Ram 2500 HD gets six-speed transmission

Chrysler's Ram truck brand announced today that it is adding a six-speed automatic transmission to its 2012 2500 Heavy Duty trucks.

The Ram 2500 HD and 3500 HD will be available with diesel and gasoline engines. The six-speed transmission replaces the five-speed 545RFE transmission in the 2500 HD, the automaker said in a statement. The 3500 HD already had the six-speed transmission.

The new transmission has Electronic Range Select mode that lets drivers manually determine the limits for upshifts or downshifts based on road speed and engine speed.

The six-speed transmission, which was packaged in the case of the 545RFE transmission, will be combined with a 6.7-liter Cummins High Output Turbo Diesel engine that produces 350 hp and 800 pounds-feet of torque, or a 5.7-liter V-8 gasoline Hemi engine that makes 383 hp and 400 pounds-feet of torque.

By Joseph Lichterman- Automotive News