Diesel back in the picture at Chrysler, start-stop in Q4 2010
Based on the presentation by Paolo Ferrero at the Chrysler business plan meeting in Auburn Hills today, it sure sounds like diesel is back in the picture at Chrysler. Prior to the Daimler-Chrysler divorce, there were lots of plans for diesel installations in U.S.-market Chryslers. That all fell by the wayside during the Cerberus era. Ferraro, the new SVP of powertrain engineering at Chrysler, repeatedly mentioned diesel as one of the paths to reduced fuel consumption, although he didn't give any specific dates on when they might be introduced in the U.S.
Ferraro did say that Chrysler would "Reinforce the Clean Diesel Image" and adapt Fiat engines to Chrysler vehicles. He also said they would apply aftertreatment technologies to meet 2015 European and U.S. emissions standards.
Ferraro went on to say that Chrysler would add automatic start-stop beginning in the 2011 model year and showed a diagram of a 2010 Jeep Wrangler diesel in Q4 2010. A Wrangler diesel is offered overseas but will switch to Fiat engines next year. Hopefully, Fiat will start bringing these diesels to the U.S., too.
[Source: Chrysler]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mark Kiernan 5:02PM (11/04/2009)
Does Chrysler not have any family car EVs on the horizon?
Reply
skierpage 11:42PM (11/04/2009)
I think January 2009 Chrysler introduced its ENVI program -- the Dodge (Lotus) EV sports car, the Jeep EV, and the Dodge EV minivan -- and said "Chrysler intends to bring advanced, electric-drive vehicles to market quickly" ... "Ability to own one of these electric vehicles as soon as 2010". Now the ENVI pages on ChryslerGroupLLC.com are all redirected or broken. There's still info at https://www.fleet.chrysler.com/fleetcda/portal?pageid=34812a31de0a9110VgnVCM100000e9261c35RCRD
In slides from today's announcement floating around the web, that's all been pushed *way* back. The only 2010 vehicle is a Dodge RAM 1500 hybrid, in 2011 there's a PHEV minivan for "DOE Grant PHEV Demo Fleet", and commercialization follows years later. There's nothing definite at all for BEVs except an unidentified "Light Commercial" (Fiat?) BEV van in 2012. None of the BEV ENVI models appear on the slide.
However, "Chrysler Group is lead engineering center for hybrid/electrification for Chrysler & Fiat Group." Based on ... the sales of a few dozen Asspen hybrids before it was discontinued?!!
I wish Fiat+Chrysler well, but an also-ran in Europe with stretched finances and one cute small car is not in a strong position for the coming shift.
skierpage 11:47PM (11/04/2009)
I was mistaken, Chrysler's site still has some ENVI pages in a new location (for now) and https://www.chryslergroupllc.com/innovation/envi_gem_faq still says "We will have one vehicle on the road by 2010. "
I guess they mean, literally, one vehicle.
EV-1 7:47PM (11/04/2009)
@ "xuchaoxiong0023"
what do you want ?
( as in : " W-H-A-T___D-O___Y-O-U___W-A-N-T ?????????? + !!!!!!!!!! " )
Your pride's so puny you're having this perversed urge to try and get all others pissed off ? Is that it ? You're incapable of doing anything good and constructive ? So you have to try anything else - no matter what ?
I pity you
Reply
EV-1 7:54PM (11/04/2009)
" Reduced fuel consumption 3 - 5 % CO2 "
GO DIE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU TRAITORS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MAY YOU DROWN IN THE FLOOD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TAKE YOUR GREED AND SHOVE IT WHERE THE SUN DON'T SHINE !!!!!!!!!!!!!
I PRAY YOUR CRAP GETS BANNED ALL TOGETHER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
God help us.
Amen.
Reply
Nixon 12:06AM (11/05/2009)
Either a 2-door 6-cyl diesel Rubicon with a MANUAL transmission, or any kind of 2-door Rubincon with electric drive of some sort would be great for me.
Reply
VW JUNKY 8:28AM (11/05/2009)
Nixon, see you at the jeep dealer when these bad boys arrive! Rubicon 4 door manual 30 mpg. I am all over that!