Associated Press, 6-21-07
Unfortunately, it doesn't mention anything about 6-cylinder Challengers.


TOM KRISHER
ASSOCIATED PRESS
DETROIT — With higher government fuel economy requirements looming and gas costing about $3 per gallon, Chrysler Group on Thursday announced new measures to boost mileage for its cars and trucks.
The company announced that its new family of V-6 engines would have the ability to drop to three cylinders when less power is needed, raising the fuel economy by 6 to 8 percent.
The company also plans to place its new two-mode hybrid powertrain in more vehicles in its fleet, put a clean diesel engine in the 2009 Jeep Cherokee sport utility vehicle, and alter its 5.7-liter Hemi and 4.7-liter V-8 engines for better gas mileage.
Frank Klegon, executive vice president for product development, said the company is making the investments in anticipation of stronger government fuel economy requirements.
“We're moving forward with real urgency to improve fuel efficiency across our entire lineup,” Klegon said.
Congress is wrangling over increased government fuel economy standards for automakers. A Senate bill would require a manufacturer's fleetwide average of 35 miles per gallon for passenger cars, pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles and vans by 2020, an increase of about 10 mpg from current levels. Under the plan, automakers would need to boost fuel economy by 4 percent per year from 2020 to 2030.
The industry is backing an alternative measure offered by two Michigan senators. It would require carmakers to meet a fleetwide average of at least 36 mpg for cars by 2022 and 30 mpg for pickups, SUVs and vans by 2025.
Klegon said a single standard for cars and trucks would hurt Chrysler because 70 percent of its lineup is built on truck underpinnings. Generally, truck-based vehicles are less fuel efficient than cars.
In the 2006 Environmental Protection Agency corporate average fuel economy rankings, DaimlerChrysler AG's fleet, including Chrysler, was the worst at 19.1 mpg. Honda Motor Co. led all manufacturers with 24.2 mpg.
Chrysler also said it would offer a “mild hybrid” powertrain within the next few years. Mild hybrids weigh and cost less than full gas-electric hybrid motors, but allow the engines to shut down at stops, saving fuel, Chrysler said.
The company will explore the possibility of a four-cylinder diesel engine for North America. It also plans to add a new fuel-efficient dual-clutch transmission to its lineup with 2010 model vehicles.
The company said it also has new, more efficient axle technology that will spread to more models, and it plans weight, drag and rolling resistance reductions, as well as aerodynamic improvements on all of its models.

 

These solutions are a waste of money if you ask me. The hybrid systems really don't work in real world results. Chrysler doesn't need a whole new Phoenix V6 line to get better fuel economy, they just need to use the right technology with the right engines in the right vehicles. The SUV/truck line should get rid of the 3.7L Powertech and replace it with a V6 version of the 5.7L Hemi and keep the MDS offering. This would not only produce much better power, better fuel economy, but it would also lower costs since the 5.7L is supposively cheaper than the 4.7L to produce. This should also be used in the LX and LY cars instead of the SOHC multivalve engines. They should add VVT and Direct Injection to the 3.5L as well as the 3.3L and 3.8L and look into the possibility of MDS on those engines as well. They should also give the cars taller gearing to help as well and offer diesels throughout the fleet and lose the 2.7L V6.

Most of where the bad fuel economy comes from is most likely from MB. I would like to see Chrysler evaluated by itself. Also Chrysler needs a real economy car again.