
Oil Capacity:                   10.5 quarts (7.8 liters)
Coolant Capacity:            12 quarts (11.4 liters)
Emission Controls:         Cooled EGR, oxidation catalyst, diesel particulate filter, SCR w/urea injection