Chrysler considering diesel minivans for 2010
Click on the image for a gallery of high res photos of the new Chrysler vans
Chrysler has offered oil burning engines as an option in almost all the vehicles they sell in Europe since the late nineties including the minivans. Up until sales of the Jeep Liberty CRD blew past sales projections a couple of years ago, diesels in the North American market were restricted to the big Cummins unit in the Ram pickups. Now however, Chrysler is seriously looking at spreading the diesel love to more models, starting with the Grand Cherokee this year. The vans sold in the European market are assembled at a plant in Austria operated by Magna Steyr, and offer a VM Motori diesel. However, DaimlerChrysler is consolidating assembly of Euro market vans at the US plant in St. Louis, MO. The VM Motori engines will be shipped here and installed in vehicles bound for Europe.
Mercedes is currently developing a new clean 2.2L turbo-diesel four cylinder that will enter production in 2010. Since Chrysler will already be installing these engines in European market vans at domestic plants, it would make sense to offer the engine in vehicles for domestic sale as well. The diesel engine would be a good option for the vans because of their torque capability and good mileage.
Gallery: 2008 Dodge Caravan
[Source: Automotive News - subscription required]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
66coronet 4:01PM (2/18/2008)
My mistake. MB2.2L crd OM651 is replacing the MB2.2L crd om646 & Vm 2.8Lcrd
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66coronet 4:11PM (2/18/2008)
I still wish there would be rumors on MB2.2Lcrd OM651 for the wrangler, cherokee/liberty, Dodge dakota and sport model of the sebring and dodge avenger. One level up from the VW2.0Lcrd.
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Dan 5:29PM (2/18/2008)
Sure, a Grand Caravan isn't exactly a small vehicle, but it's still mini compared to a full size van. Just look at the curb weight: Grand Caravan, 4300 lbs, GMC Savana, 5300 lbs.
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Tom 12:12PM (2/22/2008)
Maybe I'm reading it wrong, but it seems like there is a lot of minivan hate out there. As a family that has 4 kids, hate to say it but we need the space. Right now using a Grand Caravan (yes, need the cargo as well). Rather than force families like us into options that aren't feasible for the logistics of transporting so many people, it'd be nice to come up with an expanded array of options, so we could help contribute. We'd love to get a diesel.
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redtdi 8:45AM (9/13/2009)
Now if they had been having a diesel option this year I would now be driving one instead of the Hyundai I purchased.
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Phil L. 2:37PM (2/05/2007)
Great news. A diesel is ideally suited for most minivan use.
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Mike 12:39PM (2/06/2007)
but it's still a minivan...
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66coronet 2:21AM (2/07/2007)
Look at it. How mini is the mini van? Sure the first gen mini van was a mini van. You could acturally use a 4cyl to move it around. Now you need a V-6 to be a minimum to move it around. Plus the grand (LWB) version matches most standard vans in interior volume. It's just a better van to move people in comfort. The pt cruiser is more a mini van now.
As for the MB om646 2.2L crd replacing the VM 2.8Lcrd. That's big news no other place is reporting. I wonder if the new 2.2L crd will keep similar performance? 150hp 300Nm/221lb-ft from the pt cruiser or 109hp 280Nm, 129hp 305Nm & 150hp 330Nm from the sprinter or from the E220cdi 170hp 400Nm or C220cdi 150hp 315 Nm or C200cdi 122hp 270Nm?
So may versions. No one out put for this motor.
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Isuzu IPV 12:53PM (2/07/2007)
A 4 cylinder diesel is quite different from a 4 cyl gas. You get a great deal more power from the same size diesel. I owned a 15 passenger Isuzu van in the Philippines that got 35 mpg. It was peppy, and fun to drive. Under the hood, Isuzu's 2.5 liter direct inject diesel. My current Chevy 15 passenger gets 12 or 13 mpg if I'm good. If we're serious about cutting fuel prices and helping air quality, Americans have got to get over their love of super powerful engines.
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hhhh 12:32PM (1/20/2008)
volkswagon has ran succesful four cylinder diesels in their vans since the seventies or erlier. the 1.6 vw turbo diesel has plenty of power to spread around and get this 40+ mileage wowie. the vanagon westfalia isnt exactly a light weight vehiccle either. in fact my diesel rabbit can tow 3,000 pounds!!! iceicles!!
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