6.7L Cummins Forum - View Single Post - Cummins out and Fiat diesels in Dodge trucks?

DWRDodge6.7 · #9 (**permalink**) 09-18-2009, 06:21 PM

Fiat really has nothing to replace the Cummins in a full size pickup. So, I can't see a change there. It would make no sense from a marketing stand point to make that change. The Cummins following is nothing short of a cult which will follow the engine where ever it goes. If they're going to be in the truck business, they better leave the Cummins where it is. Surly Fiat knows this. Also the North Americans like their big vehicles. When the ecconomic crisis is over, the little pop can cars are not going to look so good!
The Jeep Grand Cherokee offered an MB 3.0 diesel up until 2008.5. But MB wants to offer it exclusively in their suvs. Because the diesel Jeep was so popular, I can see Chrysler wanting to replace the MB 3.0 with another diesel. It would make sense to use a Fiat sourced mill. The Liberty diesel was an Italian engine and has a very good rep, plus the diesel Liberties are holding their value very well. I also think, as do most auto industry annalists, that most of what Chrysler gets from Fiat will be small car lines and small engines.
Just a note. We own a diesel Grand. It is my wife's daily driver and a great vehicle. It gets between 30 and 35 mpg on the highway and 24 to 26 in town. It has had no issues with the exhaust or other emissions. The only complaint that I would have at this point is that the consumable parts are expensive, make that brutal. But I am finding places other than Mopar and MB to buy the filters etc.
It also should be noted that our trucks are assembled in Mexico and we are going to have to get used to components for our vehicles coming from offshore or the entire vehicle being assembled elsewhere. I don't like it but it is reality.