Chrysler hybrids to be powered by Hemi engines
05-01-07 | 01:28 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 30,119
Likes: 226
From: Canada
Chrysler hybrids to be powered by Hemi engines
Chrysler hybrids to be powered by Hemi engines
Josee Valcourt / The Detroit News
Monday, April 30, 2007
Chrysler Group will power hybrid versions of the 2008 Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen SUVs with its brawny 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 engine, the company announced Monday.
The hybrid vehicles -- a first for Chrysler -- are slated to arrive in the marketplace next year and will feature a two-mode hybrid technology. The new Hemi hybrid engine should improve overall fuel economy in these vehicles by 25 percent and increase efficiency by nearly 40 percent in city driving.
"With the new Hemi-powered Chrysler Aspen Hybrid, we are delivering the ultimate combination of fuel efficiency, overall performance and capability in a premium full-size SUV," said Frank Klegon, Chrysler's executive vice president of product development, in a statement.
The Hemi hybrid engine will feature the multi-displacement system currently offered on the gas engine version that pumps 340 horsepower. Known as MDS, the fuel-saving feature shuts off four of the eight cylinders when the vehicle is operating in certain driving conditions.
The gas engine Hemi doesn't get more than 19 miles per gallon on the highway.
The hybrid Aspen and Durango can be powered either by the electric motors or by the Hemi V-8 engine or a combination of the two.
Chrysler's hybrid engine was developed through a three-way partnership with General Motors Corp. and BMW to develop hybrid technology. The companies are developing two-mode hybrid systems at the Hybrid Development Center in Troy.
Josee Valcourt / The Detroit News
Monday, April 30, 2007
Chrysler Group will power hybrid versions of the 2008 Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen SUVs with its brawny 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 engine, the company announced Monday.
The hybrid vehicles -- a first for Chrysler -- are slated to arrive in the marketplace next year and will feature a two-mode hybrid technology. The new Hemi hybrid engine should improve overall fuel economy in these vehicles by 25 percent and increase efficiency by nearly 40 percent in city driving.
"With the new Hemi-powered Chrysler Aspen Hybrid, we are delivering the ultimate combination of fuel efficiency, overall performance and capability in a premium full-size SUV," said Frank Klegon, Chrysler's executive vice president of product development, in a statement.
The Hemi hybrid engine will feature the multi-displacement system currently offered on the gas engine version that pumps 340 horsepower. Known as MDS, the fuel-saving feature shuts off four of the eight cylinders when the vehicle is operating in certain driving conditions.
The gas engine Hemi doesn't get more than 19 miles per gallon on the highway.
The hybrid Aspen and Durango can be powered either by the electric motors or by the Hemi V-8 engine or a combination of the two.
Chrysler's hybrid engine was developed through a three-way partnership with General Motors Corp. and BMW to develop hybrid technology. The companies are developing two-mode hybrid systems at the Hybrid Development Center in Troy.
.
05-01-07 | 05:54 PM
#2
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 91,607
Likes: 89
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
I don't know, Andrew. 
Time will tell.
We keep hearing about more and more "Hybrids" to come from domestic manufacturers (or, rather, domestic nameplates), but, with the exception of the Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner Hybrids (which use Toyota technology under license), and the Saturn VUE and Chevy Silverado "Hybrids", which aren't really gas-electric hybrids at all, but basically just devices to shut the gas engine off at stops, Detroit has promised much in this field.......and delivered little.
Time will tell.We keep hearing about more and more "Hybrids" to come from domestic manufacturers (or, rather, domestic nameplates), but, with the exception of the Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner Hybrids (which use Toyota technology under license), and the Saturn VUE and Chevy Silverado "Hybrids", which aren't really gas-electric hybrids at all, but basically just devices to shut the gas engine off at stops, Detroit has promised much in this field.......and delivered little.
05-01-07 | 11:39 PM
#3
Speaks French in Russian
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13,303
Likes: 65
From: What is G?
Hmmm...this doesnt sound like a true hybrid (like the Toyota system). I read up on this Dual mode Hybrid thing twice, and I still dont get how its classified as a hybrid.
By the way while reading up about this, I saw that they just discontinued the GM Truck mild Hybrids, but will be introducing true hybrid SUV's later this year starting with the Tahoe/Suburban models.
By the way while reading up about this, I saw that they just discontinued the GM Truck mild Hybrids, but will be introducing true hybrid SUV's later this year starting with the Tahoe/Suburban models.
05-02-07 | 12:12 AM
#4
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 91,607
Likes: 89
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
I'll believe it when I see it....and drive it. Detroit has promised much in the way of hybrids, and delivered little. For example, It took years for the Escape/Mariner Hybrid to finally make it to dealerships.....and then it turned out that Ford didn't even do most of the work on it to start with; Toyota did.
Toyota and Honda introduced Hybrids to the American market in 2000, have both introduced second-generation models, and are working on THIRD-generation models as we speak, while other companies are just talking a lot of PR stuff.
05-02-07 | 06:44 AM
#6
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 91,607
Likes: 89
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
The present generation, non-SRT, Hemi shuts off the fuel to 4 cylinders at cruise, under light loads, to help gas mileage a little, but it doesn't make a whole lot of difference.
Trending Topics
05-02-07 | 08:15 AM
#8
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 669
Likes: 1
From: US
Hmmm...this doesnt sound like a true hybrid (like the Toyota system). I read up on this Dual mode Hybrid thing twice, and I still dont get how its classified as a hybrid.
By the way while reading up about this, I saw that they just discontinued the GM Truck mild Hybrids, but will be introducing true hybrid SUV's later this year starting with the Tahoe/Suburban models.
By the way while reading up about this, I saw that they just discontinued the GM Truck mild Hybrids, but will be introducing true hybrid SUV's later this year starting with the Tahoe/Suburban models.
The two-modes are actual hybrids not like the BAS system that GM currently offers. Infact, they will be even superior to Toyota's current hybrid synergy drive technology since they provide fuel economy benefits even on the highway.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
GFerg
Car Chat
20
11-30-06 06:03 AM