Chrysler Bolsters AWD Fuel Economy

All-wheel-drive vehicles’ fuel economy ratings typically begin about 1 mpg lower than their two-wheel-drive counterparts because of their design. According to the Detroit Free Press, Chrysler has devised a new drivetrain design to fix that, giving all-wheel-drive vehicles like the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger the same fuel ratings as their rear-drive counterparts.

All-wheel-drive vehicles lose some efficiency because their engines send power to the front axle even when it’s not necessary. Chrysler's new design will disconnect the front axle from the drivetrain under normal driving circumstances. Only when additional control is needed will the drivetrain reconnect.

This was just one of several new technologies Chrysler unveiled at its technical center in Auburn Hills, Mich., this past Friday and will be included in all AWD 2009 models.

Fuel Economy Boosted in All-Wheel-Drive Cars (Detroit Free Press)

Comments

A sign that they are making steps to become better, but they need to be making leaps.

I love their designs though.

I take it that this will happen on the fly? You won't have to flip a switch or something, right?

How do they separate the updated Hemi engine contributions to improved mileage from the transfer case?

'All-wheel-drive vehicles lose some efficiency because their engines send power to the front axle even when it’s not necessary.'

The reason you purchase a four wheel drive car [having a center differential] is that it always applies power to the front axle. [Look up the Bugatti EB110 speed record on ice]

There really isn't very much difference in the mileage between rear and four wheel drive now.
'08 300C & Charger four wheel drive 15/22
'08 300C & Charger rear drive, 15/23
and there are two differential axle ratios.
Rear drive 2.82, four wheel drive 3.07.
So 9% shorter gearing, half that in more weight, higher ride height for inferior aerodynamic, and yet the mileage is only 1mpg [to the nearest m.p.g.] less.

Why would the strip functionality from their products, in the name of improved mileage, unless they are tying to improve corporate profit margins.

Such a shame that Cerberus Capital Management is running Chrysler into the ground.

Maybe they have an electric clutch pack that automatically locks up and sends power to the front when it detects the rear wheels slipping. George is right - for maximum performance you probably want all four wheels driven at all times, but they're probably compromising for economy.

Somehow a system called ATTESA-ETS came up in my mind.

Yes- this seems like a step backward by Chrysler just to get some free press about the latest buzzword. I think anyone who wants AWD would trade a true fulltime system for a measly 1MPG in fuel economy.

And what I am saying is that it is NOT new technology. The ATTESA had been out for more than a decade or so.
Come on, Chrysler, this is just a slap in their own face to get attention from the press.

GM is doing this too.
The Cadillac STS has a 40/60 center differential, while the new CTS has a clutch pack.

It is probably only a matter of time before the STS loses its center differential.

BMW dropped their center differential in the 3-series over five years ago.