That Thing Got a HEMI®? Probably.



HEMI® take-rate hits 46 percent

Chrysler Group ups ante with all-new beefed-up 425-horsepower 6.1-liter HEMI V-8

All-new HEMI engine generates 25 percent more power - additional 85 horses

Auburn Hills, Mich., Dec 09, 2004 - The HEMI® continues to build momentum.

Since first introducing the all-new 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine for the 2003 model year, Chrysler Group has sold more than 300,000 vehicles with a HEMI inside. In Chrysler Group vehicles where HEMI is offered, the take-rate is 46 percent.

"The HEMI continues to resonate with consumers and has essentially become a brand within our brands," said Eric Ridenour, Executive Vice President, Product Development, Chrysler Group. "And with MDS, our modern cylinder deactivation system, the HEMI seamlessly moves from eight cylinders to four cylinders and back. The only thing customers notice is a savings in fuel economy of up to 20 percent."

On a product-by-product basis, the HEMI remains a popular engine choice. For Dodge Durango, the take-rate is 54 percent. The 2005 Dodge Ram is at 46 percent while Dodge Magnum and Chrysler 300C are at 43 percent. Jeep® Grand Cherokee's take-rate is 29 percent. MDS is available on Dodge Magnum, Chrysler 300C and Jeep Grand Cherokee.

In the spring of 2005, Chrysler Group will up the ante and unleash an all-new, beefed-up 6.1-liter 425-horsepower HEMI V-8 engine in the new 2005 Chrysler 300C SRT8. Preliminary performance targets for Chrysler 300C SRT8 are 0-60 mph in the low five-second range and a quarter-mile time in the high 13-second range.

The 425-horsepower, naturally aspirated 6.1-liter HEMI will be the highest specific-output V-8 engine ever offered by the Chrysler Group. Its 69.8-horsepower-per-liter rating exceeds even that of the legendary 1966 "Street HEMI." Torque is rated at 420 lb.-ft.

"Without question, the HEMI continues to play a critical role in building momentum for the Chrysler Group," said Ridenour. "With the introduction of the 6.1-liter HEMI, we're taking the legendary HEMI to a new level of benchmark performance."

Chrysler Group builds HEMI engines at its Saltillo (Mexico) Engine Plant. Production for the 6.1-liter HEMI begins in early 2005. Chrysler Group sales are up three percent year-over-year through November.

DaimlerChrysler Media

redriderbob

 

Dodge is starting to get alittle Horse Power crazy...which isn't always a bad thing, but when you have stock 300C's nearly beating the almighty Viper, then you know something's wrong. I guess their just trying to beat their Ford competition or something along those lines...



-Matt-

 

Don't worry Matt, they'll probably up the HP's on the Viper too. They can't let that POS Ford GT beat a Viper. But then again, maybe that's what the ME 412 is for.

 

Just remember the horsepower wars are back boys, and Chrysler Group is leading the way w/ the most powerful pickups, full-size cars, sports-cars, and soon (depending on if the funding is still coming) supercar manufacture in North America!

redriderbob

 

Yeah more mexican built engines![:@]

 

Jgralka-

When you say you got your 2004 Ram 1500 with the 4.7 by choice, you did't get the Hemi because its built in Mexico did ya???

If you did, you better stop liking Chrysler becasue alot of their new cars are not 100% American made. Their mostly German and some are made in Canada.

- Jeffy James

 

Now if they would only wrap it all in a pckage that I would actually consider BUYING, THAT would be an accomplishment!

 

I don't mind if their stuff is built in Germany. They're quite good with vehicles....but when Mexicans build them you know it's going to suck [:'(]



-Matt-

 

 

Rumor has it, they might start building more HEMI engines at a 2nd plant, at their St. Louis plant! Remember, just a rumor!

redriderbob