Chrysler Exec Outlines Approaches for Improving Fuel Efficiency

www.greencarcongress.com ^ | 11 Aug 2007 | Staff

[Red Badger]

At the annual Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, Michigan, Chrysler’s Executive Vice President - Product Development, Frank Klegon, outlined the company’s powertrain strategy with a focus on improving fuel economy. As background, Klegon said that the company anticipates that diesels will represent up to 15% of new vehicle sales within 10 years.

He also said that Chrysler thinks that in the next 5 to 10 years, hybrids will represent up to another 15% of the market, “but may grow even higher due to government regulations and as costs come down.”

Diesel Engines. On the diesel front, Chrysler currently offers diesel versions of the Dodge Sprinter, Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Dodge Ram Heavy Duty. Its BLUETEC Ram Heavy Duty, with a 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine, meets 2010 emissions standards for heavy-duty pickups for all 50 states, three years early.

In addition to the Ram Heavy Duty, Dodge will introduce an all-new Cummins turbodiesel engine in light-duty pickups after 2009. (Earlier post.) The new 50-state compliant engine will provide up to 30% improvement in fuel efficiency and up to a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to an equivalent gasoline engine. Starting in model year 2009, a BLUETEC Grand Cherokee will also be 50-state compliant.

Globally, Chrysler sold about 295,000 diesel-powered vehicles in 2006. About two-thirds of its European sales are diesels.

It’s safe to say that we’ll see a continued migration of some of those products brought here to the US market, where we are also exploring additional penetration of our 3.0-liter V-6 diesel engine, and the possibility of a four-cylinder diesel. —Frank Klegon

Hybrids. Chrysler will still deploy the jointly developed two-mode hybrid system in both the Dodge Durango and also the Chrysler Aspen next year, coupled with the 5.7-liter HEMI with MDS (cylinder deactivation).

Without question, we will continue to expand our two-mode hybrid program to other vehicles. We’re also exploring mild-hybrid technology. Mild hybrids provide some of the benefits of full-hybrid technology, with less of the cost/weight penalty incurred by a full hybrid drivetrain. Within the next few years, we will offer mild-hybrid technology on a Chrysler vehicle. —Frank Klegon

Gasoline engines. To address the remaining 70% of the market that it anticipates will still be fueled by gasoline engines, Chrysler has a number of shorter-term initiatives underway.

*

The 4-cylinder World Engine will add direct-injection. *

The new “Phoenix” V-6 engine will feature the Multi-Displacement System (MDS). The engine will also feature an aluminum die cast block, dual variable valve timing and a two-stage oil pump which provides fuel efficiency gains.

In fact, we expect to see an across-the-board V-6 fuel efficiency improvement of 6 to 8 percent – as well as new levels of V-6 power and performance.

*

A brand-new version of the E85 flex-fuel 4.7-liter V-8 engine will improve fuel economy by up to 5%, while also boosting power by 30% and torqued by 10% compared to the previous 4.7-liter V-8 engine. *

For the 2009 model year, Chrysler will deliver a significantly upgraded version of the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8, with as yet unspecified gains in fuel efficiency, horsepower and torque. *

A new dual-clutch transmission being produced with Getrag, and a common axle program with Mercedes Benz.

Our dual clutch transmission, which you’ll see in significant volumes in 2010 model-year vehicles, is equipped with two independent lay-shaft style gear sets with separate clutches, using manual transmission-based components. The efficiency gain accounts for an estimated improvement in fuel economy of up to 6 percent versus our current production transmission, based on preliminary testing.

The new common axle technology will also result in fuel economy gains and axle-efficiency gains, while providing weight savings, cost reduction, increased refinement and less complexity.

*

Other initiatives—weight reduction; aero drag improvements; reduced rolling resistance and brake drag to lower road-loads; optimized accessory loads by electric load management; and minimized drive train losses—are designed to improve fuel efficiency across the board by at least 5 percent more.

[Red Badger]

Rest In Peace, old friend, your work is finished.......

If you want on or off the DIESEL ”KnOcK” LIST just FReepmail me........

This is a fairly HIGH VOLUME ping list on some days......

[Red Badger]

KnOcK!....

[SteveMcKing]

Other initiatives—weight reduction; aero drag improvements
 

= dangerously underweight vechicles, all having basically the same butt-ugly "pod" shape.

[Red Badger]

...all having basically the same butt-ugly "pod" shape.

Invasion of the AutoBody Snatchers?..............Wind tunnel effect. All mfrs cars eventually look alike......

[Wilum]

"The engine will also feature an aluminum die cast block"

Does the word VEGA come to mind?

[tubebender]

Que Paul Shanklin’s “In a Yugo”...

[ProtectOurFreedom]

¿Que?

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Other initiatives ... are designed to improve fuel efficiency across the board by at least 5 percent more.

Now nobody is against better fuel economy as long as it doesn’t make cars slow, butt-ugly or unsafe, but it seems we are at a point of diminishing returns when the manufacturers are grasping at reducing brake drag and reducing power consumption of electric accessories. From a global automobile energy consumption perspective, how long does it take for the number of autos on the road to grow more than 5%, totally offsetting these gains? Two or three years?

[Squantos]

My daily driver commute ride is something I would like that is fast and efficient and small 2 seater easy to park and maneuver in urban jungle. Good AC when idle in heavy traffic jams, XM (or Sirius) sat stereo and bluetooh features. Close as I could get to my perfect commute ride was a 2006 Nissan 350Z .

My other vehicles are a FJ80 landcruiser and 06 Cummins Dooooge 2500. Soon as I can find another 5.9 or 6.7 cummins engine ........ I will swamp that engine into my FJ80 Landcruiser .

I like the cummins, not too pleased with the package it comes in but ........we can’t have everything we want I spose.

Thanks for the ping ....... Stay Safe !

[Red Badger]

True, a growing auto market will eat up those gains in short order. But look on the bright side, every new auto will be more fuel efficient than any car ever built before it. Changing over to diesel from gasoline would be the greatest immediate improvement. Running AC off or a battery that is home charged would be good, too. Diesel Hybrids are being developed.........

[Red Badger]

Good AC when idle in heavy traffic jams

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,292809,00.html

[ontap]

All the info I can get says that the Hybrid engine is good in city type driving but not so good on the open highway.

[Squantos]

LOL.......A guy at work who drives an old Toyota 4x4 Xcab saw the movie Larry the Cable Guy and did the same thing. Installed a power inverter under the hood and put a small window unit into his split rear window . He has a small camper shell on nit and you don’t even see it .

But lordy you can keep a side of beef in that thing even during this 100 plus heat we have been having.

The guys at the Fox site is butt ugly ........ I’ll see if I can get pics of my co-workers effort for ya’ll next week !

Stay safe !

[Red Badger]

... but not so good on the open highway.

Thus the need for the DIESEL hybrids!....I've already coined a new name for them in general: DIESEL WEASELS!.........

[Red Badger]

Gotta go!...CARTALK is on!!!!!.................yeah, I know it's NPR........

[chilepepper]

Chrysler is behind the curve and will never recover if they talk about 5 and 6 liter diesels. what they should be doing is 3.0 liter and under diesels - if they can come up with a 1.3 liter diesel like the ones in the Volkswagen and VW owned Skoda, then they are *beginning* to get it

within six months $100 a barrel oil is *likely* rather than just possible, given the way the middle east is going.

i have a two jeeps, a van, and a motorcycle but mostly now drive a 1.6 liter econobox in preparation for what is coming...

[Erik Latranyi]

Thus the need for the DIESEL hybrids!....

Chrysler is aiming at leapfrogging the competition. They already have a head-start on diesel technology. The two-mode hybrid developed jointly with GM & BMW will result in more efficient SUV (the vehicles people really want).

Chrysler is bringing new V6 engines with cylinder shutoff, direct injection and greater fuel efficiency than comprable Japanese versions. Additionally, Chrysler is bringing out a new manu-matic transmission that nobody alse has under development that will increase fuel efficiency. Couple that with new axles offering less resistance, I predict that Chrysler will have as good or better fuel efficiency than Toyota within 5 years.

Oh, did I mention all that with a lifetime warranty?

[Red Badger]

...what they should be doing is 3.0 liter and under diesels - if they can come up with a 1.3 liter diesel...

AMEN!.........

[Red Badger]

May the force be with them.......

[VOA]

“the company anticipates that diesels will represent up to 15% of new
vehicle sales within 10 years. “

Great.
More peckerwood truck owners assaulting us with a really gawd-awful
exhaust note.

(Said partly in jest...but when a truck’s tailpipe is at about the
level of my head when seated in my car, it does get tiresome after
a while!!!)