Chrysler and the EPA Partner to Develop Hydraulic Hybrid Minivan Powertrain

Chrysler and the EPA Partner to Develop Hydraulic Hybrid Minivan Powertrain

Chrysler and the EPA have announced a joint research project to develop a new hybrid system for passenger vehicles. The project will use a Chrysler Town & Country minivan with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine—the van comes only with a V-6 from the factory—equipped with a hydraulic hybrid system.

The idea for hydraulic hybrids isn’t new: Some UPS delivery trucks and garbage trucks already employ a similar powertrain. In the Chrysler-EPA project, the 2.4-liter engine is not attached to the drive wheels. Instead, it turns a fluid pump which can store up to 5000 psi of hydraulic pressure in a 14.4-gallon accumulator. The fluid is channeled through a two-speed transmission and turns a hydraulic motor, which turns the drive wheels. If there’s enough stored hydraulic pressure, the gasoline engine can shut off, providing the stop-start functionality common to most hybrids. These types of hybrid systems are ideally suited to frequent stops and starts, such as in heavy city traffic.

The EPA and Chrysler will work on shrinking the required hardware, as well as making it smoother and quieter to better suit passenger-car applications. Chrysler plans to have a running demonstration vehicle ready by 2012. The automaker believes the system is simpler and more energy-efficient than battery hybrid systems. The technology is expected to  improve the fuel economy of a minivan by 30 to 35 percent in all driving situations, and up to 60 percent in stop-and-go city travel.

There are currently no firm plans for a production hybrid minivan based on the EPA research project, but if the prototype vehicles are successful, it’s likely we’ll see a hydraulic hybrid powertrain in the next-generation Chrysler minivan, due in 2013 or 2014. If the tests don’t satisfy Chrysler, a traditional battery hybrid minivan is also a possibility.

In a recent speech at the Ontario plant that builds the Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan, Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said of hybrid vans: “We can do all those things, assume that it will happen in due time,” but didn’t want to make any boastful announcements until the product is ready. He also said that there will only be one version of the next-generation van, either a Dodge or Chrysler model, but that the vehicle’s platform will be “versatile.” It’s possible the platform will birth a Dodge minivan and a Chrysler crossover, among other vehicles.

Marchionne also reiterated that an electric version of the new-to-America Fiat 500 is on track for a 2012 debut.

2011 Volkswagen Routan Minivan Gets 283 hp

2011 Volkswagen Routan Minivan Gets 283 hp

Just as Chrysler and Dodge face-lifted their minivans for the 2011 model year, the Volkswagen Routan—a Mopar van with a VeeDub logo on the hood—is tweaked for 2011, including a significant powertrain upgrade and some interior improvements.

The Routan’s powertrain lineup has been streamlined, from two V-6 engines to only Chrysler’s new 3.6-liter six-cylinder. It’s produces 283 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque and is mated exclusively to a six-speed automatic transmission; some previous Routan trims had a four-speed auto. The output makes the new mill not only more powerful than the Routan’s old stable of engines—a 197-hp, 3.8-liter V-6 and a 253-hp, 4.0-liter V-6—but at 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway, more fuel efficient than they were, too. (For our impression of how the new powertrain fares in the van triplets, check out our 2011 Dodge Caravan review)

Unlike its American progenitors, which feature freshly face-lifted sheetmetal, the Routan doesn’t receive any exterior updates. The interior, however, has been dolled up with a new multifunction leather-wrapped steering wheel, a leather-wrapped shift knob, thicker carpeting, and a lightly revised instrument cluster. Front side airbags are now standard, as is a driver’s knee airbag, and all Routans will be equipped with an “ECO” button, which kicks the transmission into a fuel-economy-oriented mode. Stowable roof rails become standard for SE and SEL trim levels, and a new Garmin-powered navigation system is available for SE models.

The best things in life may be free, but in this case you’ll have to pay for the additional power and features in the Routan. The entry-level Routan S now starts at $27,750, an increase of $1050 over last year, while the top-spec Routan SEL Premium stickers at $44,060, an increase of $760 versus 2010 pricing.

These changes help the partially German, mostly American Routan keep up with its siblings—although that’s only on paper. The Routan is positioned price-wise between the Caravan and Town & Country, but its sales are a tiny fraction of those and other major minivan players. To wit: Volkswagen sold 14,714 Routans in the first 11 months of 2010, while Dodge nearly matched that with 14,266 in December alone. So we certainly welcome this slew of improvements for the Routan, but are looking forward to 2014, when Volkswagen is likely to replace the Chrysler-based people carrier with its own creation, the retro-fabulous Microbus.

2012 Ram Cargo Van

2012 Ram Cargo Van

There’s something about cargo vans that we love. Obviously, it’s not because they’re fun to drive (although there is something fantastic about pitching a self-propelled warehouse sideways, but we digress). Rather, it’s because of what they can become. As artists take to blank canvases, so do our imaginations to cargo vans. Cargo vans start out as nothing, but can become anything, from rolling billboards or innocuous delivery vehicles to clandestine command centers or mobile man caves. (Check out how we designed our own digital Ford Transit Connect.)

And so we welcome the newest entry to join the all-too-thin ranks of mobile air enclosures: the Ram Cargo Van. Okay, so this Ram basically is an attempt to rescue some of the commercial sales lost when Mercedes reclaimed the Sprinter for its own dealers, and it also picks up where the old Dodge Grand Caravan C/V—a gutted, paneled Dodge Grand Caravan just like this—left off. But as with all of Chrysler’s 2011 minivans, the Ram C/V is equipped with Chrysler’s 283-hp Pentastar V-6, a more refined chassis, and many of the features found in Chrysler’s more family-oriented minivan models, some new to the cargo-van milieu.

Specifically, the Ram Cargo Van gets dual-zone air conditioning, an outside temperature display, numerous power outlets, and an in-cabin air-filtration system (that’s right, go ahead and eat all the bean burritos you want). Also found inside the C/V’s interior are cloth-upholstered driver and passenger seats, driver and passenger-side visors (with mirrors!), lower-dashboard storage, dual glove boxes, a cargo-compartment observation mirror, power locks and front windows, cruise control, and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel.

On the C/V’s options list are glass windows in place of any of the solid panels (which sort of look like vinyl over glass anyway), as well as an engine-block heater, a media center with 30-gig hard drive and 6.5-inch touch-screen display, an input for mobile audio devices, a Garmin-powered navigation system, and a backup camera. Also available is an eight-way power driver’s seat, an alarm, Sirius radio, Bluetooth connectivity, a USB port, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls.

No More Excuses for Late Deliveries

The sole powertrain for the C/V is the aforementioned 283-hp V-6. It puts out 260 lb-ft of torque and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with manumatic function. The Ram’s hollowed-out interior results in a claimed 4150-lb curb weight, some 360 pounds lighter than the Dodge Grand Caravan, which already feels rather brisk (for a minivan, anyway) with Pentastar power. Curtain airbags are optional to protect flower arrangements and wedding cakes in the event of a side collision.

2012 Mercedes-Benz

2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 / ML550 / ML63

When Mercedes-Benz launched the first ML in 1997, it was among the first of the then-new class of stylish, comfortable, and carlike SUVs. Along with the BMW X5 and Lexus RX300, the M-class prompted affluent customers to turn to high rooflines in droves. Now the next-generation M-class, internally named W166, is almost ready to launch. We should see the first official pictures of the next M this summer, but one of our devoted readers caught this prototype out for a drive wearing very little disguise.

These shots show a similar roofline to the current generation’s, combined with a number of styling cues from Mercedes’ new styling notebook. The contour of the headlights evokes the C-class and the rear fenders stick out like the current E-class’s. The long wheelbase suggests that the next M-class could even offer seven-passenger seating, but that could make the crossover too similar to the more-expensive GL.

Mercedes already learned the lesson that off-road capability is something that customers rarely brag about and seldom use. We hear from within the company that the next-generation ML will place even less emphasis on truckishness and be more like a tall, four-wheel drive station wagon. There will be an optional air suspension, but its primary purpose will be to allow owners to lower the M-class for easier ingress and egress, rather than hike it up for tip-toeing over boulders.

Hybrids, Diesels, and Horsepower

Power will come from four-, six-, and eight-cylinder engines, although we won’t see any fours in the U.S. We will again get a six-cylinder diesel option, which will see power grow from today’s 210 horsepower to 225. A stronger diesel also is likely, but it won’t be the diesel V-8 currently available in Europe, as that engine is being phased out.

Our base engine should be a 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6 with more than 300 hp. Above that will be a version of Mercedes’ new 4.6-liter turbo V-8 with around 450 hp. The awesome ML63—yes, it will reappear—will have more than 550 horsepower from AMG’s 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8. Mercedes also is planning to offer a plug-in hybrid based on the 3.0-liter V-6, which should have around 380 hp, and a hybrid version of the 2.1-liter four-cylinder turbo-diesel. The latter will almost certainly stay in Europe, although we will see the engine, if not the hybrid system, in the GLK later this year.

Look for Mercedes to maintain its status as a technology and safety leader by offering a plethora of assistance systems. And an off-road package will likely remain on the options list, just in case you still need to brag.

2012 BMW M3 Evo

2012 BMW M3 Evo

BMW added the orangalicious, bewinged, and stripped-out GTS to the M3 coupe lineup last summer; the next model in the special-edition pecking order, apparently, is the M3 sedan.

Such a model was previewed by the Lightweight M3 Sedan Concept shown this past April, and now the company is putting the production version through its paces at the Nürburgring. Heck, the car seen here may actually be the “concept,” as it looks identical—right down to the black wheels—excepting windows you can actually see through and the missing chin spoiler.

This special M3 won’t be an exact, tit-for-tat partner for the GTS. BMW says that, in the interest of streetability, the GTS sedan will instead occupy the wafer-thin real estate between that hard-core variant and the stock car. It’s thus unlikely to make as much power as the 444-horse GTS (or get that car’s bored-out 4.4-liter), instead utilizing a slightly brawnier version of the regular 4.0-liter S65 V-8, which is good for 414 hp in basic tune.

It also clearly won’t get the GTS’s huge, junge-racer spoiler, and the navy paint is several steps less garish than the two-door’s tangerine stuff. It will, however, follow the GTS’s lead in reducing curb weight, although the exact method is unknown at this point. Figure on expanded use of carbon fiber, as well as a few key equipment deletions.

Full details on the car—including the final name, which could incorporate GTS or even resurrect the old Evolution addendum—will emerge from the M division’s big party at the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring in June. Don’t rush to your local dealer to drop a deposit, though, as this one’s probably joining the GTS as a limited-production European exclusive.

BMW, BMW Vision ConnectedDrive Concept

BMW, BMW Vision ConnectedDrive Concept

BMW's history is littered with roadsters, from the pre-war 328 and the beautiful 507, to the futuristic Z1 and the more recent Z3 and Z4 models. So it’s perhaps no wonder that the Bavarians are using the body style to give us a glimpse of its possible future in terms of technology and style.

The Vision ConnectedDrive occupies a place on BMW’s stand at the Geneva auto show. The two-door roadster’s "layered" appearance evokes the EfficientDynamics concept from 2009, while its asymmetrical layout brings back memories of 2001’s X Coupe concept. Just as the former previewed a wild, forthcoming production car and the latter ushered in the Bangle design era, the Vision ConnectedDrive provides a glimpse of BMWs to come.

Layered, Like an Onion

But rather than having a single plane of smooth sheetmetal or plastic covering up the functional elements of the vehicle, the concept employs different layers of material. The broken-up structures partially reveal the technology hidden underneath, and what you see changes significantly with every angle. The doors, inspired by the Z1’s, slide into the body, and the car can be driven with the doors tucked away.

The layered surfaces are enhanced with fiber-optic lighting effects that highlight the different functions and sections of the car. We’re not sure yet if we like it, but we appreciate the hard work: it certainly isn't possible to design a car like this with just a few pen strokes. And it is a remarkable and potentially trend-setting approach that is every bit as daring as the one taken by BMW design ten years ago with the X Coupe.

The windshield acts as the medium for a three-dimensional head-up display, and additional information is shown on the monitor behind the steering wheel. Tellingly, the layer that displays relevant driving information is christened the "safety layer," and it is fed by plenty of watchful sensors.

A larger zone that also encompasses the passengers is called the "infotainment layer," and it offers movies, music, and internet access. Passengers also get their own display with nav and music info, which can then be sent to the driver’s attention at the press of a finger.

The third layer is the entire vehicle, and falls under the touchy-feely term "comfort layer." It includes car-to-car and car-to-infrastructure communications; we hope the latter excludes car-to-cop shout-outs.

But underneath the layering, the concept seems fairly normal. It’s a traditional roadster, with a long hood, front wheels pushed far toward the corners, and an angry-looking front end that hews closely to BMW's current corporate look.

All-Seeing Future Tech

BMW is showcasing a bunch of new technologies in Geneva. They include connectivity with your smart phone, an AmEx Centurion–like concierge service, and automated self-parking. There also is an "emotional browser" that can, for example, download the music playlist of a café you’re passing, or provide architectural information on the surrounding buildings. It also includes an online purchasing function, so you can immediately buy what you see.

But the tech also highlights safety, of course. In the ConnectedDrive concept, sensors in the head- and taillights constantly scan the vehicle's surroundings, and a perceived danger is not only highlighted but also augmented with suggestions for evasive action.

BMW, by the way, doesn't say anything about the ConnectedDrive’s powertrain. Could it be BMW’s naturally aspirated inline-six, the traditional engine for the company’s roadsters? We somehow doubt it. And in all honesty, with this concept monitoring and second-guessing your driving, we’re not quite sure whether the statement that "the engineers of the BMW Group are working incessantly to turn this into reality for series-production vehicles" should be classified as a promise or a threat.

BMW Releases Second M5 Teaser

BMW Releases Second M5 Teaser

As promised yesterday, BMW has dropped another teaser video of the upcoming M5, and it yields a clearer look at the 500-plus-hp sedan as it slides across snow-covered back roads. (This sneak peek was scheduled to drop tomorrow;

 it seems that Thursday is the new Friday in Munich.) Though it’s more revealing than seeing the car in a dark tunnel, key parts of the M5’s body are still clad in camouflage. M division head Kay Segler also appears in the clip, promising the M5 will exude traits of both an executive sedan and a sports car—which is, uh, the same goal as every preceding M5.

The hot 5er should debut at the Shanghai auto show in April. For more on what we expect, read our earlier report here.