DaimlerChrysler Canada Announces New Clean Diesel Technology and Expanding Diesel Product Lineup

DaimlerChrysler Canada will expand and improve its lineup of environmentally-friendly, advanced clean diesel technology starting with the 2007 model year. Clean diesel technology will allow DaimlerChrysler to offer new or improved diesel powered versions of its vehicles: the 2007 Jeep® Grand Cherokee CRD, the 2007 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks with the Cummins 6.7-litre engine and for the first time, a Dodge Ram 1500 light duty pickups after 2009. A fourth Chrysler Group diesel vehicle, the Dodge Sprinter, is currently also available in Canada.

These new clean diesel engines will provide owners with a dramatic increase in low-end torque, an average of 30 per cent better fuel efficiency and a 20 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide (C02) emissions when compared to an equivalent gasoline engine. Under loads such as towing, diesel engines can provide improvements in fuel economy up to 40 per cent.

“The evolution of clean diesel technology represents a tremendous value and environmental opportunity for Canadian drivers by improving fuel economy and achieving low emissions levels,” said Reid Bigland, President and Chief Executive Officer of DaimlerChrysler Canada. “With DaimlerChrysler’s global leadership in clean diesel technology combined with our Dodge and Jeep products, we believe we can help expand the consumer popularity of diesel technology throughout Canada.”

Advanced diesel technology is part of the Chrysler Group’s advanced propulsion technology umbrella, which also includes efficient gasoline engines, hybrids, flex-fuel vehicles and biodiesel capability.

2007 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Cummins 6.7-litre Turbo Diesel Models
The Chrysler Group’s first BLUETEC vehicle, the Dodge Ram Heavy Duty with the 6.7-litre Cummins turbo diesel will be available in Canadian Dodge dealerships in March, starting at $41,305 MSRP (excluding destination) for the Dodge Ram 2500 Regular Cab 4X2. The Dodge Ram’s new clean diesel engine will meet benchmark low levels of emissions, including the extremely stringent U.S. 50-state emissions standards for 2010, making it significantly cleaner than other pickup trucks.

The new 2007 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty turbo diesel engine uses a self-cleaning Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) to virtually eliminate particulate matter emissions and an absorber catalyst to reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by as much as 90 per cent.

“The Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickup truck with the new 6.7-litre Cummins turbo diesel engine is the cleanest diesel truck available on the market,” said Tom LaSorda, President and Chief Executive Officer, Chrysler Group. “Working together with Cummins, Dodge is the only manufacturer to meet stringent 2010 U.S. emissions standards -- today. That’s great news for our Heavy Duty customers – 80 per cent of whom choose the diesel option.”

In 2006, Dodge Ram sales in Canada reached an all-time high of 39,837 units. The current Dodge Ram lineup includes 1500, 2500 and 3500 models in three cab configurations: Regular, Quad Cab and Mega Cab. Engine options on Dodge Ram include the Magnum 3.7-litre V6, 4.7-litre, 4.7-litre flex-fuel V8, 5.7-litre HEMI® V8 and the new Cummins turbo diesel.

Dodge Ram Heavy Duty trucks’ long-standing relationship with Cummins was established in 1988 and continues to thrive with new, more powerful, more efficient and cleaner turbo diesel engines. In Indiana late last year, Cummins produced the 1.5-millionth diesel engine for the Dodge Ram.

6.7-litre Cummins Turbo Diesel Offers Improved Emissions and Durability
In addition to the NOx absorber and the self-cleaning DPF, the 6.7-litre turbo diesel engine includes other technologies to improve fuel efficiency and reduce unburned hydrocarbons. These technologies include: 

• A cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system combines with a uniquely designed piston combustion bowl and a high-flow, electronically-controlled Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT™), matching boost pressure with the engine’s performance needs to reduce emissions and improve drivability
• Within the exhaust system, a self-cleaning DPF and an oxidation catalyst reduces particulate matter by a factor of 10 
• A new closed crankcase ventilation system eliminates crankcase fumes and oil carry-over, a common problem with past diesels

As durable as it is powerful, the 6.7-litre Cummins turbo diesel has life-to-major overhaul intervals of 560,000 kilometres, providing more than a 160,000-kilometre advantage over the competition.

Dodge Ram 1500 Light Duty Diesel Model
Armed with new Cummins clean-diesel technology, Dodge will introduce an all-new turbo diesel engine in its light duty Ram pickup trucks after 2009. The new engine will provide a dramatic increase in low-end torque, up to a 30-per cent improvement in fuel efficiency and a 20-per cent reduction in C02 emissions when compared to an equivalent gasoline engine.

“Our all-new Cummins engine will offer future Dodge Ram 1500 customers the ultimate in terms of fuel economy, refinement, reliability and durability,” said LaSorda. “It’s another example of the Chrysler Group bringing new clean, quiet diesel technology to the marketplace.”

The Dodge Ram’s new clean diesel engine will meet benchmark low levels of emissions, including U.S. 50-state emissions standards for 2010.

“We are pleased to build upon our 18-year partnership and brand franchise with the Chrysler Group by providing our new light-duty diesel-powered engine for use in the Dodge Ram 1500,” said Tim Solso, Cummins Chairman and CEO. “We know customers for this product will demand high performance. We also know that we need to be extremely good at fuel efficiency and emissions control in order to succeed in this market. Cummins will use its technology leadership to meet all of those criteria, while providing the driving public with an exciting new diesel engine alternative for the popular Dodge Ram series.”

The 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel
The 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD will be available in Canada in March and offers class-leading torque, outstanding towing capacity (3,357 Kilograms), and class-leading driving range of approximately 725 kilometres. Clean diesel technology also improves fuel economy by up to 30 per cent and has up to 20 per cent fewer CO2 emissions.

The 3.0-litre V6 CRD engine will be available in the Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo, Limited and Overland 4x4 models. The Canadian Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD will be announced at a later date.

“The Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel will offer excellent performance, increased fuel economy, class-leading torque, towing and a driving range of 725 kilometres – roughly the equivalent of driving from Toronto to Quebec City,” said Judy Wheeler, Vice President, Marketing, DaimlerChrysler Canada. “The Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel is so smooth and powerful, it will forever change Canadian’s perception of diesel power.”

The new 3.0-litre V-6 CRD engine, built by Mercedes-Benz, produces 215 hp (160 kW) @ 3,800 rpm and 376 lb.-ft. torque (510 N•m) @ 1,600-2,800 rpm and gets an estimated fuel economy of 31 mpg on the highway (9.0 L/100km) for 4x4 models. Most recently, the engine earned a spot on “Ward’s 10 Best Engines” list.

The 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee is also available with a flex-fuel capable 4.7-litre SOHC V8 engine, which gives customers the ability to use a fuel with an 85 per cent concentration of ethanol (E85) in their vehicles. Flex-fuel vehicles support renewable sources of fuel and reduce emissions. The 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee continues Chrysler Group’s commitment to alternative fuels and technology.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD will be manufactured at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit. The Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD will be fueled with B5 (5 per cent) biodiesel at the assembly plant to help increase the awareness of biodiesel. The 3.0-litre V-6 CRD engine is built at the Mercedes-Benz Berlin Marienfelde Plant in Berlin, Germany.

Chrysler Group Diesel-Powered Models Outside of North America
Between 2003 and 2007, the Chrysler Group will triple the number of diesel offerings outside North America. Of the estimated 20 vehicles available, 12 or more will have the option for a diesel powertrain (up from four in 2003).

Diesel versions of numerous Chrysler Group vehicles continue to be popular world wide, including the Chrysler 300C, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Compass, as well as the all-new 2007 Dodge Caliber and 2007 Jeep Wrangler. More than 60 per cent of the Chrysler Group vehicles sold in Western Europe are diesel powered.

Cummins
Cummins Inc., a global power leader, is a corporation of complementary business units that design, manufacture, distribute and service engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission solutions and electrical power generation systems. Headquartered in Columbus, Indiana, Cummins serves customers in more than 160 countries through its network of 550 company-owned and independent distributor facilities and more than 5,000 dealer locations. Cummins produces the diesel for the Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 series.

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