Chrysler Plans an Extreme Make Over for Its Hemi
In the name of “being green” and more fuel efficient, the well known Chrysler Hemi V8 engine is about to get a hybrid make over. Chrysler Aspens and Durangos equipped with the infamous Hemi currently get approximately 13 MPG in the city and 18 on the highway. The planned hybrid conversion is projected to take those vehicles to 18.2 MPG in the city and 22.5 MPG on the highway. If you do the math, the estimated increase comes to 29% for the city and 20% for the highway. Compare those numbers to gains realized when upgrading to a hybrid version of the Toyota Camry (24/34 MPG for a standard Camry to 40/38 MPG for a hybrid Camry), and you’ll agree — Chrysler doesn’t have much to brag about.
Rather than leverage hybrid technology to its fullest and create a truly efficient engine, Chrysler has opted to use hybrid technology as a marketing gimmick. Obviously, Chrysler believes that slapping the word “hybrid” on the side of a vehicle appeals to the consumer’s growing desire to be “green” and to save money at the pump; however, Chrysler’s projected gains with the hybrid makeover won’t make much of a difference. The upgrade isn’t enough to significantly reduce the release of harmful Co2 gases or save drivers cash when filling up.
American car makers just don’t get it when it comes to hybrid technology. Matter of fact, they just don’t get it when it comes to alternative, clean emission, highly efficient modes of transportation. For some reason they believe that American car buyers only want gas drinking monster sized vehicles. The growing success of Toyota’s line of hybrid cars makes it very clear that American bar buyers want something different. We want highly fuel efficient less Co2 emitting vehicles. We don’t want just a “word” slapped on to our cars to make us “feel good.”
Barry’s 2-Cents:
I recently rented a Chrysler Aspen with a Hemi and it was a sweet ride until you had to fill it up. However, I cannot see powering the Aspen or anything comparable in curb weight with anything less than an 8-cylinder. The curb weight I believe is the deciding factor on how much of a MPG increase you are going to see with a hybrid version. While I am sure Chrysler’s marketing department was involved in voting for a hybrid Hemi, only actual sales will determine if the public considers it a worthy investment. If sales are less than expected, Chrysler can go back to the drawing board to get the MPG up to par with the consumer’s expectations for a hybrid or hope for a new generation of muscle car enthusiasts with bottomless bank accounts.
Technorati Tags: fuel efficient, Chrysler Hemi, hybrid, MPG
on June 8th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
I drive a very large vehicle, a Chevrolet Avalanche. Currently I get about 16 mpg city and 22 mpg highway. And it is not a hybrid. If Chrysler wants to merely increase gas mileage, they just need to copy Chevy.
I would love to drive a highly efficient motor vehicle. Unfortunately, a hybrid will not pull my 7000 pound tractor and trailer load.
I would buy another vehicle to save gas. Unfortunately, it costs a lot more money than I would save in gas. Maybe someone should lobby for free, high gas mileage vehicles with free insurance to make it economical for people like me to switch.
Another thing, no one has actually proved that CO2 gases cause Global Warming. As far as we can tell, warming has been occurring naturally since the “mini” ice age in the 1700s and 1800s. I remember that the environmental “scientists” calling for a coming ice age during the 70s.
We should clean the air because it is the right thing to do. Not because of lies and deceptions.
on June 9th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
I don’t know everything there is to know about hybrid technology but I suspect the technology has not progressed far enough to make it a reasonable alternative in all situations: the need to pull heavy loads is probably one situation where a hybrid is probably not practical — for now at least. Diesel engines, on the other hand, are ideal for pulling heavy equipment, and can be quite efficient. Diesel technology has progressed very far from the days of the “black-cloud-start-up-exhaust.” Today’s diesels are quieter, more efficient, and burn cleaner than ever before. Unfortunately, some of the most advanced diesel vehicles never make it into this country. Why? I have no idea.