Images: Chrysler

Although the year has just started, the Chrysler Group is already seeing record sales of one of its top vehicles for 2014, but it may not be what you think! While most Chrysler Group cars are still in as much demand as ever, it’s the 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel that has taken a considerable bound to the front of the pack, not only within the Chrysler Group but also in the full-size truck market.

Orders for the new Ram 1500 EcoDiesel began on February 7. Within three days, the Chrysler Group had already received over 8,000 customer orders for the truck from dealerships all over the country, filling the initial allocation for the new Ram powertrain. And this doesn’t even take into account the number of EcoDiesels being requested for dealer lots.

With a best-in-class 28 MPG fuel economy and 9,200 pounds of towing capacity, the new Ram 1500 EcoDiesel fills a number of voids felt in the market. While the regular Ram 1500 still maintains its record half-ton fuel economy of 25 MPG for its 3.6L V6 gasoline engine introduced last year, the new EcoDiesel proves to have the best fuel economy across the board, being the only half-ton truck available with a diesel engine.

The diesel engine, incredible fuel economy and extensive towing capacity in half-ton form makes the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel truly one for the books. The Chrysler Group is definitely seeing that, as customer orders flew in, hitting twice the corporate average for trucks already paid for by customers who haven’t even gotten to test drive the vehicle yet.

“The Ram 1500 is the only half-ton truck available with a diesel, so we see this as incremental business by having the only truck that can offer best-in-class fuel economy of 28 MPG combined with 9,200 pounds of towing capacity,” Reid Bigland, President and CEO–Ram Truck Brand, Chrysler Group LLC, said in a recent press release. “It’s every truck manufacturer’s dream to have this kind of initial order demand for a product. Fuel economy is the No. 1 request of half-ton buyers and the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel delivers without compromising capability.”

Production of the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel began in February with ship dates expected in March. Customers still looking to order one of the new EcoDiesels can still do so even though the first allotment of trucks has been reached. Any customer order will be given priority in the build, with dealer-stocking orders being filled after all customer orders have been taken care of.

Now with the half-ton truck segments two highest fuel economy averages, Ram is pulling ahead fast for 2014, but only time will tell if this initial boost in sales will continue on into future months. But based on what the new EcoDiesel has to offer, we wouldn’t be surprised if we saw impressive sales all year long!