Autoblog

Dodge Dart to use transmission from Hyundai

Zach Bowman — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, Dodge, Hyundai

Hyundai CEO John Krafcik has confirmed that the Korean automaker will supply Chrysler with transmissions for its new Dodge Dart, according to Car and Driver. While the two automakers may seem like odd dance partners, the tie-up makes plenty of sense. Both companies use engines born out of the now-defunct Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance with Mitsubishi. As a result, 2.0- and 2.4-liter four-cylinder engines found in the Dart share more than a few strands of DNA with the same displacement engines found under the hood of vehicles like the Hyundai Sonata. Needless to say, it shouldn't take too much effort to get the Hyundai gearbox and Chrysler engines to play nice.

We say "shouldn't" because according to Car and Driver, the American manufacturer is reportedly having issues getting the transmission properly calibrated to obtain the lofty fuel economy numbers necessary to satiate the powers that be in Washington. Chrysler hasn't confirmed the move as of yet, and Hyundai is keeping its lips sealed on which transmissions are headed to the Dart line. Even so, if Chrysler's engineers are struggling over calibration, chances are it's a six-speed automatic.

So... what about those lofty 40 miles per gallon claims claims Chrysler was bandying about at the Detroit Auto Show? C/D hypothesizes that figure may be reliant on a specific engine and transmission combination, be it turbocharged 1.4-liter turbo four-cylinder and a dual-clutch gearbox or a 2.0 and a six-speed manual. Curiouser and curiouser.

Dodge Dart to use transmission from Hyundai originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Fiat makes 500 engine plant in Michigan official

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, Fiat

Fiat currently owns 20 percent of Chrysler and can raise its stake to 35 percent once it satisfies three criteria: builds a plant in the U.S. to assemble fuel efficient engines; builds a 40 mpg car in the U.S. and expands Chrysler's international reach. For each milestone achieved, Fiat gets another five percent of Chrysler. The first hurdle looks like it will be cleared next year, with Fiat committing to building the 500's 1.4-liter, 92-horsepower engine in Dundee, Michigan at what was once the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance plant.

According to Automotive News, Fiat is putting $179 million into the location. Yet while the powerplants will be built in Michigan, they'll be shipped immediately to Mexico to be placed in the waiting engine bays of the cutest car in the world. That's because 500 production will happen at Fiat's Toluca, Mexico factory. Half of those finished cars will come to America, half will go to Brazil, with sales predicted to begin at the end of next year.

As for what to make of the alliance so far, and recent news like Chrysler's speak-no-evil plans for Detroit Auto Show, Fiat CEO Marchionne said that it is going to take two years "to show some real results. We'll try and do it faster," he said, "but by the end of 2011 and in early 2012, you should be able to tell how our plan is working."

[Sources: Automotive News - sub. req.; Drive.com.au | Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty]

REPORT: Fiat makes 500 engine plant in Michigan official originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler officially done building engines with Hyundai, Mitsubishi

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, Hyundai, Mitsubishi

In a terse statement issued last night, Chrysler made official what had been expected for at least a couple of weeks: The Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance is no more. Chrysler Group LLC has bought out its former partners Hyundai and Mitsubishi, and the Dundee, MI engine plant that builds Chrysler's four-cylinder engines for a variety of vehicles is now wholly owned by the company.

No buyout price was announced and the status of the engine designs was not mentioned. Presumably, the Japanese and Korean automakers which also build versions of the same engines will be allowed to continue doing so for the foreseeable future at their own manufacturing facilities. Mitsubishi uses a version of this engine in the latest versions of its Lancer, including the EVO. The Dundee plant began production in 2005.

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Chrysler officially done building engines with Hyundai, Mitsubishi

Chrysler officially done building engines with Hyundai, Mitsubishi originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Chrysler could pull out of Global Engine alliance, put Fiat diesel in Ram

Sam Abuelsamid — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 11:56:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, Fiat, Diesel

As Chrysler moves forward with its post bankruptcy product plans, it's looking increasingly like consolidation with new partner Fiat is the order of the day. Following the cancellation of the platform sharing deal with Nissan, it appears as if the company's interest in the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance could be the next victim. The agreement in question was formed early this decade between what was then DaimlerChrysler, Hyundai and Mitsubishi to produce common four-cylinder engines for the three automakers. Since then, variants of the engine design have turned up in cars as diverse as the Jeep Compass and Patriot, Hyundai Sonata and Mitsubishi Lancer.

Part of Fiat's rationale for getting involved with Chrysler was the expanding economies of scale for its own products. That means future Chryslers will almost certainly get Italian designed fours to go with the company's new Phoenix V6. It's not clear what the fate of the five-year-old Dundee, MI engine plant that supplies the Chrysler engines will be. If the alliance is dissolved, it could be taken over by Chrysler-Fiat and re-tooled to build Fiat-based engines.

Automotive News is also reporting that the Ram diesel could get a new lease on life. However, the planned Cummins 5.0-liter V8 could be replaced by - you guessed it - a Fiat diesel.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

REPORT: Chrysler could pull out of Global Engine alliance, put Fiat diesel in Ram originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 Aug 2009 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai exec talks engine sharing with Mercedes-Benz

Michael Harley — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:33:00 EST

Hyundai, now a world-class engine manufacturer, may lend engine technology to Mercedes-Benz for a future four-cylinder powerplant. It was just a few short years ago that DaimlerChrysler, Mitsubishi, and Hyundai banded together in the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA) to build the so-called World Engine (pictured at right). The GEMA engine, with displacements ranging from 1.8-liters up to 2.4-liters, is found under the hood of more than a handful of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Mitsubishi, and Hyundai products.

While word isn't official, Dr. Hyun-Soon Lee, President of the R&D and Corporate Product Planning and Strategy Divisions of Hyundai-Kia Motors, told Automobile Magazine that he had been approached by Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG, at the Beijing Auto Show about partnering on a four-cylinder powerplant. Dr. Lee didn't disclose the rest of the conversation, but he did add, "I am not sure we want to share our technology." With the hot Genesis Coupe and luxurious Genesis Sedan ready to roll, and distinguished Mercedes-Benz knocking on the front door, it appears Hyundai's hard work is paying off.

[Source: Automobile Magazine]

Hyundai exec talks engine sharing with Mercedes-Benz originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 May 2008 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No, it doesn't have a Hemi - Chrysler to expand use of new four-banger

Eric Bryant — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 06:41:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Daimler

Faced with the effect of rising fuel costs and blessed with a capable new line of four-cylinder "World Engines", Chrysler has stated that it will expand its offerings of vehicles with smaller motors - a drastic departure from the Hemi proliferation that has brought the automaker showroom success.

Currently, the automaker offers I4s in four vehicles, with another two on the way by the end of this year, but Chrysler is said to be considering adding an option for one in other models that now offer nothing smaller than a V6. One such model may be the 2007 Jeep Wrangler, which is currently available in the US with only a V6 despite a long history of offering a standard I4. Chrysler also limited four-banger availability in its minivan line-up.

[Source: Bloomberg via Detroit News]

No, it doesn't have a Hemi - Chrysler to expand use of new four-banger originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 18 Jun 2006 06:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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