Pentastar V6 to Find its Way Into 13 Models Across the Chrysler Group Range, Including 2011 Challenger

The Chrysler Group's new Pentastar V6 gasoline engine will either replace current six-cylinder units or be introduced for the first time on a total of 13 vehicles across the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep range by 2013, the company announced this week.

The 3.6-liter V6 unit will be offered with different levels of output, the most powerful [for now] iteration being the one fitted on the upcoming 2011 Dodge Challenger, which will be rated at 305 bhp at 6,350 rpm and 268 lb.ft. at 4,800 rpm, representing a 55 horsepower increase over the previous 3.5-liter V6.

On the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Pentastar V6 produces 290HP, while on the forthcoming 2011 Dodge Avenger, and Chrysler 200 sedan and Town & Country minivan, it will deliver 283HP. The soon-to-be-launched 2011 Dodge Charger will feature a 292-horsepower variant of the 3.6-liter V6. Other models to get the Pentastar V6 include the new Dodge Durango and Journey.

According to Chrysler, the new Pentastar V6 is not only more and fuel efficient than the six-cylinder engines it replaces, but is also significantly lighter. For example, the new 3.6L V6 is 94 lbs. lighter than the 3.7-liter engine it replaced in Jeep Grand Cherokee and 42 lbs. less than the 3.5-liter it replaces on the Chrysler 300.

"The Pentastar engine is suited to meet the requirements for a full range of vehicle applications in terms of power and fuel efficiency (average savings up to 7 percent across the model range) including passenger cars, mini-vans and sport utilities," said Bob Lee, vice president of engine engineering for Chrysler Group LLC.

"It has been designed for today and many years to come. Already, we are looking forward to adapting future technologies as they become available to the Pentastar V-6 for even more fuel efficiency and performance."

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New Chrysler 200 May be Rebadged as a Lancia in Europe

Chrysler's redesigned / facelifted Sebring, which will go on sale in the U.S. later this year as the new 200 sedan, was only just released on Tuesday, yet we already have news that it may be sold in mainland Europe as a Lancia and as a Chrysler in the UK and Ireland (the Italian firm has withdrawn from these markets). The Fiat Group is considering the move not so much for retail sales as to help boost fleet sales in key markets such as Germany and the UK.

"We are running numbers to see if it could become a profitable business case," Olivier Francois, CEO of the Chrysler and Lancia brands told Autonews Europe.

The news site reports that a major drawback to this move is that no diesel engine will be available on the 200 in the United States, where the car will be offered with 2.4-liter 4-cylinder and 3.6-liter V6 gasoline engines. However, the report doesn't mention that the current Sebring [Convertible] is offered with a 2.0-liter CRDi turbodiesel engine in certain European markets.

The main problem is the cost and the fact that the 200 would be sold for less than three years in the European market since the Fiat Group is planning to replace the car with all-new model for both Chrysler and Lancia brands in late 2013. The relatively short sale timeframe would make it difficult for the company to recover the investment.

On that note, industry sources state that the Fiat Group will have to spend around €50 million ($70 million) to modify the 200 for Europe. This number is said to include adapting the car for diesel engine(s) as well as redesigning certain parts such as bumpers and lights.

If the Fiat Group makes a business case for the Lancia-badged 200, expect to see the car arriving in the market in the second-half of 2011.

Source: ANE [Sub. Req]

*The opening picture is a Carscoop photoshop

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Chrysler Drops the Curtain on New 200 Sedan

After bringing you dimly-lit pics of the Chrysler 200's exterior last week, as well as some hints of the potential jump in interior quality, we now have EVEN MORE official photos from Chrysler.

Finally, we get a glimpse of the post-Sebring in some proper lighting. Although we now have a much better view of what the nose and tail will look like, I'm still waiting for the rear 3/4, profile, and interior shots before an official judgment is thrown out there.

From what I'm seeing, the new front and rear treatments integrate well with the old Sebring's body while adding some decidedly classier (and modern) lines to the chunky mid-sizer.

For all the specs and pics that have dropped so far, check out our previous posts, but as a refresher, Chrysler will offer the new 200 sedan with a 2.4-liter I-4 World Gas Engine mated to either a four-speed or six-speed automatic, or the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine linked to a six-speed automatic.

As for me, I'll be here in my jammies twiddling my thumbs, waiting to see what they did with the interior. Oh, and the AWD mentioned in the comments of the last 200 update would be a nice addition, too.

By Phil Alex

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Fresh Photos of New Chrysler 200 Sporting Brand's New Grille

Now that Chrysler Group has announced its new European Jeep lineup and revealed the next-gen Dodge Durango and Charger, the most important cars to expect soon are the 200 and 300 sedans. Chrysler has put out some new photos of its redesigned and renamed Sebring replacement, and we finally get a better look at the car's nose plus a peek at the leather interior with contrasting stitching.

You already know the car will get a the 2.4-liter I4 World Gas Engine and the new Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 with 283 horsepower. For the rest of all the released info, head over to our previous post. Right now we're here to check out the latest teasers from Chrysler.

With a full, if dim, view of the front end, it looks like the new Chrysler grille will get some styling cues from -wait for the shocker- Hyundai's latest proposals. Hopefully we'll be getting some proper pictures soon that will put any fears to rest.

Remember, this is just meant to be a stop-gap solution using the 200C concept's style on an old Sebring chassis; the next all-new 200 should be significantly less Sebring and more its own model in-line dimensionally with the concept it's based on.

By Phil Alex

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