LOS ANGELES — The next generation of Chrysler's full-sized, rear-drive cars will exceed tougher fuel economy standards that take effect in two years, says the company's product development chief.
The restyled and re-engineered Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger are due for the 2011 model year. "These vehicles will be CAFE-positive," Frank Klegon, executive vice president of product development, said last month at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The U.S government has not released regulations for the new corporate average fuel economy law, Klegon said, but "we think we know what it is." ‑
Essentially, the new federal regulations call for a 4 percent annual increase in fuel economy starting in 2011. The preliminary version of the new rules calls for an industrywide average of 31.6 mpg by 2015. Today's federal standard is 27.5 mpg for cars and 23.1 mpg for light trucks.
Klegon said a combination of modifications including those made to the engine, aerodynamics and axle ratios will contribute to the boost in fuel economy. The current four-speed automatic transmission may be replaced with an eight-speed gearbox.
But he said the biggest factor is a new, more efficient V-6 engine family, code-named Phoenix. The engines will replace all current Chrysler car and light-truck V-6s.
"The engine really creates a great economy of scale for us," said Klegon.
The 2009 Dodge Charger with the 2.7-liter V-6 gets 18 mpg city/26 highway, according to the EPA. The 3.5-liter V-6 has a rating of 17 city/25 highway.
Aerodynamics are another big factor.
"Now that the design office works for me, we have really good discussions about front-wheel coverage and things that are very, very important about aerodynamics," said Klegon, who took direct authority over vehicle styling last summer. "So we are very bullish about the full-sized car and its ability to deliver on the numbers."
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洛杉矶—下一代的克莱斯勒全尺寸、后轮驱动汽车会超过将于两年后实施的更严格的燃油经济性标准，该公司的产品开发首席官员说。
重新进行过造型和工程设计的克莱斯勒300和道奇Charger是将于2011年上市的车型。“这些车辆将具有主动的公司平均燃料经济性，”Frank Klegon，产品开发执行副总裁，在上个月的洛杉矶车展上这样说。美国政府还没有公布新的公司平均燃油经济性法规，Klegon说，“但我们认为我们知道它是什么。”
从本质上讲，新的联邦法规要求燃油经济性从2011年开始每年增加4%。新法规的最初版本要求到2015年全行业平均水平为每加仑行驶31.6英里。而现行的联邦标准是轿车每加仑行驶27.5英里和轻卡每加仑行驶23.1英里。
Klegon说，包括了引擎、空气动力学和车轴的比率等一系列的修改将有助于提升燃油经济性。目前的4速自动变速箱有可能被8速变速箱取代。
但他说，最大的因素是一个新的更有效的V-6引擎家族，它的代号是凤凰。该发动机将取代目前所有的克莱斯勒轿车和轻型卡车的V-6s引擎。
“对于我们来说，引擎真的创造了巨大的经济规模，”Klegon说。
配备了2.7升V-6引擎的2009款道奇Charger得到城市每加仑行驶18英里、公路每加仑行驶25英里的评级，根据美国环保局的数据，3.5升V- 6引擎的评级为城市每加仑行驶17英里、公路每加仑行驶25英里。
空气动力学是另一个重要因素
“现在，对于在办公室做设计工作的我来说，我们对于前轮覆盖范围以及对于空气动力学非常非常重要的事情都已经有了很好的讨论，”Klegon说，他在去年夏天直接领导和负责汽车的造型工作。“因此，我们非常看好全尺寸轿车以及它所能提供的评级。”
（转载）
