By G.R. Whale
What's Next for Chrysler?
Robert Nardelli, Chrysler's new chairman and COO, has spent most of his career in heavier industry, including the transportation division at General Electric. He led Case Construction Equipment's global business operations from 1988 to 1991 before returning to GE. We know from a corporate fact sheet that he enjoys NASCAR and football (and spending time with his family), and he says he has a collection that includes a Plymouth Prowler, a Chrysler PT Cruiser, and an unspecified Jeep.
No surprise, his biggest challenges focus on sales. Chrysler is working to sell more cars and trucks in Europe and elsewhere, but without Daimler as a parent, it doesn't have an Opel or Ford of Europe to prop it up when U.S. sales go bad, as they are for everybody--even Toyota--this year.
Best Case: Chrysler pares down its dealer network (while in cutthroat negotiations with the UAW/CAW to cut costs), possibly to the point that all North American dealers sell Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep, while expanding overseas sales. That allows cutting redundant models and even killing divisions if necessary. This is all really much harder than it sounds.
Worst Case: Strip and flip, cutting costs system-wide and selling off each brand; Jeep most likely to a major automaker, Chrysler and Dodge perhaps to a third-world owner.--Todd Lassa
spied!! future Hummer FTTS
Development of a replacement to the Humvee is underway, and AM General still wants in, as evidenced by the Future Tactical Truck System shown here. Other bidders are Lockheed Martin, Force Protection Inc., and Navistar's military business division. The first noticeable change is the hood, revised to accommodate the repackaged intake and relocated cooling system. Some say the vehicle has a hybrid/electric diesel powertrain to help with fuel economy and electricity generation. Preliminary estimates have ground clearance at 22.5 inches. Also impressive are the massive set of Goodyear 335/65R tires and 22.5-inch wheels held together with no fewer than 18 bolts and attached to the vehicle with eight more lugs. Note the larger, beefier air-drop rings peeking through the hood. This seems to imply the new vehicle is heavier.
8.5-Sec Diesel Dakota
At the 2007 ATS Diesels on the Mountain event, the Dr. Performance Nitro Series Dodge Dakota set a new DHRA Pro Truck class record, completing the quarter mile in 8.48 seconds at 164.23 mph. The team's goal is to get the 1300-horsepower, 5.9-liter Cummins-powered Dakota through the quarter in the 7.6-second range.
Duramax 4.5-liter V-8--First of Its Kind
Scheduled for use in light-duty pickups (less than 8600-pound GVWR) and the Hummer H2 by 2010, the Duramax 4.5 liter V8 turbodiesel will host a number of GM and industry firsts. Designed from the ground up for North American emissions standards, the architecture isn't related to the 6.6 Duramax or upcoming GM 2.9-liter V-6.
The use of a compacted graphite iron block allows for fracture-split main bearings, a first in any GM automotive engine; rod bearings also are fracture-split. GM claims the 72-degree V-angle 4.5 fits in a small-block gasoline V8 envelope, although expect the diesel to weigh more. Up top, each aluminum four-valve head runs dual chain-driven camshafts, and while the photo appears to show a plug near the front of the cam cover, there's no comment on whether any sort of variable cam or valve timing is employed. The exhaust manifolds are integral with the heads and exit to the inside of the V, which moves considerable heat away from brake and steering systems.
Fuel is supplied by common rail at max pressures of about 30,000 psi. GM states output will be greater than 310 horses and 520 pound-feet; expect peak horsepower at or above 4000 rpm and a nearly flat torque plateau from about 1800 rpm on. A 6L80 or 6L90 will fit behind it.
Charles Freese, GM's diesel guru, notes a primary goal was to make the engine as "gasoline-like" as possible, and that includes levels of noise, vibration, and harshness approaching gasoline engines. Glow plugs and intake heaters will be used for cold starts. Aftertreatment will include a DPF and selective catalytic reduction. This engine would be an ideal candidate for the Suburban/Yukon XL/ESV triplets.