Phoenix Engines: Chrysler V6 Engines for 2010 and Beyond
The Phoenix engines were first discussed by "superduckie" way back in March 2006. oh20 (who has been 100% accurate on the Ram, Challenger, Caliber, and Sebring) provided a table of the engines and cars they’d go into back in July 2006. As of this last writing, all will have variable valve timing. At least one observer said that the engines were totally revolutionary - at least a generation ahead of anything currently available.
The Phoenix engines are scheduled to start production in summer 2009, with actual non-prototype, for-real-vehicles production starting at the end of 2009.
Direct injection is not currently noted by the rumor mill, but Chrysler is working on a system for four-cylinders, and may have designed the Phoenix to use direct injection as well.
Chrysler wrote that: “The new Phoenix of V-6 engines will feature cylinder deactivation (MDS)...the engine will operate efficiently on three cylinders when less power is needed, and in V-6 mode when more power is needed. This optimizes fuel economy when V-6 power is not required – without sacrificing vehicle performance or capability.
“The new family of V-6 engines will feature an aluminum die cast block, dual variable valve timing (VVT) and a two-stage oil pump, among other technologies. The end result is an expected across-the-board V-6 fuel efficiency improvement of six to eight percent – in addition to new levels of V-6 power, performance and refinement.” Allpar note: the key words here are both performance and refinement! This might end up being the engine that puts the words Lexus and Chrysler into the same sentence without the word “unlike.”
As of July 2007, the engine was still reportedly in early-development status, but was feature-complete; ongoing work dealt with tuning, calibration, and emissions. As of December 2007, tooling was being set up for production.
The following table was updated in August 2007 with information from oh20.
| Size | Line | MDS? | Cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 V6 | Base | N | LY, J1, L2, next-gen minivan |
| 3.0 V6 | Premium | L2 | |
| 3.3 V6 | Base | JS, RT | |
| 3.3 V6 | Premium | Y | JS, RT |
| 3.6 V6 | Base | JS, KA, KK, RT, L2, GC, Commander | |
| 3.6 V6 | HEV | Next-gen minivans | |
| 3.6 V6 | Premium | Y | LY, L2, Next-gen minivans, Challenger, Grand Cherokee |
| 3.6 V6 | PZEV | Next-gen minivans | |
| 4.0 V6 | Base | Next Dakota, Ram, Liberty, LY, Grand Cherokee, Commander, Wrangler; current Nitro |
|
| 4.0 V6 | Premium | Y | ? |
| V8 | LY |
JS: Current Avenger/Sebring.
RT: current minivans.
KA: next generation Nitro.
KK: next gen Liberty.
LY: next gen LX.
J2: next gen Avenger/Sebring.
Apparently the design is advanced enough that the oil pan is being subbed out: “Oil pan for a Phoenix Engine from Chrysler had some very odd oil diverters...nothing I've seen before.”
The Phoenix line of V-6 engines will debut for model-year 2010 vehicles, probably in the year 2009. Chrysler has announced details, including the investment in plants ($2 billion, not including engineering of the engines themselves) and the fact that Mercedes will share the basic engine architecture. The Phoenix engines, long discussed on Allpar's news and rumors forum, will be made in Mexico, Kenosha (Wisconsin), and Trenton (Michigan), with parts machined in Toledo, Ohio, as well as in Germany for Mercedes. Allpar at least is happy that development of these engines appears to be centered in the US though no doubt Mercedes will get most of the credit for their success.
The old Trenton Engine plant will close in 2014; the new Trenton Engine plant will open in time for the 2010 model year.
At the latest, the current V6 engines (dating back to around 1990 but with strong reliability and nice power/economy) will be phased out in 2013 and the 3.8 and 4.0 V6 should finished by 2014.
Dieter Zetsche said the new engine family would operate on a modular base. The world's best V6 engines were benchmarked; and Mercedes has a camless design that may be integrated into Auburn Hills’ work. The engines will, not surprisingly, be built on flexible assembly lines that will allow the mix to be changed quickly and easily, to adjust to market demands. Plants will switch to new job rules that include 10 hour four-day work weeks and two job classifications.
Mercedes versions will most likely have more expensive features such as direct injection. News: it now appears that the Chrysler versions will also have direct fuel injection! (GDI - gas direct injection).
Production details, from Tom LaSorda
- An investment of $730 million for a new plant in Trenton, Mich., to produce the "Phoenix" family of V-6 engines. The new Trenton plant, located adjacent to the existing Trenton Engine Plant, will have an annual capacity of 440,000 engines and is expected to begin production in 2009. The Phoenix family of engines is the first of these initiatives that will go into production. In the long term, the Phoenix engines will replace the current four V-6 engines.
- An investment of $700 million to build a new axle plant in Marysville, Mich. The facility will create a new family of axles that provide better fuel economy. In addition, the common axle family will enable the company to consolidate the number of axles for better economies of scale.
