DCx News: Dakota engine choices and performance grows

[hemidakota]

Dakota engine choices and performance grows

You could have had a powerful V-8 in the old Dodge Dakota, but now you have a choice of two in the new one.

Even before the all-new Dodge Dakota went on sale last month, it already was the only pickup truck in its segment that came standard with a V-6 engine. The Dakota also was the only pickup in its class to offer a V-8.

The 3.7-liter Magnum® V-6 will remain the standard power plant in the all-new 2005 Dakota, and the 4.7-liter Magnum V-8 will be joined by a High Output Magnum version. All three engine offerings will be quieter, more powerful and more fuel efficient than the previous model year’s engines.

The all-new 2005 Dodge Dakota stands alone as the largest, most powerful and most capable mid-size pickup in the market. With best-in-class torque, horsepower and maximum towing, the new Dakota delivers full-size pickup styling, feel and power.

The 3.7-liter Magnum returns as the only standard V-6 engine in the mid-size segment and is fitted with an all-new Getrag six-speed manual transmission that delivers improved fuel efficiency and drivability. Changes in the valve train and combustion chamber give the V-6 more low-speed torque, while making the idle smoother and reducing engine noise.

Available on both two- and four-wheel drive, the Dakota’s 3.7-liter V-6 delivers 210 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 235 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,600 rpm. A four-speed automatic transmission also is available with the 3.7-liter engine.

The 4.7-liter Magnum V-8 is rated at 230 horsepower at 4,600 rpm and 290 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,600 rpm; while the new 4.7-liter High Output Magnum V-8 further eclipses the competition in both power and torque with 260 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque. Both V-8 engines are rated between 3-4 percent more fuel efficient than the previous Dodge Dakota V-8 engine.

The Dakota gains class-dominating power, torque and 7,150 pounds of maximum towing capacity with the 4.7-liter V-8 engine.

The 4.7-liter High Output engine will be available only on SLT and Laramie models and requires an automatic transmission. The High Output engine replaces the 5.9-liter V-8 last used in 2003 and produces more horsepower, faster acceleration and better fuel efficiency.

The High Output 4.7-liter also features new valve springs to control valve motion, a revised combustion chamber shape that increases intake airflow volume, a more aggressive camshaft to increase high-speed airflow, higher compression pistons (9.7:1 vs. 9.0:1) to increase power, a forged steel crankshaft for torsional stability, a revised crankshaft torsional vibration damper and full-floating wrist pins to enhance durability.

Engine noise is reduced on all Dakota pickups, thanks to tuned intake resonators and a revised exhaust system, featuring a 30 percent larger main muffler and two resonators. Further noise reduction improvements are found on the 3.7-liter engine, which include a new composite valve cover, thickened intake manifold and a sound-absorbing foam valley pad.