Chrysler Executive VP Frank Klegon on new powertrain plans
During the What's New for 2008 preview that Chrysler held at their proving ground yesterday, Executive Vice-President Frank Klegon provided some hints about the company's powertrain plans for the next few years. We've already heard about the two new and one re-tooled engine plants that will be building Chrysler's lineup of Phoenix V6 engines. The new engines will replace the current units in 2009 and will be built with aluminum cylinder blocks, dual variable valve timing and cylinder deactivation to allow them to run on three cylinders under light load conditions. They'll also get six to eight percent better mileage than the current sixes. Fuel economy will be further improved by matching the engines up with the new dual clutch gearboxes that Chrysler and Getrag will be building in Indiana. Klegon also provided information on upgrades to the rest of the gas engine lineup, new diesel engines and hybrids. You can read all the rest of the details over at AutoblogGreen.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
FThorn 8:37AM (6/22/2007)
I'd like the Klingon cloaking device technology. (I know..Romulan)
Reply
MrMorix 9:00AM (6/22/2007)
How about they focus on fixing their cars interiors? I had the unique experience of having an Avenger as a rental car for a week. The exterior is a little better than average but let me tell you I have never seen an interior of such low quality in the past 7 years. Poor interior design and on top of all that the HUGE blindspots around the C-pillars. Even the key is a bad design. Everytime I started the car I activated the keyless door lock button. I put my cell in the center console and my hand would hit the hazzard button. I turn the steering wheel left and my hand activated the cruise control. The I-4 sounded extremely harsh too! Seriously I would put the quality of the materials on par with my sister-in-laws old car a 1991 Ford Festiva. One of the better things about the car was I loved the head-unit. A much better design than the older ones of Chrysler. I'm just glad I didn't pay more than $13 a day or else this would have been going back.
Reply
Don 4:04PM (6/22/2007)
I had a very similar experience my rental, a new Chrysler Sebring...ugh, what a stinker.
Mark S 11:44AM (6/22/2007)
Mr. Morix -
Chrysler is working on their interiors, and not just with beverage coolers.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070607/AUTO01/706070338/1148
Reply
MrMorix 9:08PM (6/22/2007)
Don't take my "constructive criticism" as bashing. I'm true supporter of everything domestic. 2 out of 3 of my vehicles are domestics. Honestly it just really caught me off guard. I would have never expected for an interior to look like that on something so new.
Petey 10:28AM (6/22/2007)
The announcements are pretty tame... max 8% increase in efficiency for their Phoenix V6.. Honda does that every model generation.
Reply
Aaron 11:20AM (6/22/2007)
Overall very good news. They've needed this for a long time, but the munchausen set in germany wouldn't free up the coin..
I'd expect haterade from the posters here.
Petey, this is a next generation they are talking about and with cylinder deactivation an the new transmissions they should be much more efficient.
Mr.morix, I seem to recall Gillies and others talking about this being addressed as well. I guess they would steer clear about talking interiors when the press conference is about powertrains.. lmao..
Reply
Don 4:05PM (6/22/2007)
It's not haterade, it's just that Chrysler should have been doing this all along.
Aaron 4:15PM (6/22/2007)
I don't disagree they should have been, but when they are alotted money from daimler to work on a replacement for the crossfire while getting their small car axed, they didn't exactly have the leeway to do what they should have.
That I guess is the kicker.
As mentioned in a recent interview with bob sheaves on autoblog the idea of financial allocations being done through cerberus will be different.
------------------
Are the bean counters at Cerberus likely to cut minor costs like switch lighting and material surfaces more or less than currently?
A: Everything will be evaluated. The difference is that, in my opinion, engineering will be allowed to define the operating parameters to justify a higher cost part. It will not be just about money. If a solid business case can be made, money will be allocated.
-----------------------------
So rather than expensing nice materials for a chilled cupholder due to finite resources they will be able to make a case for each and be allowed to do so on that merit.
and yes from what I see there is a lot of haterade for the domestics here (from comments). Domestics basically can't do anything right - regardless. any great idea should have been around 5 years ago, and any bad news is a told you so.
F451 11:33AM (6/22/2007)
Blah, blah, blah, blah...I wouldn't touch a Chrysler product with a ten foot pole until the prove themselves again, so maybe in about, oh, two decade from now?
Reply
Aaron 4:25PM (6/22/2007)
f451,
sounds like a hastily put together commentary. what happened?
Did your mom come downstairs and tell you to get off the computer?
Mark indeed you're right, but evidently chrysler should talk about interior design at a powertrain meeting... lol..
Barney 1:43AM (6/23/2007)
On a fresh start and going for V6 technology. Perhaps they haven't heard of the ever increasing gas prices. Oil companies will be making the same profits on less gas BUT more profits if gas is being used. Perhaps alternative technology should be the new start. Hybrids for now.
Reply