Chrysler Abandons Diesels for Hybrids
Those of you who were hoping (and hoping and hoping) that Chrysler would lead America into a Euro-style clean diesel high mileage BIG torque paradise, fuhgeddaboutit. TTAC reporter Bill Montgomery caught-up with ex-Toyota exec and current Chrysler Prez Jim Press and asked him wither oil burners? Yup. "In the face of the new federal fuel economy standards, being a responsible corporate citizen means very soon everything will be hybrid." When pressed, Press went further, hinting that there's been a massive strategy shift within the Crisis Corporation. "As a privately owned company, we're quicker than the competition at reallocating resources." Does this new focus explain the hard stop to Getrag's $530m Chrysler transmission factory? Press' PR handler whisked the exec away before Bill could get the inside dope. So to speak.
Click here for more TTAC pictures of Jim Press' meet the press
[Reported by William C. Montgomery]
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That's unfortunate. I suspect I'll never consider buying a hybrid, but every "daily driver" vehicle I've owned has been diesel: VW Rabbits (x2), GMC van w/ 6.2L, and currently a Dodge pickup w/ Cummins 12-valve. On the other hand, the hi-tech that they're infusing into the latest diesels is making them as difficult for the DIY'er to maintain as modern gasoline engines. I've heard that they're also considerably less rubust than my reliable-as-a-brick rides have been.
"There is no free lunch. Cars aren’t clean, whether they be gasoline, diesel or hybrid." Don't be absurd. There's a huge difference in emissions between the cleanest hybrid and the dirty diesels we're stuck with today. HUGE. The "clean diesels" only bring them up to the level of the dirtiest gas engines - and that's still a very large difference.
Fast forward to September 2009: Chrysler hybrids on sale: 0 Chrysler diesels on sale: Caliber, PT Cruiser, Journey, Sebring, Patriot, Compass, Cherokee, Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, Commander, Nitro, 300C, Grand Voyager, Ram HD. And the diesel in the Caliber is the OM651 that debuted in the new E-Class.