AUBURN HILLS, MI - The 2009 Dodge Ram could boast a 20-percent improvement in fuel efficiency, executives said. The new Ram, which will roll into dealerships this fall, includes an improved 5.7L Hemi V-8 that has become more powerful and more efficient, according to www.detnews.com.

The new engine, which produces 380 horsepower and 404 lb.-ft. of torque, has become about five percent more efficient. The additional mileage gains are credited to significant work to make the Ram more aerodynamically efficient and by cutting 80 pounds from the truck’s overall weight.

The 2008 Ram Quad Cab Laramie with a 5.7L Hemi gets 15 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway. Raising the highway mileage to 23 mpg on the highway makes it one of the most efficient full-size pickups on the road. Four-by-four models using the 5.7 Hemi typically hit about 17 mpg on the highway.

Dodge sold 358,000 trucks last year. However, high gas prices and changing consumer demands have caused Ram truck sales to drop 24 percent this year through April. The new Ram touts 35 significant changes inside and out over the 2008 model.