Automakers twist up torque wars for Texas State Fair
DALLAS, Texas – The torque wars are on
Bigger, stronger engines and more workability for light pickups and SUVs highlighted a press preview of the Dallas Auto Show, held in conjunction with the Texas State Fair, which runs through Oct. 20.
Ram, Jeep, Ford, and Nissan all unveiled new powertrains that promise to take hauling and towing to where no pickup has gone before. To be sure, the show has plenty of cars – more than 400 of them ranging from family station wagons to exotic sports cars – but this is Texas, where one in five American trucks are sold so that’s where manufacturers put their PR dollars.
Jeep gives SUV world the Willys
2020 Jeep Wrangler Willys Edition. Photo courtesy FCA
Though its vehicles are rarely used for towing and hauling, Jeep had the day’s two-fer, announcing the availability of Fiat-Chrysler’s third-generation Ecodiesel – mated to a new eight-speed transmission – in its Wranglers. EPA fuel estimates are not yet complete, but Jeep’s Brandon Girmus said the setup will deliver the best fuel economy and range of any SUV on the planet.
The Ecodiesel delivers 442 ft.-lb of torque made all the more twisty by a 4:10 rear end.
“It’s going to be awesome for rock crawling or out on the trail,” Girmus said.
Jeep also unveiled the latest iteration of its Willys package that features a limited-slip rear differential, Rubicon rock rails and shocks, heavy-duty brakes and 32-inch Firestone mud-terrain tires. Bolstering that is Jeep’s Command-Trac 4×4 part-time, two-speed transfer case with a 2.72:1 low-range gear ratio.
“This bad boy’s pretty much going to be unstoppable on most off-road trails in America,” Girmus said.
Ram beefs up Tradesman, Rebel: New for 2020, a midnight edition Ram Rebel can be had with a 3.0-L Ecodiesel
The Ecodiesel, a $5,000 upgrade to Jeep and Ram’s standard gas V6, is also available on 2020 Ram Tradesman and Rebel models. In the Tradesman, it will boost towing capacity to 12,560 lbs, or about a fourth more than competitors’ base models.
Ram also rolled out a heavy-duty Nigh Edition, available on Big Horn and Laramie models. It features a monochromatic design enhanced by a black grille with body-colored surround, black badging and black 20-inch wheels. Dualies will get 17-inch black wheels with machined pockets. The headlamps and taillights feature dark bezels.
The 2020 Ram Heavy Duty Night Edition has a starting MSRP of $37,995. It is available on Ram 2500 and 3500 4×2 and 4×4 Crew Cabs and Mega Cabs with a choice of 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 or 6.7-liter Cummins I-6 featuring 1,000 lb.-ft. of torque.
Nissan enhances Titan
The primary goal of a mid-cycle facelift is to prevent models from becoming stale, so Nissan literally gave the Titan a new face for 2020. There are three new grille designs, which are even bolder than before, along with snazzier headlights that have hints of the Titan Warrior concept from three seasons ago.
Striking LED lamps mark the top three trim levels. The rear sports new LED lights in the cargo bed, updated LED taillights and unique tailgate plaques.
At first glance, the new Titan still looks very familiar. Yet it arrives with a cleaner front fascia and restyled rear deck.
A simplified and tuned-up power train powers the Titan. Nissan dropped a Cummins diesel. Instead, it chose to go with a tried and true 5.6L V8, which now produces 400 hp and 413 lb.-ft of torque and pairs with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Unlike the variety of powertrains available on light-duty rivals, the Titan makes do with a single engine and transmission combo.
A new Pro-4X package ($47,000 est.) joins the lineup for 2020, along with the base S ($32,500 est.), SV ($36,000 est.), SL ($51,000 est.) and Platinum Reserve ($56,500 est.). Body styles include extended as well as crew cabs. Like Nissan’s Frontier Pro-4x package, the Titian version swaps the stock shocks for an off-road set better suited for rough roads.
Interior upgrades include better materials and upgraded features. The revised Titan includes a new 7.0-inch display that sits between the speedometer and tachometer in the instrument cluster. The infotainment system takes a step up with a larger standard 8.0-inch touchscreen (previously a 7.0-inch unit) that uses the latest NissanConnect software, and there’s a newly available 9.0-inch touchscreen for upper-grade models. Both interfaces should help make the experience feel more contemporary than the outdated previous version. Other updates of note include improved interior cubby storage, optional wireless charging, and an available panoramic sunroof on crew-cab models.
Nissan offers best in class bumper-to-bumper factory warranty of 5-years/100,000 miles for its entire truck and van lineup.
Ford super-sizes itself
All-terrain tires and tons of skid plates? Must be a Ford Raptor. Those black things hanging off the middle are stage lights.
Photo by Bill Owney
Ford took no time to steal Ram’s thunder. Its new F-Series Super Duty, when powered by 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel, delivers not 1,000 ft.-lb of torque, but 1,050?
The Blue Oval won the showmanship award, too. It rocked the area with thunderous music while rolling in a Super Duty pulling a gooseneck trailer with concrete forms representing 37,000 lbs. That kind of towing capacity once was the province of 18-wheelers.
Even towing conventionally, the big diesel Fords can haul 24,200 lbs.
Ford also rolled out a new, optional 7.3-L gas V8 – the most powerful gas engine ever offered in Super Duty – that cranks out best-in-class gas power of 430 horsepower and best-in-class gas torque of 475 ft.-lbs.
