Jim Press: Every Chrysler to have alternative option
by Chris Shunk on Oct 2nd 2007 at 8:35AM 
Cerberus has opened up the corporate wallet, and Chrysler is spending the cash to infuse their lineup with alternative powertrains. New Chrysler product boss Jim Press told the Detroit News that diesels, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and diesel-hybrids are among the technologies "in the mix," and that every vehicle will eventually have an alternative to the gasoline combustion engine. Full electric and hybrid-only models are also on the table, as Chrysler looks to shift away from the heavy, fuel thirsty body on frame SUVs that dominate the automaker's current lineup. Press didn't give any dates when we can expect all these alternatives to hit a dealer near you, but we do know the two-mode hybrid Durango will start the green parade in 2009.With the bold statement by Mr. Press and Chrysler's project "ENVI," the Pentistar sounds serious about putting metal into motion using oil burners and electricity. With the Auburn Hills-based automaker behind all other major automakers in the hybrid race, it seems that Chrysler's pro green stance couldn't have come soon enough.
[Source: Detroit News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Anonymust 8:44AM (10/02/2007)
Was reading this article this morning. This is quite a team that Cerebus has assembled. If these guys do what I think they are going to do, Chrysler is going to be a much leaner, meaner animal. All we can do is 'wait and see'.
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Glenn 10:02PM (10/02/2007)
Didn't anyone recall that Toyota basically cancelled ALL its upcoming hybrids because they messed up on the battery technology (huge delay to the point of skipping a generation of vehicles). The Prius was the ONLY model to be given the okay and it had to be modified to incorporate their CURRENT battery technology.
BTW .. the H2 has almost HALF the environmental impact they are saying. Major problem with the Prius is that the batteries use a lot of nickle (Canada the main source) -- nicke production has just terrible environomental damage, Toyota is taking something like 1/7 of Canada's entire production for use in the Prius. Then it needs to make a 10,000 mile voyage over to China where they are the only place that will make the actual batteries (very toxic process).
The final reason also is that Toyota has "estimated" the Prius average lifespan to only 100,000 miles due "new" technology and cost to maintain the older technology being limiting longterm ownership. The H2 has a estimated lifespan of close to 300,000 miles due to its very heavy framing etc.
This is not to say the H2 is the way to go (far from it) -- but to make the point that their are much much better ways to go once people get beyone the marketing of these companies.
Philip 9:01AM (10/02/2007)
It seems like GM is on this big time with the Saturn Aura, Tahoe, Yukon all having the two mode Hybrid.
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FrankTheCrank 8:59AM (10/02/2007)
Give it up Detroit...you guys could care less about Hybrids. Leave it to Honda and Toyota. At least they know what they're doing. They can actually execute hybrids rather well. While you guys continue to sell your big doughty cars.
Will you ever learn? Early 70's?? Remember, you had big cars...and Toyota and Honda started dropping little gas sippers. Guess you'll never learn.
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Stumper 9:28AM (10/02/2007)
This is possibly the most retarded post I've ever seen. Congratulations
SuperSkyline89 9:51AM (10/02/2007)
I personally think that the American approach to making quality vehicles (that includes fast cars) is - or at least up till now, who knows how things might change - but I have to agree with Stumper. The Americans now know that they suck and they are trying to change that. So they deserve some credit. Hopefully they also realize that hybrids aren't the final answer to global warming. Some people (read: me) don't want to give up the energy potential of gasoline, I wouldn't drive a hybrid. I would however drive a car that runs on Ethanol or Bio-Diesel since the power potential is equal to or greater than that of gasoline and it still saves the environment and doesn't fund the countries that fund terrorism.
FrankTheCrank 12:54PM (10/02/2007)
Stumper & Superskyline,
Where is Detroit's answer to the Prius? The Prius has been out now for close to 10 years and Detroit still hasn't got an answer for it. Honda's been doing the same for just as long. The Insight was around forever.
My point is, put your money where your mouth is. Detroit keeps talking smack but produces very little to back it up. And at this point, they should just give it up. I hope the Volt knocks my socks off. But I have very little confidence in GM.
Detroit does one thing well....yap, yap, yap, yap...all lip service. And look at whose number two now, Toyota.
Stumper 2:20PM (10/02/2007)
How about the upcoming Volt???
Plus, the Prius is WORSE for the environment than a Tahoe is. The factory that produces those batteries has obliterated the ecosystem for ~5miles around it to the point that NASA tested the Mars rover there.
geo.stewart 9:16AM (10/02/2007)
I know its a little quibble but I've always known Chrysler to go by Pentastar, not Pentistar?
Autoblog has used Pentistar on too many occasions for it to be a typo. I think the last time you used Pentastar was in May with the revival of the Pentastar logo...
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Jason 9:22AM (10/02/2007)
All they need now is to offer an alternative to the standard crap interior.
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AlfaMike 9:56AM (10/02/2007)
True - better interiors would be nice - but this is a step in the right direction. It is a nice new management team and you've got to love Jim Press' track record.
And why is the new Chrysler management team so much more plausible when they talk about a lot of new hybrid models than GM and their Volt "looks Super Cool but will never happen" PR campaigns?
Kumar 9:28AM (10/02/2007)
Chrysler cars are released in europe with diesels, even with vw's diesels inside of them. It's time they develop a better partnership with a company that's much farther ahead on the diesel game.
PSA, VW, Subie...
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Avinash machado 9:32AM (10/02/2007)
Subaru?
Kakairo 9:40AM (10/02/2007)
Alternative powertrains for all? Does this mean we're going to see a hybrid Viper?
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SuperSkyline89 9:45AM (10/02/2007)
Hopefully not, that would just be wrong. On the other hand, a biodiesel or ethanol version would be good, I would buy that but a hybrid Viper is just wrong. Even if they did make one, Vipers are driven hard, the gas engine would do all the grunt work and you probably wouldn't get much better mileage or pollute less.
J. D. Billiford 11:30AM (10/02/2007)
>>> I don't believe the Viper would be included in this program. But then again, if the company were to develope some breakthrough technology that would offer the same or similar performance, it could be a possibility.
It does raise an interesting question, doesn't it?
BassClef 12:01PM (10/02/2007)
Maybe a diesel Viper? Wasn't the Toureg V-10 TDi ~500 hp? I could live with that (if i had $90,000 laying around, that is.)
Shane 1:45PM (10/02/2007)
Just think of a biodiesel Viper, that would get more power and actualy have some gas mileage to it. Or even a full electric one..that would be sweet.
Before anyone attacks me on the full electric viper comment, please check out Telsa.com. They have a full electric sports car and beats just about anything out there.
mdm-adph 9:51AM (10/02/2007)
Sure, diesel-hybrids, sure -- I'll believe it when I see it, and I'm not bothering to hold my breath.
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Whiplash 9:59AM (10/02/2007)
I looked at the Hybrid Hemi badge and immediately thought of the fat chick in front of me at Jack in the Box ordering an ultimate cheeseburger, large curlies..... and a small diet coke.
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