The current generation of Ram’s HD pickup trucks has been around for a couple of years. It has so many strong points, so it’s no wonder many consider it a class leader. Besides excellent towing and hauling capabilities, it also offers by far the best-looking cabin in the class, as well as unparalleled ride quality. However, that doesn’t mean there are no drawbacks in the case of this pickup. That’s the reason while the novelty in terms 2021 Ram 3500 Allison has been rumored and that it seems like a certain thing.
Of course, this refers to the diesel version, which uses a good-old gearbox from Aisin. It may be durable and capable, but drivers want something newer, especially if we consider that rival models feature 10-speed gearboxes. The unit from Allison seems like a proper replacement. Still, keep this with a dose of the reserve, as we are still waiting to hear something from the officials on this matter.
2021 Ram 3500 Allison Transmission Details
Without any doubt, the new 2021 Ram 3500 Allison transmission would be the biggest novelty for the next year. Of course, we are talking about the 2022 model year, but this change could come already in the second half of this year. Naturally, we are talking about the diesel version. The gasoline model, on the other side, already features an advanced ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic gearbox.
The reasons for such a change are quite obvious. Simply, the current setup isn’t particularly refined. That doesn’t refer to the transmission only, as the engine is also pretty loud compared to rivals. Still, we will stick to the transmission at this moment. The current version uses a good-old 6-speed unit from Aisin. Without any doubt, it is a pretty amazing unit, which offers great capabilities and excellent durability and reliability. However, six speeds sound a little bit insufficient these days, when rivals from Ford and Chevy use 10-speed units.
That’s why we count on a 10-speed automatic transmission from Allison. This gearbox already debuted in the current-generation Silverado HD and so far, it turned out to be a great unit. That’s why many believe we could see it in pair with a good-old 6.7-liter inline-six from Cummins. Simply, FCA would rather go for something immediate, instead of waiting for Aisin to develop a new one.
2021 Ram 3500 Allison Specs
In any case, it’s important to know that the new transmission will be coupled with a 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel only. We are talking about a pretty familiar diesel engine, which comes in two variants. Base versions are good for about 370 horsepower and 850 pound-feet of torque, while the real deal starts with the recently-updated more powerful version, which now features a max output of 400 horsepower and 1.075 pound-feet of torque. That’s enough for the class-leading towing capacity, which goes up to magnificent 37.000 pounds, according to the manufacturer.
On the other side, the gasoline model will carry on in the same way. We are talking about a good-old 6.4-liter Hemi engine, which puts around 410 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque on this occasion. With comes in pair with an 8-speed automatic transmission, which works excellent. Of course, this version isn’t as capable in terms of towing but offers significantly better handling. That’s no wonder, considering that the gasoline engine is nearly 500 pounds lighter than the Cummins turbodiesel.
Are there any other changes for the 2021 Ram 3500 Allison?
Most likely, we won’t see many other changes for the 2021 Ram 3500 with Allison transmission. The overall layout will definitely remain the same, considering that we are talking about the model that has been around for just a couple of years. Mechanically, this model relies on the half-ton Ram 1500 model and comes with same benefits, especially in terms of ride quality, despite the much more rigid suspension setup. Speaking of the suspension setup, you can get limited-slip differential and load-leveling air suspension, which make the ride even better. Without any doubt, this is the best HD truck in terms of driving experience.
Visually, we definitely don’t expect to see any change for the next year. Of course, there is always a chance to see a new color option or two, but the overall appearance will certainly remain the same. We also doubt that Ram would come with some new appearance package for the next year. The same thing goes for the interior design, which already features by far the best-looking cabin in the segment. This refers to all aspects, including materials, build quality and precision, tech features etc.
Release Date and Price
We expect to see the 2021 Ram 3500 Allison transmission on sale with the 2022 model year, sometime in the second half of the year. At this point, it is still hard to predict price changes, but we don’t expect they could be that significant. In any case, the current model starts at around 47.000 dollars.