Rumors were shy at the beginning, but now it is obvious that FCA is considering the 2023 Ram 3500 Allison gearbox switch. Chevrolet Silverado HD class improved the performance when the company delivered a new transmission. Now, Ram is also considering to replace the AISIN box with a smoother case. Well, the heavy-duty lineup is already impressive, with the Series 3
truck being able to tow more than 37,000 pounds. The new gearbox would make the rig even more stunning. Speculations are not confirmed yet. Our rumors within the FCA are reporting there are strong pushes for this to go through. A lot of experts believe the Allison gearbox is definitely going to make the Ram 3500 better. But, this is a big move and requires a lot of negotiations and reconsiderations. Stakes are not small, but the gain could be huge.
2023 Ram 3500 Allison Diesel Engine Specs
The first thing coming to our mind is how the 2023 Ram 3500 Allison is going to work with a diesel unit. The only answer to this question is to wait and see. But, experts and fans are enthusiastic. Pairing the 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel with a new transmission is going to bring improvements, for sure. AISIN case was criticized a lot and it seems that FCA engineers took the best of it. Now, it is time for changes and improvements, and the Allison transmission is the best the market can offer at this point. The latest update on a 6.7-liter engine made it capable of producing 400 hp and 1,075 lb-ft of torque. Converted to towing capacity, that is 37,100 pounds. The next edition might reach 40k with the Allison transmission. Or the FCA is going to sacrifice stunning outputs to get a smoother ride?
Competition
The latest update of the gearbox made Chevy Silverado 3500 as impressive as its rivals. We can say that GM was losing battle with FCA and Ford in the truck market, but this move made its vehicles important again. The truck increased power outputs and maximum towing capacity. AISIN haven’t updated its transmission for a while, and there are no announcements of this happening in the foreseeable future. This sparked rumors about the 2023 Ram 3500 Allison.
Silverado HD [and its mechanical twin, GMC Sierra] is one of the rivals. But, Ford is still dominating the truck segment. F-350 is a Series 3 model that exploits Powerstroke turbodiesel engine capable of delivering similar outputs as the Ram 3500. The Blue Oval company is not considering big moves for the near future. A 10-speed case is a pair for the F-350 and we will see it delivering 1,050 lb-ft and 450 hp.
When Will 2023 Ram 3500 Allison Be Available?
Since the company is not announcing big news for the 2022 season, truckers and enthusiasts are sure that the 2023 Ram 3500 Allison will be the first model to use a new gearbox. However, it is a big move, and especially risky now when FCA built the reputation and becoming the main threat to Ford’s supremacy in the truck market.
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Many reports suggest a mid-cycle update of Ram pickups for the next year. At this point, the officials are still quiet but experts speculate about a pretty comprehensive update, which would include changes in various aspects. Of course, things like styling changes and new features are the first that come to mind, but there is also a big chance for important mechanical updates. This particularly refers to the 2023 Ram transmission, which could be significantly
upgraded.
This primarily refers to the HD lineup. Light-Duty models use a familiar 8-speed automatic gearbox from ZF, which does a fantastic job and it is arguably one of the best in the business. On the other hand, the situation with the HD lineup is a little bit different. While gasoline-powered models also
use ZF transmission, diesel models are relying on a little bit older Aisin transmission, which could be replaced after this update with something more modern.
So, we are about to speculate about new transmission options for the Ram HD lineup. Still, make sure to take the following paragraphs with a reserve, as the officials are still quiet.
As we already mentioned, the current model uses a good-old 6-speed unit
from the Japanese company called Aisin. Although a little bit older, this transmission works great in pair with the legendary inline-six turbodiesel from Cummins. It handles the massive torque with ease, while remaining reasonably smooth and refined.
However, rivals use more modern transmissions, with 10 gears. The advantage of such transmissions is primarily better fuel economy, but their more modern design also ensures quicker and smoother shifts. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to
expect something new in the next year’s Ram HD. The first thing that comes to mind is a new transmission from Aisin. The new Tundra uses a 10-speed automatic from this company, so we might see something similar in Ram HD pickups as well.
2023 Ram Transmission: Allison
The second option would be Allison transmission. This gearbox is already used by Chevy Silverado HD models and it works great. It is smooth and refined, while its ration would probably improve fuel economy,
maybe towing capabilities as well. Moreover, some aftermarket shops already offer the possibility to install this transmission in Ram HD trucks, so we may conclude that this switch wouldn’t be too complicated.
2023 Ram transmission: ZF
Finally, there is the ZF transmission, which already comes with
gasoline-powered Ram trucks. It is arguably one of the best units around, not just in the pickup truck world. The shifts are fast and incredibly smooth, while the whole system feels extremely refined.
However, the standard version of this transmission can’t deal with such a huge amount of torque, which is the main reason why Ram HD with a diesel engine still uses an Aisin transmission. We presume that the German company could make some modifications and make this transmission more
rugged, but we don’t how much that could cost Ram and do such expenses make sense in the middle of the production cycle.
What Else Could We Expect from 2023 Ram Pickups?
If we can trust unofficial reports, the whole Ram lineup is expected to receive a mid-cycle update next year. At this point, the officials are still quiet but we presume that most of the changes will be in terms of visual updates. We count on an updated styling, which would make this truck looks more rugged
and more aggressive. Other than visual changes, we presume a couple of updates could happen on the inside as well. Finally, we should see the new standard and available features, maybe even some new trim levels as well.
On the other hand, the mechanical aspect shouldn’t bring changes, other
than the possible new transmission. The engine lineup will remain the same. So, HD models will continue with a 6.4-liter HEMI V8, as well as with a 6.7-liter inline-six turbodiesel from Cummins. On the other hand, light-duty models will continue with V6 and V8 gasoline engines, as well as with a V6 turbodiesel.
The base price for light-duty models goes around 36.000 dollars, while the HD lineup starts at around 38.000 dollars.
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