Bloomberg News reported Thursday that the 2006 Dodge Ram pickup and Durango SUV will have technology that can shut off half of eight cylinders when less power is needed. The feature will come standard on all trucks ordered with Chrysler’s 5.7-liter Hemi engines, Chrysler engineering chief Eric Ridenour said at a dinner recently in New York. The technology cuts fuel use by five percent to 20 percent. Chrysler will have the cylinder-deactivation technology in Hemi engines for seven models next year, the report said. In addition to the Ram and Durango, which will go into production this summer, the Jeep Commander will get the technology. The Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger sedans, the Dodge Magnum wagon and Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV have the cylinder-deactivation feature. Adding the technology improves the highway mileage for the 300 sedan from 20 miles per gallon to 25. The technology improves city-driving mileage in the Ram pickup from 13 to 14 miles per gallon, the Bloomberg report said.
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