While the official line is that rising gasoline prices are not going to have much affect on the buying patterns of North Americans when it comes to things like those big, profit-heavy SUVS, most of the car companies are trying to do something about making visits to the pump less painful.
So it is that DaimlerChrysler will do its best to get its Hemi engine with cylinder-deactivation into more vehicles, to give their owners a decent fuel-consumption break when they're not hammering hard on the gas pedal.
So it further is that DaimlerChrysler is busy spending precious marketing dollars to fly impressionable auto writers to Italy to test drive a diesel-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee while saying on the record that it has no hard plans to import such a vehicle to Canada or the U.S.
On that point, here is the official version of the company's position: ''DaimlerChrysler is the global leader in Advanced Clean Diesel and sells many Chrysler products in Europe, including Chrysler Town & Country, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Grand Cherokee. We hope there is convergence of technology, regulation and consumer demand that will allow us to take advantage of our diesel technology in North America.''
The diesel technology that DCX wants to bring to Canada and the U.S. is an ''all-new state-of-the-art 3.0 CRD engine,'' which translates to a 3.0-liter V-6 common-rail turbo diesel.
According to DCX, the all-new 3.0 CRD engine is a ''next-generation'' power unit from DaimlerChrysler producing ''class-leading levels of torque and towing, with efficient fuel economy.''
On the power front, that means 218 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque, the latter of which appears at 1,600 rpm and hangs around for some time. Based on the latest Mercedes-Benz technology, this all-new diesel engine offers ''outstanding performance along with the refinement and efficiency international buyers are looking for.''
As the successor to the 2.7 inline-five CRD engine, it offers a 33-percent increase in power and 28-percent increase in torque, ensuring ''faster acceleration, brisk intermediate sprints and a higher top speed.''
With Bosch high-pressure fuel injection, a variable geometry turbocharger and four valves per cylinder, the new engine also meets Euro 4 emissions standards. No word on the fuel economy levels, but we can safely assume they're better than the gas-powered engines in the same vehicle.
The choice of materials, design, fuel injection and engine management system reflect diesel's state of the art. Unlike many other diesel engines in this displacement and output class, the 3.0 CRD features an aluminum crankcase with cast-in grey iron cylinder liners, which make a major contribution to weight reduction. As a result, the new V-6 weighs a total of only approximately 208 kg.
The new engine is said to be ''an exceptionally smooth running power unit'' due to enhancements such as low-friction valve gear, larger bearings for the crankshaft, connecting rods made from a new alloy and a counter-rotating balancer shaft between the cylinder banks. A quick-start glow system shortens preheating time to just a moment, so that the diesel is nearly as quick to start as a gasoline engine.
So it is that DaimlerChrysler will do its best to get its Hemi engine with cylinder-deactivation into more vehicles, to give their owners a decent fuel-consumption break when they're not hammering hard on the gas pedal.
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| Diesel-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee (photo: DaimlerChrysler) |
On that point, here is the official version of the company's position: ''DaimlerChrysler is the global leader in Advanced Clean Diesel and sells many Chrysler products in Europe, including Chrysler Town & Country, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Grand Cherokee. We hope there is convergence of technology, regulation and consumer demand that will allow us to take advantage of our diesel technology in North America.''
The diesel technology that DCX wants to bring to Canada and the U.S. is an ''all-new state-of-the-art 3.0 CRD engine,'' which translates to a 3.0-liter V-6 common-rail turbo diesel.
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| 3.0-liter V-6 common-rail turbo diesel (photo: DaimlerChrysler) |
On the power front, that means 218 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque, the latter of which appears at 1,600 rpm and hangs around for some time. Based on the latest Mercedes-Benz technology, this all-new diesel engine offers ''outstanding performance along with the refinement and efficiency international buyers are looking for.''
As the successor to the 2.7 inline-five CRD engine, it offers a 33-percent increase in power and 28-percent increase in torque, ensuring ''faster acceleration, brisk intermediate sprints and a higher top speed.''
With Bosch high-pressure fuel injection, a variable geometry turbocharger and four valves per cylinder, the new engine also meets Euro 4 emissions standards. No word on the fuel economy levels, but we can safely assume they're better than the gas-powered engines in the same vehicle.
The choice of materials, design, fuel injection and engine management system reflect diesel's state of the art. Unlike many other diesel engines in this displacement and output class, the 3.0 CRD features an aluminum crankcase with cast-in grey iron cylinder liners, which make a major contribution to weight reduction. As a result, the new V-6 weighs a total of only approximately 208 kg.
The new engine is said to be ''an exceptionally smooth running power unit'' due to enhancements such as low-friction valve gear, larger bearings for the crankshaft, connecting rods made from a new alloy and a counter-rotating balancer shaft between the cylinder banks. A quick-start glow system shortens preheating time to just a moment, so that the diesel is nearly as quick to start as a gasoline engine.