Nissan Titan Diesel Teased As All-American

We already knew the next-gen Nissan Titan was getting a Cummins diesel, and the Japanese automaker is also marketing its American manufacturing credentials as well. But can a new diesel V8 and an all-American marketing campaign help lift sales that have fallen to record lows?

The teaser video doesn’t tell us anything we didn’t know in terms of the 5.0 liter Cummins V8. I was initially disappointed that Nissan didn’t go with a smaller displacement diesel, like the 3.0 liter EcoDiesel V6 that helped the Ram 1500 earn a 28 MPG rating. I’ve since come around to recognize that this engine could make the Titan a powerful competitor while also earning respectable fuel economy compared to better-selling brands.

The Nissan Titan did enjoy a brief spat of popularity in the mid-2000s, peaking at just under 87,000 sales in 2005, but sales probably won’t even break 12,000 for 2014. Part of the problem is that the current Titan was introduced back in 2003, meaning its been on the market (and for the most part, unchanged) for over a decade now. It’s simply not competitive anymore, especially when automakers like Ford, GM, and Chrysler have gone through three major redesigns in the same time period.

Nissan didn’t mention any specifics, but I have to imagine that lightweight materials will play a role in the next Titan as well. The teaser was heavy on pumping up the American street cred, such as a design penned in California, tested in Arizona, and engineered in Michigan. Of course this makes sense, since the Titan isn’t sold outside of North America, but that’s neither here nor there, right?

On January 12th the world will get its first look at the new Nissan Titan and its Cummins diesel. Can a new engine, a new look, and a new emphasis on its American design breath new life into this flagging nameplate? If not, there’s always the Nissan Frontier diesel concept and the next-generation LEAFto look forward to.

Jeep Wrangler Could Get Aluminum Body And Turbo Engine

For over 70 years, Jeep has been a worldwide icon built of American steel and can-do attitude in Toledo, Ohio. The Wrangler has carried on the legacy of the original Jeep, but Automotive News reports that Fiat-Chrysler is considering a switch to an aluminum body and small-displacement turbo motors in Wrangler. More dramatic, it move from its longtime home in Toledo.

Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne told AN that;

“We firmly believe that we have to downsize the engines that are going into the Wrangler, just in terms of displacements, and then increase the capabilities by putting turbos in and doing other things to that engine. This requires a complete rethink of the architecture.”

He went on to say that part of this “complete rethink” could be doing away with the heavy steel structure in favor of lighter aluminum. Ford is going whole-hog with aluminum throughout its SUV and truck lineup, and Chrysler could follow suit, but that could also require moving Jeep from its historic Toledo home. The cost of retooling the massive Toledo plant could be higher than just building a new plant, or reconfiguring a more modern facility for the task of building aluminum Wranglers.

According to Marchionne, if the Wrangler goes aluminum; “…then I think unfortunately that Toledo is the wrong place, the wrong setup to try and build a Wrangler, because it requires a complete reconfiguring of the assets that would be cost-prohibitive.”

Another likely candidate for the Wrangler is the EcoDiesel V6, good for up to 28 MPG in the Ram 1500. A small displacement six-cylinder would certainly fit the bill, but a smaller turbocharged four-banger could be on deck as well. This is just the latest rumor pointing towards an aluminum Wrangler, which faces the uphill battle or maintaining off-road credibility and meeting strict fuel economy standards. Aluminum and turbo might be the only choice other than extinction…or dare I suggest a hybrid?

While it might suck to move the Wrangler from Toledo, there will be sacrifices and tears along the march of progress, and if Ford F-150 buyers can learn to love aluminun, so can Wrangler fans (your humble writer included).

Source: Gas 2.

8,000 Orders For Ram 1500 EcoDiesel In The First 3 Days

Proof that Americans want diesel trucks, Chrysler announced  it got more than 8,000 orders for the 2014 Ram 1500 diesel in the first 3 days of ordering. Now Ford and GM have no choice but to return fire in-kind, if they know what’s good for their bottom line.

The Ram 1500 EcoDiesel has a 28 MPG rating on the highway, putting it head-and-shoulders above the current competition. It’s unlikely even Ford’s mostly-aluminum 2015 F-150 will be able to beat the EcoDiesel’s sedan-rivaling fuel economy. Meanwhile, the 3.0 liter EcoDiesel engine still cranks out 240 horsepower and, more-importantly, 420 ft-lbs of torque in a very-usable powerband. Is it any wonder that truck buyers are chomping at the proverbial bit to get one of these new Rams for themselves?

Production of the 2014 models has just begun, and the first deliveries are scheduled for March, with Chrysler figuring, at most, 30% of customers will opt for the diesel engine. But intial orders account for some 50% of all 2014 Ram 1500 sales. No doubt much of this is from pent-up demand, but with the EcoDiesel engine costing just $2,850 more than the gas-chugging HEMI, it’s easy to see why people would make the jump to diesel.

In just a few short years, the truck market has shifted dramatically due to customer demands and government regulations. The Ford EcoBoost engines has become a reliable replacement for displacement in  vehicles like the F-150, and GM is bringing a turbodiesel “compact” truck to the American market as well. But Chrysler definitely has the advantage for now, and the two other Detroit automakers had better follow suit.

Source: Chrysler

Jeep Hybrid Models In The Works, But Not There Yet

The Jeep brand has long prided itself on its vehicles being rugged, reliable, and “Trail Rated”, causing the brand to perhaps hold on to some engines a bit too long. But going forward, Jeep knows it must compete in a global stage where emissions regulations dictate the use of modern engines. Jeep has already indicated it will employ turbodiesel engines, and hybrid drivetrains could be up next.

Jeep’s Asia-Pacific Product Manager Steve Bartoli told Australia’s Drive that the brand is “…absolutely looking at different things in that field and we are very active behind the scenes in the development of these [hybrid] systems and how it fits into our profile.”  Makes it seem like a hybrid Jeep is inevitable, and it probably is, but don’t get too excited.

Bartoli continued saying that a hybrid Jeep could offer a new world of potential in the world of off-road, though reliability remains a sticking point. While electric motors are fairly simple and dependable devices, there are concerns regarding the battery packs and delicate computer systems under the harsh, extreme conditions some Jeeps experience. No wonder Jeep decided to pursue more reliable and rugged diesel engines first. That said, talk of Chrysler and electrification have been around for years now.

So what Jeep would be the first to get a hybrid? I predict that Jeep will launch a Grand Cherokee Hybrid first, to help absorb development costs with a higher-priced product. But the new Jeep Cherokee could also be a potential candidate, as could the Jeep Wrangler, which is also slated to get the 3.0 liter EcoDiesel V6.

For the average soccer mom reliving her youth via a four-door Wrangler though, those concerns are problem far from her mind. All she wants is the Jeep badge and look combined with fuel economy that doesn’t squeeze her pocketbook dry at every gas pump. And who knows? Off-roaders could learn to love a simple hybrid system that can be better-controlled than the standard 4×4 systems we know and love.

Source: Drive.com.au

Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Option To Cost $2,850 Over HEMI V8

The Chrysler 3.0 liter EcoDiesel engine, which debuted in the Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel, has made its way into the Ram 1500 pickup. While official MPG figures have not been released, Ram does say that it will only cost $2,850 more than a similarly-equipped HEMI V8 model.

America seems to have finally gotten over its adversity to diesel engines, and Chrysler is taking full advantage. The EcoDiesel engine offers 240 horsepower and 420 ft-lbs of torque, which is less power but more torque than the 5.7 liter HEMI V8 engine, which offers 395 horsepower and 410 ft-lbs of torque. What that means is that while the EcoDiesel Ram won’t be as fast, it will be able to pull just as much, if not more.

Fuel economy should also be substantially better than the HEMI too, which manages just 14 mpg in the city and 20 on the highway. The 3.6 liter Pentastar offers better fuel economy at 17 city and 25 highway, thanks in part to a class-exclusive 8-speed automatic transmission, making it the most fuel-efficient pickup you can buy. But the EcoDiesel V6 should top even that, as in the Jeep Grand Cherokee the EcoDiesel engine manages 21 city and 30 highway mpg. A 30 mpg, full-size pickup? Yes please, and while you’re add it throw one into the Jeep Wrangler too.

The $2,850 price premium is substantial, but with perhaps as much as 10 mpg better on the highway, it could be a very cost-efficient option for anyone who needs V8 power, but wants V6 fuel economy. If you can afford the extra cost, the EcoDiesel option seems like a no brainer…though I’ll wait for the official mpg ratings before declaring it MPG King.

Source: Chrysler

Chrysler 300 Diesel May Come To America

Without hybrids or EVs, Chrysler will have a hard time meeting upcoming fuel economy standards set by the U.S. government. But Chrysler has an ace up its sleeve; the 3.0 liter EcoDiesel V6, which debuted in the Jeep Grand Cherokee and will be coming to Ram pickups as well. There is also rumor that the Chrysler 300 diesel may cross the pond from Europe and be for sale in America. But will luxury car buyers bite?

Chrysler already sells a diesel-powered version of the 300 in most of Europe (as the Lancia Thema), which has even tighter emissions standards and much higher gas prices. Since diesel engines are more efficient, even a large car like the 300 can get respectable gas mileage with a turbodiesel engine. But these engines carry a hefty price premium.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 3.0 liter EcoDiesel will cost $7,500 more than the standard gas model. Then again, it also gets about 30 mpg highway, a 7 mpg improvement over the gas model, though it will still take many years and thousands of miles to recoup the cost difference.

If Chrysler thinks buyers will pay that kind of premium, then you can bet the 3.0 liter EcoDiesel will migrate over to the Chrysler 300, where it could return 40 mpg or better on the highway. With the standard 3.6 liter gas engine and eight-speed transmission, the Chrysler 300 already gets a respectable 31 mpg. But the EcoDiesel engine, with its 240 horsepower and 420 ft-lbs of torque, is a bit more…powerful.

Do you think a diesel engine is coming to the Chrysler 300, and if so, how much extra would you be willing to pay for it?

Source: Wards Auto