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Two-mode system in Aspen, Durango may adapt to sedans. (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080621/AUTO01/806210345/1148/rss25)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2007_Chrysler_300C_Hemi_V8.jpgEric Morath - Detroit News - June 21, 2008

BOSTON -- Chrysler LLC finally has a hybrid coming to market and executives promise it's just the beginning.

The Auburn Hills automaker, which debuted its new hybrid Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen here recently, says it could quickly and easily expand its environmentally friendly offerings.

"These are our first hybrids, but they are not going to be our last," Michael Berube, a senior manager for Chrysler brand marketing, told reporters taking test drives of the Hemi-powered hybrid SUVs this week. "In the future, hybrid and another fuel-saving technology will come in all sizes, shapes and colors."

Chrysler has partnered with General Motors Corp., Daimler AG and BMW AG in the development of a Two-Mode Hybrid System and intends to use the powertrain in future models. The most logical next vehicles are their rear-wheel drive sedans and trucks.

The Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen hybrids will hit dealerships in August, and Chrysler plans to follow next year with a hybrid version of the Dodge Ram pickup truck. The 4-by-4 Durango and Aspen, as well as the Ram pickup are all rear-wheel drive based vehicles.

Looking at Chrysler's lineup, executives hinted that the automaker's next hybrids could come in the form of its rear-wheel drive sedans, the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger; however, they declined to confirm development plans beyond the SUVs and the pickup truck.

The strategy of moving hybrids from Chrysler's largest vehicles down is not misguided, said Jack Nerad, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book.

"The ultra-environmentalist would say if you have to drive, you should drive the most fuel-efficient car possible," he said. "But if the goal is to cut fuel usage, hybridizing a Dodge Durango saves a lot more oil than moving from a gas (Toyota) Corolla to a Prius, and some people are still going to want SUVs."...http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080621/AUTO01/806210345/1148/rss25

Hey Nardelli is a overpaid pompous jerk - but this is really quick work if they really are on dealers lots by August.


Well Done Chrysler

"The ultra-environmentalist would say if you have to drive, you should drive the most fuel-efficient car possible," he said. "But if the goal is to cut fuel usage, hybridizing a Dodge Durango saves a lot more oil than moving from a gas (Toyota) Corolla to a Prius, and some people are still going to want SUVs."

With gas well over $4/gallon, people are going to realize that they really don't need SUV's, and the best thing to do is to switch from a Durango to a Corolla.

Harry

With gas well over $4/gallon, people are going to realize that they really don't need SUV's, and the best thing to do is to switch from a Durango to a Corolla.


Some people will always need an SUV/truck.

Now as for the large sedans now there is something we don't ned hybridized unless its pushing big numbers.

Ed Kim, (director of industry analysis at AutoPacific). Seems able to read the writing on the wall.


With or without a hybrid powertrain, "drive characteristics and everything that an SUV stands for is becoming increasing less popular," he said.
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Wow! Give that man a cigar! For he seems to have spotted a trend! :woot:

Hi All,

If you really need a big pickup, this could be a good next couple of years it seems. But Chrysler is really dropping the ball by not having a sedan out first with the dual mode hybrid system. This incessant "Save-the-SUV" stuff will be their undoing.

"The ultra-environmentalist would say if you have to drive, you should drive the most fuel-efficient car possible," he said. "But if the goal is to cut fuel usage, hybridizing a Dodge Durango saves a lot more oil than moving from a gas (Toyota) Corolla to a Prius, and some people are still going to want SUVs."

With gas well over $4/gallon, people are going to realize that they really don't need SUV's, and the best thing to do is to switch from a Durango to a Corolla.

Harry

Durango --> Prius right?

Chrysler has some new owners - they aren't sentimentalists, they are brutal numbers guys.



The fact that they were able to roll these Hybrid drivetrains out in a (for Detroit) short time frame - signals a rather big change in mindset.



Their choice of which models to offer in Hybrid has to do with the following:

1) Hybrid the models that are losing sales due to FE issues

2) Hybrid the models that are quickest to bring to market.


Why go Hybrid on the Caliber ? - Chrysler can't make 'em fast enough the Caliber is setting sales records left and right.

Durango --> Prius right?

Sure, but how many Durango drivers do you know would go from one extreme, a Durango, to the other, a Prius?

We can dream, I suppose...

Harry

"The ultra-environmentalist would say if you have to drive, you should drive the most fuel-efficient car possible," he said. "But if the goal is to cut fuel usage, hybridizing a Dodge Durango saves a lot more oil than moving from a gas (Toyota) Corolla to a Prius, and some people are still going to want SUVs."

With gas well over $4/gallon, people are going to realize that they really don't need SUV's, and the best thing to do is to switch from a Durango to a Corolla.

Harry

Change is slow. People where i'm at dont really need one but thats what their dad and granddad's had so thats what they think they are supposed to drive.

Lots of rural areas still and trucks are needed everyday.

SUV's on the other hand cant claim this defense.

Why go Hybrid on the Caliber ? - Chrysler can't make 'em fast enough the Caliber is setting sales records left and right.

I guess so! I just looked at the CALIBER SE PLUS on the web and it's seems to be a really nice ride. (If you like station wagons). ;)

If they can get them up to 45 mpg, they will have a really huge hit on their hands..

I for one am very happy to see at least one of the Micro Big Three to finally start to move faster than a snail. I/we have to cut Chrysler some slack due to the fact the new owners have not owned for a year yet, but they seem to be on a good road to change the way we look at the American auto and how it can compete with the rest of the worlds best.

I guess so! I just looked at the CALIBER SE PLUS on the web and it's seems to be a really nice ride. (If you like station wagons). ;)

If they can get them up to 45 mpg, they will have a really huge hit on their hands..

You can get the Caliber in Europe with a diesel that gets 40+ Hwy.

The Caliber is a great car - they will sell more than 200,000 of these this year (I'm including Caliber, Compass, and the other Jeep branded Caliber - they all are exact same car made in same plant, but with different nameplates ) Caliber alone will have 170,000 - 180,000 cars sold this year.

The 1.8 engine with manual is the hands of even a mild hypermiler would generate 37 -40 MPG. We might scoff at a 37 MPG, but the Claiber is a large family car.

Quality and Reliablity of the Caliber is really excellent.


I bet Chrysler could boost Caliber's '08 EPA to the 32- 36 range with just a few tweaks.


Thw Caliber Diesel isn't coming here soon - Its a VW engine and VW has a shortage of VW engines already.

And of course we have a shortage of Diesel fuel.

Which isn't so odd when you think about the 100 million diesel sucking trucks
that are in American roads this morning, speeding along at 85 MPH..

We should pity truckers - they will be a dwindling breed - expect to see their market share flatten out and then slowly drop over the next decade. There will be plenty excess capacity of diesel in the US by then.

"The ultra-environmentalist would say if you have to drive, you should drive the most fuel-efficient car possible," he said. "But if the goal is to cut fuel usage, hybridizing a Dodge Durango saves a lot more oil than moving from a gas (Toyota) Corolla to a Prius, and some people are still going to want SUVs."...

Chrysler, however, faces possible limitations in its future hybrid applications because its three development partners must agree on where to focus limited resources.

Chrysler is stuck between a rock and a hard place. They have limited capital and need to turn the company around. Making small coupes and sedans will probably not save Chrysler when Toyota and Honda already make them and they have a proven track record. Trucks and SUVs have, until recently, been Chrysler's highest profit making vehicles. Now they want to hold on to their dedicated truck and SUV customers and bring back their weak-adopter SUV and Truck customers who would still own these cars were it not for the high cost of gasoline. Enter the hybrid trucks and SUVs. The trick for Chrysler will be to deliver a vehicle which still has the performance that the ICE version has but with substantial gas mileage savings without raising the cost of the vehicle out of the means of their former customer base. Chrysler's would also have to avoid alienating the former mentioned customers while attracting the later mentioned customers. I have a feeling they might not convince customers to come back to trucks and SUVs and they may upset their customer base which wants trucks and SUVs with lots of raw power of the "HEMI!" variety.

"The ultra-environmentalist would say if you have to drive, you should drive the most fuel-efficient car possible," he said. "But if the goal is to cut fuel usage, hybridizing a Dodge Durango saves a lot more oil than moving from a gas (Toyota) Corolla to a Prius, and some people are still going to want SUVs."


People who can afford the really big SUV's really don't have to worry about the price of gasoline. They don't care.

The single parent who is driving a less expensive car is the one who needs an affordiable hybrid. It will save them lots of money.

These CEO's will never learn. They are all stupid.

I love having a FEW large hybrid vehicles for company (personal & bigger0 trucks that actually need this, but I agree its fuelish to keep concentrating all the tech there. If there wa a better reason like, we are in the truck development cycle so we will complete it and move to trucks, or Our hybrid systems are too heavy for lighter cars so we will install those as we continue devolopment, then I wouldn't be so annoyed. Focus at both ends of the spectrum.