Chrysler pumps up V-8 Hemi to 6.1 Liters
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Chrysler pumps up V-8 Hemi to 6.1 Liters
Chrysler pumps up V-8 Hemi
Automaker works on larger 6.1 liter version to counter powerful engines from GM, Ford
By Brett Clanton / The Detroit News
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AUBURN HILLS — Casting aside fears that rising gas prices will steer consumers away from gas-guzzlers, Chrysler is developing an even larger version of its popular V-8 Hemi engine, according to industry analysts and company sources.
The move comes as General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and others are supersizing engines and threatening to outmuscle the current 340-horsepower Hemi, a major marketing and sales success for DaimlerChrysler AG’s Chrysler Group.
“Chrysler has to do something or they’ll be left behind,” said John Wolkonwicz, a market analyst with Global Insight in Lexington, Mass.
The automaker is expected to build a higher-output, 6.1-liter Hemi to join the current 5.7-liter model, now available in Dodge pickups and SUVs as well as the Chrysler 300 Series sedan. As many as half of buyers choose the Hemi in those vehicles.
“Our industry sources tell us there will be a 6.1-liter Hemi,” said Anthony Pratt, senior manager for global powertrain at J.D. Power and Associates.
Chrysler has begun putting the bigger Hemi in prototype models of the all-new 2005 Dodge Charger sedan, which is in test production in Brampton, Ontario, according to two company sources familiar with the project. The Charger is expected to reach showrooms next spring.
In the Charger, a bigger Hemi would provide more horsepower than the current 340-hp Hemi engine, Wolkonowicz said.
“They could probably get 375 or 380 out of it with no problem at all,” he said, putting the engine in league with the classic Hemi engines of the 1950s and 1960s.
In trucks, the bigger Hemi also could increase low-end torque, which would improve towing capacity, he said.
Though the larger Hemi will likely get lower gas mileage than its predecessor, it may not be enough to deter interested buyers, Pratt said.
“All things said and done, I think power is more important to the typical American car buyer than fuel efficiency,” he said.
Ford Motor Co. also is working on a higher-output V-8 engine, known internally as the Hurricane, with a 6.2-liter displacement and 350-horsepower. Currently, Ford’s biggest V-8 engine is the 300-horsepower, 5.4-liter Triton V-8.
You can reach Brett Clanton at (313) 222-2612 or bclanton@detnews.com.
Automaker works on larger 6.1 liter version to counter powerful engines from GM, Ford
By Brett Clanton / The Detroit News
Comment on this story
Send this story to a friend
Get Home Delivery
AUBURN HILLS — Casting aside fears that rising gas prices will steer consumers away from gas-guzzlers, Chrysler is developing an even larger version of its popular V-8 Hemi engine, according to industry analysts and company sources.
The move comes as General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and others are supersizing engines and threatening to outmuscle the current 340-horsepower Hemi, a major marketing and sales success for DaimlerChrysler AG’s Chrysler Group.
“Chrysler has to do something or they’ll be left behind,” said John Wolkonwicz, a market analyst with Global Insight in Lexington, Mass.
The automaker is expected to build a higher-output, 6.1-liter Hemi to join the current 5.7-liter model, now available in Dodge pickups and SUVs as well as the Chrysler 300 Series sedan. As many as half of buyers choose the Hemi in those vehicles.
“Our industry sources tell us there will be a 6.1-liter Hemi,” said Anthony Pratt, senior manager for global powertrain at J.D. Power and Associates.
Chrysler has begun putting the bigger Hemi in prototype models of the all-new 2005 Dodge Charger sedan, which is in test production in Brampton, Ontario, according to two company sources familiar with the project. The Charger is expected to reach showrooms next spring.
In the Charger, a bigger Hemi would provide more horsepower than the current 340-hp Hemi engine, Wolkonowicz said.
“They could probably get 375 or 380 out of it with no problem at all,” he said, putting the engine in league with the classic Hemi engines of the 1950s and 1960s.
In trucks, the bigger Hemi also could increase low-end torque, which would improve towing capacity, he said.
Though the larger Hemi will likely get lower gas mileage than its predecessor, it may not be enough to deter interested buyers, Pratt said.
“All things said and done, I think power is more important to the typical American car buyer than fuel efficiency,” he said.
Ford Motor Co. also is working on a higher-output V-8 engine, known internally as the Hurricane, with a 6.2-liter displacement and 350-horsepower. Currently, Ford’s biggest V-8 engine is the 300-horsepower, 5.4-liter Triton V-8.
You can reach Brett Clanton at (313) 222-2612 or bclanton@detnews.com.
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RE: Chrysler pumps up V-8 Hemi to 6.1 Liters
The question is why would they only go to 6.1. That's just 372 cubic inches vs. the 343 for current engine. Does anyone here have any idea what the maximum displacement for this design is? I've heard that it is actually slightly smaller than the GM III V-8 in exterior dimensions. I'm very interested in the limits of bore and stroke on this one.
If you could get to 6.3 (383cid) without 'siamese' cylinders (they don't cool well - just ask Chevy 400 small block owners) then supercharge or turbocharge, you could just get rid of the inefficient V-10 design, which traces it's lineage back to the 340 (in bore) and the block from the 273.
Seems like the 4.7 ohc V-8 is the stepchild in all this. It's hp is about what the 3.5 dohc V-6 makes: 250hp. I suppose it's for this reason that they don't even bother offering the 4.7 in the LX cars. I would be interested in an 'entry level' 292 Hemi with cylinder de-activation that might get the same (or perhaps better) gas mileage as the 4.7 but offer more power (about 290hp). I know they could do variable valve lift easier on the ohc, but they can do cylinder shutoff easier with ohv. A 292 hemi would be a bridge between the 3.5L (213cid) V-6 and 343 V-8, then you could have a 383 as the 'bragging rights' motor for the Charger and top gasoline option for pickups. The full blown supercharged 383, perhaps the only Hemi made of alluminium, would be reserved for the srt pickup and/or the Viper.
If you could get to 6.3 (383cid) without 'siamese' cylinders (they don't cool well - just ask Chevy 400 small block owners) then supercharge or turbocharge, you could just get rid of the inefficient V-10 design, which traces it's lineage back to the 340 (in bore) and the block from the 273.
Seems like the 4.7 ohc V-8 is the stepchild in all this. It's hp is about what the 3.5 dohc V-6 makes: 250hp. I suppose it's for this reason that they don't even bother offering the 4.7 in the LX cars. I would be interested in an 'entry level' 292 Hemi with cylinder de-activation that might get the same (or perhaps better) gas mileage as the 4.7 but offer more power (about 290hp). I know they could do variable valve lift easier on the ohc, but they can do cylinder shutoff easier with ohv. A 292 hemi would be a bridge between the 3.5L (213cid) V-6 and 343 V-8, then you could have a 383 as the 'bragging rights' motor for the Charger and top gasoline option for pickups. The full blown supercharged 383, perhaps the only Hemi made of alluminium, would be reserved for the srt pickup and/or the Viper.
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RE: Chrysler pumps up V-8 Hemi to 6.1 Liters
That is a spy photo of the 6.1L HEMI V-8 in a LX model test mule. The 6.1L HEMI V-8 will debut in the 2006 Dodge Charger. It's codename inside the Auburn Hills Headquarts is "440". No one is sure if that is the number of horsepower or torque that will be turning out of the motor. The motor will also debut in the 2006 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty models as an option to the 5.7L HEMI "MAGNUM" V-8 and a replacement for the 8.0L "MAGNUM" V-10, which was cancelled in the 2003 model year. This engine will not make it to the Ram 1500!
Second, the current 5.7L HEMI "MAGNUM" V-8 is said to be 348ci on dealer invoice stickers, while the 5.7L HEMI V-8 in the Magnum and 300C is also said to be 348ci on dealer invoice stickers.
redriderbob
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RE: Chrysler pumps up V-8 Hemi to 6.1 Liters
Elvis, I like the way you think -- I agree that there should be two levels of HEMI. A smaller displacement HEMI that puts out "only" 300 lb.-ft. of torque would probably break 30 mpg with an MDS-flashed PCM. Still, I like the current 390+ lb.-ft. HEMI that knocks down 25-27 mpg. Now if only DCX would put it in a car that weighs less than 3,800 lbs. 
From what I could tell at the Chicago Auto Show (which wasn't very scientific), the 5.7L HEMI looked physically bigger than an LS1. Hell, the wide valvecovers made it look bigger than the 360 that it's supposed to weight ~60lbs. less than! But neither the HEMI nor the LS1 are bigger than Ford's ridiculous SOHC 4.6L V8 mod-motor (much less the DOHC Mach I mill).
Frickin' huge...!
- novicius -
From what I could tell at the Chicago Auto Show (which wasn't very scientific), the 5.7L HEMI looked physically bigger than an LS1. Hell, the wide valvecovers made it look bigger than the 360 that it's supposed to weight ~60lbs. less than! But neither the HEMI nor the LS1 are bigger than Ford's ridiculous SOHC 4.6L V8 mod-motor (much less the DOHC Mach I mill).
Frickin' huge...!- novicius -
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RE: Chrysler pumps up V-8 Hemi to 6.1 Liters
Redrider Bob
For some reason, I thought the Hemi was a 345 - I saw the 343 from a the post you made on the new Power Wagon. 348 is exactly 5.7 so that makes the most sense.
Could be the 6.1 is a sort of intermediary step - maybe they're saving a larger version for 2008 or something.
I've heard on the GMI website that Chevy's bringing back the 'siamese' cylinder configuration with a 427 small block that is supposed to compete with the new version of the Ford GT 40. Maybe they've solved the cooling issues of the old small block 400, but that was a low revving torque oriented motor while this rumored 427 is a screamer - will be interesting to see if they have licked the cooling problem.
There's a Car Craft article on the Hemi from a month or two ago, maybe I can find info on the bore and stroke limits there.
For some reason, I thought the Hemi was a 345 - I saw the 343 from a the post you made on the new Power Wagon. 348 is exactly 5.7 so that makes the most sense.
Could be the 6.1 is a sort of intermediary step - maybe they're saving a larger version for 2008 or something.
I've heard on the GMI website that Chevy's bringing back the 'siamese' cylinder configuration with a 427 small block that is supposed to compete with the new version of the Ford GT 40. Maybe they've solved the cooling issues of the old small block 400, but that was a low revving torque oriented motor while this rumored 427 is a screamer - will be interesting to see if they have licked the cooling problem.
There's a Car Craft article on the Hemi from a month or two ago, maybe I can find info on the bore and stroke limits there.
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RE: Chrysler pumps up V-8 Hemi to 6.1 Liters
Well the 6.1L HEMI V-8 is as big is its going to get, minus the HEMI "VIPER" V-10, which will have 600+ horsepower, but will only be available in the Viper SRT-10 and Ram SRT-10? Reason i put a question mark there, is because I heard a rumor from one of the people I talk to online who works as a test driver for DCX, and he said he heard that Dodge is thinking about dropping the Ram SRT-10 in a few years, in opt. for a SRT-8 model Ram, w/ HEMI "SUPERCHARGED" power, but he said thats just a rumor, so it prolly isn't true. But back to the 6.1L... it will be the biggest HEMI non Viper related motor, that everyone knows of for a while.
I have the Car Craft mag., w/ the HEMI article around here, but I tore out the poster and put it on my bedroom wall. So I will check it when I am in my room and write the bore and stroke down for ya.
redriderbob
I have the Car Craft mag., w/ the HEMI article around here, but I tore out the poster and put it on my bedroom wall. So I will check it when I am in my room and write the bore and stroke down for ya.
redriderbob