Jeep introduced a diesel-powered Grand Cherokee earlier this year—which we’ve already driven—and an oil-burning Ram 1500 pickup won’t be far behind, so it should come as no surprise that rumors of a diesel option for the Chrysler 300 have begun to make the rounds on the internet. After all, Chrysler reps not-so-cryptically confirmed back in 2011 that other “large” Chrysler-family vehicles likely would be receiving a diesel-power option. In an interview with Wards Auto, Saad Chehab, Chrysler president and CEO, addressed the reports, stating that the maker is investigating the possibility of a diesel-powered 300, but a final decision has yet to be made.
Should it happen, it’s a good bet Chrysler will call up the 3.0-liter diesel V-6 already in use in the 300’s European doppelgänger, the Lancia Thema. Chrysler tells C/D that the Thema’s diesel and the one found under the hood of the new Grand Cherokee are “fundamentally the same, but the U.S. engine has some different hardware for emissions purposes.” As it sits in the Jeep, the 3.0-liter diesel produces 240 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque.
- First Drive Review: 2014 Mercedes-Benz E250 BlueTec Diesel
- First Drive Review: 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel V-6
- Instrumented Test: 2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel
Referring specifically to the 300, Chehab says, “It’s a matter of how much the customer is willing to pay for that premium. That’s the only issue with it.” For the sake of comparison, opting for the diesel in a two-wheel-drive Grand Cherokee Limited will set you back $4500 over the base V-6 engine, or $2305 over the V-8. Jeep considers the diesel the premium engine within the Grand Cherokee range, and it’d likely take that same place in the 300’s lineup at least in price, if not the eyes of consumers.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/3rWP7f4zWKg/
Gene Hartley Masahiro Hasemi Naoki Hattori Paul Hawkins Mike Hawthorn
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