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Chrysler eyes diesel minivans for U.S.
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Author:  no-blue-screen [ Mon Feb 05, 2007 5:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Chrysler eyes diesel minivans for U.S.
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a ... 05002/1528

Chrysler eyes diesel minivans for U.S.
By BRADFORD WERNLE | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS
8:34 am, February 5, 2007
DETROIT -- The Chrysler group is strongly considering selling diesel-powered minivans in North America as early as 2010.

"We're contemplating it," said Jason Vines, Chrysler's chief spokesman.

Talk of a diesel minivan is another indication that Chrysler is looking at a broad lineup of diesel-powered cars and light trucks in a few years. A Mercedes-Benz diesel engine under development will make it possible to meet U.S. emissions requirements.

The case for fuel-efficient diesels is growing because engineers are designing technology to make them cleaner and more powerful. Also, low-sulfur diesel fuel arrived at U.S. pumps last year. The fuel enables diesels to meet stringent new emissions standards.

But diesel engines are more costly to produce than comparable gasoline engines. Diesels have complex equipment to clean emissions and inject fuel at high pressures.

Vines said Chrysler CEO Tom LaSorda will announce sometime this year which vehicles will get diesel engines. Now, the company has confirmed only one new diesel-powered vehicle, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which goes on sale in March in 45 states. Five states including California have rigorous emissions requirements that the engine can't match.

Heavier weight class

The Grand Cherokee will feature a Mercedes 3.0-liter V-6 diesel. Chrysler also sells Dodge Ram diesel pickups, but they are in a heavier weight class with less stringent emissions requirements.

A new diesel engine under development also improves the case for more diesel-powered vehicles for Chrysler.

In 2010, Chrysler will start using a 2.2-liter, four-cylinder Mercedes diesel engine.

The engine will be assembled at the DaimlerChrysler plant in Unterturkheim, Germany, says Andrew Fulbrook, an analyst for consultant CSM Worldwide in London.

The engine, code-named OM651, uses a dual-stage turbocharger to extract high power and torque from a relatively small displacement. With variable output, dual-stage turbochargers help engines deliver better performance over a wider range of revolutions per minute.

A typical four-cylinder, dual-stage turbodiesel can produce as much torque as a V-8 gasoline engine.

"You're getting into the realms of high-performance diesel," says Fulbrook.

The dual-stage turbo, developed by BorgWarner Inc., is sold only on two six-cylinder models in Europe, the BMW 535D and 335D. Fulbrook says the new Mercedes engine will be equipped with the Mercedes Bluetec system. That will enable it to run as cleanly as a gasoline engine and meet U.S. emissions requirements that will take effect in 2010.

Minivans moving to U.S.

Also improving the case for diesels in Chrysler minivans is the company's plan to drop diesel-minivan production in Austria this year and move it to the United States.

At a plant in Graz, Austria, Magna Steyr produced for Chrysler 26,867 Voyagers and Grand Voyagers last year. The decision to consolidate production in two North American factories means the Grand Voyager, including diesel and right-hand-drive versions for the United Kingdom, likely will be made at Chrysler's St. Louis South plant.

Chrysler recently invested $1 billion in the plant so it could assemble more models simultaneously. Buzz Hargrove, president of the Canadian Auto Workers union, says he has good reason to believe the European minivans will be made in St. Louis -- not in Windsor, Ontario, where Chrysler also makes minivans.

For the next couple of years, all diesel Grand Voyagers for Europe will be powered by the same 2.8-liter, four-cylinder diesel engine -- code-named 428MAJOR -- in the current model, says Fulbrook. Chrysler buys that engine from VM Motori S.p.A. in Cento, Italy.

When the 2.2-liter Mercedes is available in 2010, it eventually will replace all the VM Motori engines. CSM's forecast calls for several thousand diesel minivans powered by the new engine to be reserved for U.S. production.
Author:  Jeger [ Mon Feb 05, 2007 8:05 pm ]
Post subject: 
If they are going to use the same engine as in the C 220 CDI that would be sweet. That little engine I believe matches the horsepower and torque of our VM 2.8, and is super quiet to boot. Good news indeed. Thanks for the info. 8)
Author:  Flying J [ Mon Feb 05, 2007 11:28 pm ]
Post subject: 
I'm all for small diesels, but Chrysler better get thier act together with service and reliability first. We CRD guys put up with a lot of tinkering and having to mod a brand new vehicle just to make it run right, but can you imagine an average soccer mom putting up with the maintenance-intensiveness and headaches of a CRD?

Of course, Mercedes seems to be able to make it work, so maybe if Chrysler stops trying to nickle and dime the engineering to death and gets the dealers to work with the customer instead of against them, they might have a winner.

(really - I do support small diesels)
Author:  RFCRD [ Mon Feb 05, 2007 11:51 pm ]
Post subject: 
Flying J wrote:
I'm all for small diesels, but Chrysler better get thier act together with service and reliability first. We CRD guys put up with a lot of tinkering and having to mod a brand new vehicle just to make it run right, but can you imagine an average soccer mom putting up with the maintenance-intensiveness and headaches of a CRD?

Of course, Mercedes seems to be able to make it work, so maybe if Chrysler stops trying to nickle and dime the engineering to death and gets the dealers to work with the customer instead of against them, they might have a winner.

I would love to hear what dealers discuss with DCX behind closed doors about the CRD. It will be interesting when the GC CRD arrives on the dealer lots and observe the level of support and/or acceptance it gets from dealers following their Liberty CRD experience.
Author:  Ranger1 [ Tue Feb 06, 2007 12:00 am ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
would love to hear what dealers discuss with DCX behind closed doors about the CRD. It will be interesting when the GC CRD arrives on the dealer lots and the level of support and/or acceptance it gets from dealers following their Liberty CRD experience.


That will be interesting. Wonder if they have any choice on whether to carry the CDI model?
Author:  RFCRD [ Tue Feb 06, 2007 5:45 am ]
Post subject: 
Ranger1 wrote:
Quote:
would love to hear what dealers discuss with DCX behind closed doors about the CRD. It will be interesting when the GC CRD arrives on the dealer lots and the level of support and/or acceptance it gets from dealers following their Liberty CRD experience.


That will be interesting. Wonder if they have any choice on whether to carry the CDI model?

Oh they have a choice, sell Chevys instead. :lol:
Author:  no-blue-screen [ Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:36 am ]
Post subject: 
well hopefully they have learned from their mistakes with the Liberty CRD. knocking on wood....I haven't had any major issues with mine and it has been running better than ever lately. Evan last night when it was 7 F (without wind chill) here. With wind chill it felt well below zero.

I am mainly interested in small diesels that give a good blend of power and fuel economy.
Author:  Flying J [ Tue Feb 06, 2007 11:22 pm ]
Post subject: 
RFCRD wrote:
Ranger1 wrote:
Quote:
would love to hear what dealers discuss with DCX behind closed doors about the CRD. It will be interesting when the GC CRD arrives on the dealer lots and the level of support and/or acceptance it gets from dealers following their Liberty CRD experience.


That will be interesting. Wonder if they have any choice on whether to carry the CDI model?

Oh they have a choice, sell Chevys instead. :lol:


With the Liberty CRD's, dealers couldn't sell them until they had at least one diesel certified tech and had purchased the tool set. Some of the smaller dealers never made the investment. I'll bet a lot of the larger ones WISH they hadn't...
Author:  no-blue-screen [ Wed Feb 07, 2007 12:29 am ]
Post subject: 
Flying J wrote:
RFCRD wrote:
Ranger1 wrote:
Quote:
would love to hear what dealers discuss with DCX behind closed doors about the CRD. It will be interesting when the GC CRD arrives on the dealer lots and the level of support and/or acceptance it gets from dealers following their Liberty CRD experience.


That will be interesting. Wonder if they have any choice on whether to carry the CDI model?

Oh they have a choice, sell Chevys instead. :lol:


With the Liberty CRD's, dealers couldn't sell them until they had at least one diesel certified tech and had purchased the tool set. Some of the smaller dealers never made the investment. I'll bet a lot of the larger ones WISH they hadn't...


It's not that bad. Knocking on wood, I haven't had any major problems with mine other than the shuddering. I have had worse problems with GM products that I have owned over the years...and they were gassers. That's the thing about diesels....they are like women...you fall in love with them and nothing else seems to matter :)
Author:  blacksmoke [ Wed Feb 07, 2007 2:51 am ]
Post subject: 
no-blue-screen wrote:
That's the thing about diesels....they are like women...you fall in love with them and nothing else seems to matter :)


...and they you start throwing money to keep' em running smooth??? :wink:
Author:  jinstall [ Wed Feb 07, 2007 3:44 am ]
Post subject: 
Made in Stuttgart makes sence.
Author:  no-blue-screen [ Wed Feb 07, 2007 10:32 am ]
Post subject: 
blacksmoke wrote:
no-blue-screen wrote:
That's the thing about diesels....they are like women...you fall in love with them and nothing else seems to matter :)


...and they you start throwing money to keep' em running smooth??? :wink:


Well that's when I usually trade er in for a new model.
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