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...... Why didn't anyone with Chrysler engineer the engine so that the buzzing nature was removed and made to be a smooth ride? Another thing that would improve these models is handles above the doors for support and for ease of getting in and out. My wife's former car, 1996 Mazda Protege' had this and it made it easier for her father (now 84) to get in and out the vehicle. The vehicle seat height and wide door opening is fine. Glad the Sebring and Avenger price is pretty close since they're the exact same car but with different body cladding.
If the Lancia Delta is going to be the Chrysler Delta (or whatever name they pick), how much more will it cost compared to the outgoing Caliber and will it ever be built in North America? Can Chrysler ever get back to being a luxuary brand? I loved the look of the prototype show car, the Chrysler 200.
Buzzing: Contrary to popular consumer (and I include magazine writers in this category) beliefs, no engine "buzzes"...there are no bees added to a car to make the noise perceived as a buzz (yes, I have first hand knowledge of a complaint about insects against another manufacturer making such a claim). The sound you are describing is an issue of natural frequency of a panel, or other surface excited by vibration, not necessarily form the engine.
NVH is a cery costly issues are very costly to track down, so every manufacturer has a group of people dedicated to predicting, testing, and eliminating undesireable vibration results that show up during the life of a program, not just the design phase. Unfortunately, these guys do not have the authority to set the standards-program management does.
Additionally, there are conflicting sources of the vibration that CANNOT be modified without program delays, excessive cost, or simply are inheent to the beast.
Comsumers want the world, but don't want to pay for it. Classic case of catch-22....simply put, there is a point of no return. You will never have a totally silent vehicle that you can afford. No excuses, just the way it is.
Chrysler has had a long relationship with Mitusbishi. Will this new deal with FIAT mean the end of the Mitsubishi relationship and if so, could this potentially lead to the end of Mitsubishi in the USA?
Mitsu has not had any relationship on vehcle design and engineering for a few years now, and they are still selling cars in the US.
There is always the potential, but the proper question is "how likely is it?" In this case, not very.
PUNTO EVO (http://www.puntoevo.com/ - broken link)
To me, it seems a natural to bring this car here as an entry level Dodge and drop the Caliper entirely. Another FIAT possibility is this model which is what the Lancia Delta is based upon. the Lancia was stretched slightly for more room. Fiat.co.uk | Fiat Showroom : Latest Offers, Book a Test Drive, Fiat Car Range and more
This car, the FIAT Bravo, would be a fantastic choice in replacing the Caliber directly. The Punto Evo is smaller. If they're going to bring FIAT to Dodge, it appears the Bravo is a good choice for Dodge.
Mitsu has not had any relationship on vehcle design and engineering for a few years now, and they are still selling cars in the US.
There is always the potential, but the proper question is "how likely is it?" In this case, not very.
But isn't the current generation Sebring/Avenger/Caliber based upon the Mitsubishi Lancer/Galant platform and didn't Chrysler share development of it's "World Engine" 2.4L with Mitsubishi?
That I can understand. However, why didn't Chrysler connect it's 2.4L engine to an automatic transmission that contained more than 4speeds? Wouldn't one or two more gears have improved both the acceleration feel as well as the fuel economy numbers? With the optional V6, you get a 6 speed auto. Is this 6 speed auto unable to mate to the 2.4L world engine? Yes, it would have increased cost of the vehicle but it's expected with a Chrysler over Dodge.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob_Sheaves
Buzzing: Contrary to popular consumer (and I include magazine writers in this category) beliefs, no engine "buzzes"...there are no bees added to a car to make the noise perceived as a buzz (yes, I have first hand knowledge of a complaint about insects against another manufacturer making such a claim). The sound you are describing is an issue of natural frequency of a panel, or other surface excited by vibration, not necessarily form the engine.
NVH is a cery costly issues are very costly to track down, so every manufacturer has a group of people dedicated to predicting, testing, and eliminating undesireable vibration results that show up during the life of a program, not just the design phase. Unfortunately, these guys do not have the authority to set the standards-program management does.
Additionally, there are conflicting sources of the vibration that CANNOT be modified without program delays, excessive cost, or simply are inheent to the beast.
Comsumers want the world, but don't want to pay for it. Classic case of catch-22....simply put, there is a point of no return. You will never have a totally silent vehicle that you can afford. No excuses, just the way it is.
The current style of the FIAT 500 makes it a natural fit for Chrysler over Dodge to compete with other mini cars on the market. While some here focus on the performance coupes, Chrysler/Dodge needs a winner in the midsize and compact catagories for mass market appeal. Dodge Ram competes well in it's segment. Some think of the Chrysler 300 as a budget priced Bentley they can afford. The 300 and Charger also attracts fans of RWD cars since this is about the most affordable RWD car available. However, the current Sebring/Avenger is so far down the totem pole of the midsize segment that many car magazines don't even bother to include them in comparison test against it's segment leader competition. These two share with Mitsubishi Galant and Lancer. Who benefitted from this sharing because it sure wasn't Chrysler/Dodge. When it first came out, I loved the Chrysler 300M. But instead of improving upon a good thing, it completely went away except for the engine which is on the Sebring/Avenger as the top of the line optional engine. My personal opinion, an evolution of the 300M would have made a great Chrysler Sebring level vehicle.
I covered the "sharing" of those cars on Allpar quite extensively and I won't repeat it alll here (I can give you a link if desired), but the short form answer is that, no they are not siblings under the skin. Started out that they were, but quickly fell apart.
That I can understand. However, why didn't Chrysler connect it's 2.4L engine to an automatic transmission that contained more than 4speeds? Wouldn't one or two more gears have improved both the acceleration feel as well as the fuel economy numbers? With the optional V6, you get a 6 speed auto. Is this 6 speed auto unable to mate to the 2.4L world engine? Yes, it would have increased cost of the vehicle but it's expected with a Chrysler over Dodge.
Cost...it takes about $500 million to design, test, develop, and manufacture a new trans.
The number of gears has no effect on the fuel economy of an engine.....(hears howling in the background....LOL).
Seriously. The engine burms fuel at a rate based on "x" pounds of fuel per horsepower per hour. This rate follows a curve, regardless of the weight, transission or terrain. What these things do is alter the '"&4 placed on the vehicle, making a varying DEMAND for power. The amount of fuel burned is governed by this load, which general people mean (although incorrect) when thet ask about fuel economy.
Now, to address the question of gears....
The only people the number of gears matter to is those too insecure in their own "manhood" length.
The engineerng "thing" that determines the number of gears in a transmission application is the rpm range of the most efficient spread of the fuel curve mentioned above. The narrower the curve, the more gear splits required to keep the engine in it's most efficient operating range.
The second issue is what transmission does the manufacturer have available to use that most closely approximates the calculated requirements.
But isn't the current generation Sebring/Avenger/Caliber based upon the Mitsubishi Lancer/Galant platform and didn't Chrysler share development of it's "World Engine" 2.4L with Mitsubishi?
Ford doubling use of 6-speeds to boost fuel efficiency - Boston.com (http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2008/05/07/ford_says_its_doubling_fuel_efficient_6_speed_tran smissions/ - broken link)
In the above article Ford talks about increasing it's number of 6 speed auto transmissions for increasing fuel efficiency.
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