Klegon, VP of product dev. says more diesels in the future

[hemiram]

It's about time one of the major automakers started a push for diesel engines.  The caliber gets 50 mpg over in europe with it's diesel engine. 

At the Chrysler's What's New preview of their 2008 lineup at their Chelsea, MI Proving Ground, executive VP of product development, Frank Klegon spoke about some of the companies powertrain plans for the next few years. While he didn't really get into too many specifics he did have some interesting things to say. Chrysler is definitely more bullish on diesels than their Detroit counterparts.

Over the next five to ten years Chrysler is predicting that diesels will reach a 10-15 percent share of the US market and hybrids will reach a similar penetration rate. Klegon also gave the assembled group a preview of what's coming as part of Chrysler's powertrain offensive in the next few years - now that the ownership question is settled they are moving full speed ahead.

I think it'll be closer to 20-25%, when people see the mpgs out of a diesel engine and not have to worry about batteries, they'll buy the diesel over the hybrid.

The new aluminum block Phoenix V-6 engine family will get a six to eight percent improvement in fuel economy thanks to cylinder deactivation and dual variable valve timing. Further efficiency improvements will come thanks the new dual clutch gearboxes that will be mated to the new engines.

It's about time a V6 got the mds.  It makes sense to have it for the hemi, but now people can get a V6 with mds and the hybrid powertrain for the V6 will make it that much more efficient.

The Phoenix V-6 is just one step on the powertrain upgrade path. The new global 2.4L four cylinder that Chrysler is using in all the new small and mid-sized vehicles is selling better than expected with seventy-three percent of Sebring buyers opting for the four instead of the six cylinder options. In the future this engine will be upgraded with direct fuel injection to enhance power and efficiency.

The 4.7L V-8 that's available in all the trucks just got a major redesign this year for more power and better efficiency. The more popular 5.7L Hemi will be getting similar upgrades in 2009, again enhancing power and efficiency.

I don't get why the 4.7 doesn't have mds in it yet.  Why not make those improvements while working on the phoenix?

Looking forward, Chrysler is planning to continue working with Mercedes Benz for more diesel applications. Chrysler is also partnering with Next Energy, Bosch and Michigan State University to establish biodiesel fuel standards. The standards that are expected by the end of the year will ensure that all B20 blends meet a minimum standard that car makers can test to ensure their engines work reliably. Another aspect of the partnership will be developing brownfield sites to grow crops for biodiesel production starting with sites in Detroit and at the Chelsea Proving Ground.

In the coming years we can expect to see Chrysler vehicles with the 3.0L V-6 used in the new Grand Cherokee as well as the new Mercedes 2.2L four cylinder. The V-6 will also get an emissions upgrade for 2009 to make it fifty-state legal. Also joining the fleet for 2009 will be a new fifty-state legal light duty Cummins diesel engine to compete with the similar engines from Ford and GM.

They'll stick those light duty ctds into every vehicle that can fit them.  I'd buy a challenger powered by the 4.2L V6 ctd, imagine all that low end torque plus 35 mpg

On the hybrid front, Chrysler will be announcing additional applications of both the new Two-Mode hybrid system as well as lower cost mild hybrid systems although Klegon wouldn't give details yet.

It'll be in every vehicle that has the hemi currently, that's for sure.

From: http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/06/21/chryslers-frank-klegon-on-whats-new-in-powertrains/

[95concord]

Good, hybrid cars aren't that green.  The mpg they get is atrocious compared similar sized cars.  It makes no sense to pollute the environment mining nickel to make batteries for a measly 7 mpg improvement.  The diesels get better mpg anyways without the need dig more holes in the earth and refine a precious metal.

[moparman]

Good, hybrid cars aren't that green.  The mpg they get is atrocious compared similar sized cars.  It makes no sense to pollute the environment mining nickel to make batteries for a measly 7 mpg improvement.  The diesels get better mpg anyways without the need dig more holes in the earth and refine a precious metal.

I didn't know that.  I thought the prius had like 65 mpg, does that mean that the non hybrid prius gets 58???

[gman]

Good, hybrid cars aren't that green.  The mpg they get is atrocious compared similar sized cars.  It makes no sense to pollute the environment mining nickel to make batteries for a measly 7 mpg improvement.  The diesels get better mpg anyways without the need dig more holes in the earth and refine a precious metal.

I didn't know that.  I thought the prius had like 65 mpg, does that mean that the non hybrid prius gets 58???

The prius only gets around 48 mpg, the nonhybrid version gets around 40.  And yes, the entire US needs more diesels - more power and better mpg for everyone.

[dodger098]

Yeah, electric hybrid cars are a waste, it's like a 10% improvement.  I kinda think that electric hybrid trucks are a waste too but at least with the gm vehicles its a 42% improvement event hough it's a smaller number of mpgs.

[05ram]

Yeah, electric hybrid cars are a waste, it's like a 10% improvement.  I kinda think that electric hybrid trucks are a waste too but at least with the gm vehicles its a 42% improvement event hough it's a smaller number of mpgs.

I think its more than 10% but its no where near economical in terms of getting your money back.

[NitroNanny]

I wouldnt mind having a diesel engine in my Ram or Nitro.  The wife might not like it as much but that's her problem, when she sees how much better mpgs we'll be getting she'll get over it.

[MegaTruck]

Good, I love my truck but I hate the mileage.  Having a diesel that got me in to the mid 20s would be nice but the cost of diesel needs to come down for that to make any sense.

[moparman]

Yeah, electric hybrid cars are a waste, it's like a 10% improvement.  I kinda think that electric hybrid trucks are a waste too but at least with the gm vehicles its a 42% improvement event hough it's a smaller number of mpgs.

I think its more than 10% but its no where near economical in terms of getting your money back.

Going from 40-48 mpg is close to 20% improvement, but still no where near worth the cost.  The new hybrid durango/aspen from dodge are going to have a 40% improvement.  That's huge, that'll save a lot more gallons of gas than going from 40 to 48.  I used to think toyota was a pretty green company but not if they're making a car that requires tons of batteries and only gets a 20% improvement on mpg.  No one ever thinks about the impact of making those batteries on the environment...

[06Hemiman]

I'd love to be running diesel in my truck if it made money sense.  The engine would get me around my fields in the mud a bit better but that's not enough for me to go out and get one.  It would have to get better mpgs to cost the offset of the diesel and then it would have to not cost a lot more than the gasser.  Of course I could always buy some extra vegetable oil off my neighbors

[flint]

Maybe this means diesel in my wrangler.  I could have the best bar none trail vehicle and get probably 30 mpg at the same time.  Not too shabby.

[speedinstyle]

Maybe this means diesel in my wrangler.  I could have the best bar none trail vehicle and get probably 30 mpg at the same time.  Not too shabby.

30 mpg on a wrangler???  Does that mean a diesel in a car like mine would get closer to 40?  How would it accelerate? 

[hemibob]

Maybe this means diesel in my wrangler.  I could have the best bar none trail vehicle and get probably 30 mpg at the same time.  Not too shabby.

30 mpg on a wrangler???  Does that mean a diesel in a car like mine would get closer to 40?  How would it accelerate? 

Yes it means that your car would probably get over 40.  I wouldn't be surprised to see the new CTD V8s that supposedly get 25 mpg in the Ram make their way into the LX cars.  The mileage would be great, but in the Ram the 0-60 is 1 second slower, that would be even greater in an LX car. 

You could reasonably assume that the same is true for the smaller diesels that chrysler would put into their cars.  Dunno how you feel about paying a lot more for fuel just to get some mpg, it probably evens out there economically.  Then you probably pay a premium for the engine, diesels and their emissions systems aren't cheap.  And top it all off the thing is slower.  Diesels may be great for some people but not for me.

[MegaTruck]

Maybe this means diesel in my wrangler.  I could have the best bar none trail vehicle and get probably 30 mpg at the same time.  Not too shabby.

30 mpg on a wrangler???  Does that mean a diesel in a car like mine would get closer to 40?  How would it accelerate? 

Yes it means that your car would probably get over 40.  I wouldn't be surprised to see the new CTD V8s that supposedly get 25 mpg in the Ram make their way into the LX cars.  The mileage would be great, but in the Ram the 0-60 is 1 second slower, that would be even greater in an LX car. 

You could reasonably assume that the same is true for the smaller diesels that chrysler would put into their cars.  Dunno how you feel about paying a lot more for fuel just to get some mpg, it probably evens out there economically.  Then you probably pay a premium for the engine, diesels and their emissions systems aren't cheap.  And top it all off the thing is slower.  Diesels may be great for some people but not for me.

You think that the cars can handle the engines?  Those are some pretty big engines with lots of emissions crap thrown in.  I don't know where you'd put it in a car.

[06Hemiman]

The current charger and 300 both have the 6.1L hemi in them, I think they could handle the new V8 cummins, it's a 5.7L too I think.  As far as emissions they'll find a way to tuck all that under the car.