Detroit – Chrysler’s famous Hemi V-8 engine, known more for power than fuel economy, will become more fuel efficient when the company rolls out a hybrid version early next year.
Chrysler Group announced Monday that it will offer a hybrid Hemi in its Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen sport utility vehicles that will improve their fuel economy by nearly 40 percent in the city and about 25 percent on the highway.
Analysts have said the “two-mode” hybrid system, developed jointly with General Motors Corp. and BMW AG, could vault SUVs and trucks into the same fuel-efficiency range of some larger sedans.
Current Aspens and Durangos get 13 miles per gallon in the city and 18 on the highway, but the hybrid versions should get an estimated 18.2 mpg in city driving and about 22.5 on freeways.
Chrysler would give only the percentage increases and not actual numbers, saying that mileage testing had not yet been completed.
Andreas Truckenbrodt, executive director of hybrid programs for Chrysler parent DaimlerChrysler AG, said the mileage could go higher as the company works on engine tuning and vehicle aerodynamics.
DaimlerChrysler plans to also use the technology in Mercedes and more Chrysler vehicles.
