5MTenthus
5MTenthus
View My AgentPage

Print this Page | Digg It | del.icio.us

Tags: 2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid, Dodge Durango Hybrid, first drive

Tag Links: 2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid, Dodge Durango Hybrid, first drive

2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid and Dodge Durango Hybrid - First Drive
Chrysler didn't pull the Hemi name off of its new 2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid and Dodge Durango Hybrid altogether. "Hemi" no longer is in large-ish red letters: Badges on the front fenders and rear deck proclaim "Hybrid" in blue letters at the top; below it the cryptic words "Two Mode Hemi." No doubt, "that thing got a hybrid?" commercials are in the can.

The hybrid system for the Aspen and Durango, developed with General Motors, Daimler, and BMW, extends the life of the Hemi V-8 that Chrysler diligently built up into a marketing buzzword four years ago. The Hybrid Hemi should power the Chrysler 300C/Dodge Challenger/Charger R/T Hemi of the future.

The AWD-only Aspen and Durango hybrids average 19 mpg city/20 mpg highway, just short of the 6.0L hybrid, 4WD Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon's 20/20 (RWD versions get 21/20 mpg). Chrysler undercut GM on sticker prices; the Durango hybrid is $7055 less than the 4WD Tahoe hybrid and the Aspen is $7285 less than the 4WD Yukon hybrid, about 1720 and 1776 gallons of regular unleaded, respectively. You could buy even more gas with the money you'd save unloading a conventional Hemi Aspen or Durango from your local lot, but who wants to drive around in an automotive Scarlet Letter?

Unlike the GMs, the Mopar hybrids don't make you give up ground clearance or roof racks for efficiency, and their tow rating remains 6000 lb. They benefit from a freshened Hemi, including variable valve timing and redesigned intake and exhaust. The hybrid-electric transmission has two variable modes, four fixed gears and regenerative braking, and the 300-volt battery is under the second-row seat. A trailer-towing package, sunroof and a rear-seat DVD player are the only options on either the Chrysler (which fetches $230 more sticker thanks to a slightly fancier interior), or the Dodge. You can't get remote-start, because the Hemi hybrids start in electric mode when possible, sure to confound valets across the nation. It runs pure electric in reverse and theoretically up to 25 mph in drive. Further, the hybrid system allows more use of the four-cylinder mode for the Hemi's Multiple Displacement System at highway speeds. Read Article
2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid and Dodge Durango Hybrid - First Drive



Comments:

Images hosted in your AgentSpace can now be posted in the comments section using the following syntax (case matters):
[img]IMAGE URL[/img]
Example: [img]http://agent004.myautospies.com/users/150/Sample-Gallery/sample1.JPG[/img]
eric452eric452 - 7/25/2008 2:47:00 PMView My AgentSpace
+2 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
enp83enp83 - 7/25/2008 4:39:20 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Glad it's finally on the market, wonder what % of sales it will capture. Bring on the 300C hemi hybrid...

reply to this comment
To post a comment for this story, you must first Login.

If you do not have an account, you will need to Register (It's Free!).

Most Recent Stories
How Low Can It Go? Industry Forecast For August Is Down Over 14%RECALL FRIDAY: GM Recalls 857,000 SUV For Faulty Wiper SystemsSinister Mercedes C-Class by KichererLotus Clark Type 25 Elise SC Limited Edition available for the mainland EuropeanDid Toyota Fall Victim To The Lure Of Money With The Tundra?Production Chevy Volt caught out in the open2009 Nissan R35 GT-R Nismo Tuning Packages2010 Lotus Europa i6 Concept DesignToyota will beat Volt to marketPirelli launches new Cyber tires with electronic monitoringHeated seats could ruin a man's chances of having kidsSpy Shots: Porshce Panamera with its rear door openAudi to get an electric version of the VW Up!Mazda working on Volt rival Is Toyota Tightening The Belt Too Much On Lexus?Up To The Challenge? Why Of Course! 2009 Hyundai Genesis ReviewHybrid Sales Rise, But Tax Breaks Motivate Some More Than Fuel SavingsBetter Fill Up Now - Gas Prices Back On The RiseRECALL THURSDAY: Hyundai Recalls 65,000 Elantras For Faulty Fuel PumpsToyota Now Cuts Global Outlook For 2009 By 7%Toyota Out Smarts The SMART Car With New iQMicrosoft bringing cheaper internet to carsBMW To Bring Four New Models To Paris Auto ShowBugatti offering more colors for the Fbg par HermèsChrome colored HAMANN Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 for saleSo You Think You Bought A Lemon? THIS Is Who You Call!Vw unveils Caddy Topos Sail Design ConceptHyundai Compares Themselves To Competitors After Genesis Scores 5 Star Crash ResultsIf The Keys For Both Of These Cars Were On The Table, Which Would You Pick Up?Lexus IS Convertible coming next year, lightweight IS-F in the worksSpy Shots of new Mercedes taken by yours truly!Teach An New Dog Old Tricks? Lexus Debuts The quattro Inspired LS460 AWD In MoscowForget A Sub-Compact If Want To Save Real Money Just Buy a Gas Hog!Chrysler Considers Selling The Viper As A Brand!Audi Offers Race Ready R8's To The PublicBMW's M6 Gets Put On Notice- Audi's 570 HP RS5 Caught On US SoilMcLaren working on family of supercars for 2009Revealed: Splinter wooden supercarGM releases GTR-style multi-function displayFiat Portofino concept re-creates 1960s beach carsNext-generation Mazda MX-5 will be more dramaticIf Lexus Isn't NERVOUS, It Should BE!Why Is BMW Backing Away From Performance? The M3 CSL Bites The Dust!Is It On Your Short List? Hyundai Counts On Fallout From Lexus, BMW, And Others For Genesis SalesDetroits Three Muscle Cars Hang Out: Camaro, Challenger and MustangProduction Buick Riviera cancelledCadillac version of the Volt hybrid in the worksAutomakers Expect Yet Another Dismal Sales Month For AugustBeen Waiting For Your First Look At The Official 2009 BMW Order Guides? We Got Em!Toyota Management Caught In A Struggle Between Profit Or Sales