New hemi is rated for less than the Ram

[squat]

The new Hemi in the charger is rated for 370 HP and 398 ft-lbs torque.  It also has a 5% increase in fuel economy.  I wonder why there is 20 HP difference between the charger and the Ram (390).

[06Hemiman]

The truck has to compete with the tundra which has like 380 hp.  Plus people buying the sedans are still worried about mileage.

[dodgerider]

The truck has to compete with the tundra which has like 380 hp.  Plus people buying the sedans are still worried about mileage.

Yeah, the truck can handle more HP since it's already heavy duty (compared to cars).  A charger with a lot more HP going to the axle would require a heavier duty differential to transfer that power.  Plus I'd imagine that less HP on the car means more mpg.

[gman]

I think it's the mpg thing too.  The charger hemi gets 25 highway now (right?) so if they can up the hp and increase mpg as much as possible they should do it.

[Mr Anderson]

I think it's the mpg thing too.  The charger hemi gets 25 highway now (right?) so if they can up the hp and increase mpg as much as possible they should do it.

If they hindered the HP to increase mpg then you'd think that it would have better than a 5% gain, the Ram is supposed to have a 5% gain.  I think it has to do with the driveshaft not being able to take the HP/torque among other things.  It could also be a reliability thing, the Ram has to have higher ratings because of the tundra, but the charger doesn't compete with anyone like that.  So they depower the charger to make sure that the engine/transmission last longer.

[gman]

I think it's the mpg thing too.  The charger hemi gets 25 highway now (right?) so if they can up the hp and increase mpg as much as possible they should do it.

If they hindered the HP to increase mpg then you'd think that it would have better than a 5% gain, the Ram is supposed to have a 5% gain.  I think it has to do with the driveshaft not being able to take the HP/torque among other things.  It could also be a reliability thing, the Ram has to have higher ratings because of the tundra, but the charger doesn't compete with anyone like that.  So they depower the charger to make sure that the engine/transmission last longer.

Now that I think about it I'd have to agree.  The charger is a lighter more aerodynamic vehicle, why would it still only have a 5% increase?  Their must be some kind of physics involved their that has to do with weight being the driving factor for mpg.

[flint]

Back in the day it used to be the same HP from the same engine/transmission combo in every vehicle.  But with computers these days in the cars they can regulate it to whatever they want.  It'll get a lot more computerized in the future too so this is what we'll have to look forward too.

[jeepers]

It's got to be the case of mpg + durability + reliability.  There isn't much to question here.