2006 Dodge Ram 1500 First Pickup Truck to Offer Cylinder Deactivation

The new 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 is the first pickup truck to feature a fully functioning cylinder deactivation system, “MDS”. Dodge claims the power benefit of the HEMI V8 engine with the fuel economy of a smaller, less powerful engine.

The HEMI V8 engine can transition from eight cylinders to four in 40 milliseconds (0.040 seconds) — quicker than the blink of an eye. According to DaimlerChrysler, customers will experience fuel economy gains of up to 20 percent under certain driving conditions. Chrysler Group’s MDS-equipped lineup also includes the HEMI-powered Chrysler 300C, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Charger, Dodge Magnum and Dodge Durango. By 2007, Chrysler Group will have nearly 1 million vehicles on the road with MDS.