Truckin Blog - Where's the Hemi?

Monday, January 30, 2006
One of the biggest missed opportunities of the past few years is Dodge failing to offer the Hemi V-8 in the new Dakota. Even before the new Dakota came out, Mopar truck enthusiasts were crossing their fingers and hoping against hope that Dodge would drop the Hemi under the hood as an option. About the only thing Dodge PR reps and engineers say when the subject is brought up is, "interesting idea, but we have no plans."

In PR mealy-mouth speak, that means either, "It's coming out next year, but we're not going to tell you yet" or "Keep dreaming, pal." I'm really hoping it's the former. Though Dodge crows about the Dakota having the only V-8 of any midsize truck, let's examine the details. Nissan's 4.0 V-6 in the Frontier offers 5 more horsepower than even the high-output version of the 4.7. And the standard 4.7 V-8 is easily outpowered by both the Toyota and Nissan V-6 engines. Granted, the V-8 has an edge in torque, but with the porky weight of the new Dakota, it needs all the help it can get. In fully decked-out, 4x4 Quad Cab trim, the Dakota (and it's virtual twin, the Mitsubishi Raider) waddles onto the scales at almost 5,000 pounds. You're tellin' me that much weight couldn't use a Hemi? Give me a break!

What makes this collective corporate numbskullery even more baffling is the fact that Chrysler has said for each model that it's offered the Hemi in, the take rate has been at least 40 percent, if not more. I'm about to make somewhat of an apples and oranges comparison here, but stick with me, I think you'll see my point. In the domestic rebate & incentive wars, Ford & GM have often had to resort to incentives to move cars off the lot. Chrysler, by comparison, has had to resort to this far less often. Thanks in part ot the ongoing popularity of the Chrysler 300, as well as the number of models it offers with the Hemi, which practically sell themselves, dealers are reporting. Among the slow movers that get the cash bonus are the stale Sebring models, and (gasp!) the relatively-new Dakota, among others.

They can crow all day long about the Dakota's V-8, but I'll bet you this scenario has played out more than once in a Dodge dealership:
Customer: "Hi, I'd like to look at one of those new Dakotas."
Salesman: "Sure, we've got several right over here."
Customer: "Looks nice. Hey, I can get one of these with a Hemi, right?"
Salesman: "Well, umm. . .we have two optional V-8s."
Customer: "But they're not the Hemi, are they?"
Salesman: "Uhh. . .not exactly. But they're the only V-8s in its class."
Customer: "Well, I really wanted a Hemi. I'll have to think about it."

I'm sure a few smooth-talking salesmen have probably schmoozed a customer into a Dakota, or moved them up into a Hemi-powered Ram. But based on the Mopar enthusiast message boards I've seen, there are a significant number of truck enthusiasts that don't want the bulk of the Ram, but want the power of the Hemi in a trimmer, more manageable package.

My educated guesses as to why they haven't offered this powertrain in the Dakota are the following: There is only one plant in North America that produces the Hemi. That's in Saltillo, Mexico. This plant supplies all variations of the Hemi for all models, including the 300, Magnum, Ram, Grand Cherokee, and the SRT derivatives. Supposedly, the plant's running at full capacity. Hence, a Hemi shortage. My other guess is that they're already on the edge of meeting their CAFE average, and that a gas-guzzling Hemi in the Dakota would push them over the edge. But what's puzzling, is with MDS (cylinder deactivation) the 5.7 Hemi gets exactly the same mileage as the 4.7 V-8 in the Ram. There's no reason to think that the same wouldn't apply in the Dakota.

My hunch is this: They're looking for another plant that could produce the Hemi, or they're trying to expand capacity in Saltillo to make more. Come '07 or '08, I'm guessing and hoping we'll have the Hemi option in the Dakota. There's been a lot of talk about an SRT Dakota. While I think that would be great, there's no question it would be well above $30,000, probably about $35,000, if not more. For sure they'll have some takers. But there are some hard-working guys out there that use their trucks for work, or can't afford the extravagance of a $35,000 truck that want a little more power in the Dakota. Just offer the 5.7 Hemi as a stand-alone option in any Dakota trim level. I can only hope for an announcement at the Chicago show.

So, you guys with me on this? What do you think? Write me at edward.sanchez@primedia.com. As always, please give your first name, last initial, and hometown when submitting a blog response. Thanks!

Submitted Tuesday, January 31, 2006
You raised the question about a Hemi powered Dakota. You are so right! I have a brand new 2005 Quad Cab Dakota. I didn't do enough homework before plunging in. It is loaded. 31K worth. Only problem is it has the 3.7 V-6. Yeup, I wasn't looking for towing or powering away from stop lights with F-150s or Silverados. I was looking for some decent power and fuel economy. Seems like I got screwed in my expectations. The truck don't hunt......... except for eating gasoline at far more than the EPA said it would.

My son likes it because it serves him well in his business when on occasion it gets used as a truck. Mostly, it just sits in the garage. Especially now that fuel is approaching $2.50 a gallon again. My daughter in law doesn't like it because the wheel base is so long, she can't get it to park the way she wants it to, and I agree with her. You need about 10 acres to move this thing around. As for me, I don't like having to use almost the full throttle to get going in traffic, and where I am in Orlando Florida, there is ALWAYS a lot of traffic, so you are in the gasoline tank a whole bunch! OK, sounds like nitpicking.

Would a Hemi V-8 help? Yes, I think so. It would go a long way to making the Dak appear as "best" in class with that kind of power available. Is Dodge listening? There again, we know that they read our stuff on ALLPAR and it has been stated over and over about making a Hemi V-8 an option in the Dakota, much the same way as you are passionately telling Dodge the positive truth of taking such an action. If the talk about an SRT package is on course, then the Hemi must also be available for that truck. The 4.7 is not a bad engine, but it is NOT a Hemi. I do find it incredible that when a Hemi engine is offered in a vehicle, people refer to that first and the model second! Like I want a Hemi in that 300! I want a Hemi in that Charger. I want a Hemi in that Ram. So, where are the marketing folks when people come in and state I want a Hemi in that Dakota? The wind goes right out of the sale balloon when this happens, and I believe it happens way too much.

With a near 5000 pound weight, the Dak needs to have the Hemi option. I don't believe that the EPA gas guzzler penalty would be applicable because the MDS Hemi in the bigger Ram and the 4.7 litre in the Dak are the same, as you state. Could the Mitsubishi Raider make a difference. I don't think so, even though they are the same truck built in the same plant. DCX would probably never acquiesce to letting Mitsu have a Hemi, that being reserved for the exclusive use of Chrysler Group Vehicles. The only thing left to do is to convince the DCX marketing group to wake up. With the shake up in the SRT group and corporate reshuffling that has already occurred, perhaps some new blood may put the concept of a Dak Hemi into motion and make it happen.

Curtis Redgap
Orlando, Florida
www.allpar.com

Response, posted Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Curtis,
Very well-put! This would seem like a no-brainer to me. Maybe they didn't expect "Hemi-mania" to take off like it has, but there's no question it has. As sad as it is to say, I drove both a V-6 six-speed Raider, and a DuroCross Crew Cab 4x4 V-8, and liked the six better! The 4.7 is fine for grandpa, and for gardeners, but there ain't much there otherwise. I think it serves its purpose well as an "entry-level" V-8, but the Hemi should be the upgrade engine, not the "High Output" 4.7. Thanks for your submission!