A 5-speed manual comes standard with the Hemi, 8.0-L V10 and standard Cummins diesel. Its intervals were well spaced between gears and shifts smooth and effortless. I wish I could say the same for the manual 6-speed, standard with the high-output Cummins diesel. I found it a little cumbersome at first, not unlike the manual gearboxes in its Ford and GM counterparts. I kept trying to shove it into reverse, which was located at the top-right corner of the shifter's double-H pattern, instead of finding 5th. That said I seemed to be the only one of my peers with this problem. While Ford makes due with a 4-speed auto in its heavy-duty trucks Dodge, like GM, has opted for a 5-speed automatic as optional equipment with the 5.7-L Hemi. The new auto-box is a variation of the 45 RFE transmission used in the 2002 Ram 1500 and the Grand Cherokee. The only difference is a 5th gear incorporating a 0.67 to 1 ratio, which reduces rpm by 16% from the 4th gear. Overall it's well suited to the engine, downshifting easily when needed and maintaining a relaxed pace at cruising speeds to minimize fuel consumption. A heavy-duty 4-speed automatic with overdrive is optional with either the V10 or standard diesel, with no automatic available for the high-output diesel yet. What do I mean yet? Yes the rumors are true. In January of 2003 Dodge will introduce a 48RE automatic with strengthened internal components that can handle the high-output diesels increased torque loads.
The diesel engine itself, in either standard or high-output variety, is now extremely quiet. This is mostly due to its all-new common-rail injection system. The new engine architecture allows for much greater torque at lower rpm as well. For instance, at 1,000 rpm torque is improved by 20%. What's more its clutch engagement torque is improved by 10% over its predecessor. The Cummins high-pressure diesel now uses pilot injection, squirting a small amount of fuel into the cylinder prior to the main shot of fuel being injected. This effectually smoothes out combustion pressure in the cylinder, which is the prime source of engine noise in diesel engines.