Chrysler Improves Fuel Economy by 8 Percent

**rickaren** · #1 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008, 07:35 AM

10 Sep 2008

As 25th Anniversary of the Minivan Nears, Minivan Leader Now Offers Unsurpassed Fuel Economy -- No other minivan offers better fuel economy than the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- New 2009 Chrysler Town &
Country and Dodge Grand Caravan models equipped with a 4.0-liter six-cylinder engine now deliver EPA fuel efficiency in the city of 17 mpg and 25 mpg on the highway, a label unbeaten among minivans.

"Chrysler and Dodge minivans continue to lead the segment," said Larry
Lyons, Vice President - Car and Minivan Product Team, Chrysler LLC. "With an improved 4.0-liter six-cylinder engine and a minivan-first six-speed transmission, no other minivan has better fuel economy. We optimized both the engine and the transmission to give our customers the fuel economy they want, and the power and responsiveness they expect."

A best-in-class aerodynamic exterior encapsulates the optimized 4.0-liter
single overhead cam (SOHC) aluminum V-6 engine that produces a powerful 251 hp(189kW) and 259 lb.-ft. (350 N*m) of torque. A re-tuned six-speed transmission and higher numerical first gear launches Chrysler and Dodge minivans more briskly than a comparable four- or five-speed transmission. The engine also provides smaller steps between ratios, which means the engine speed changes less with each shift, creating a smooth driving dynamic, with improved fuel economy. The end result is a fuel economy improvement to 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, or up to 8 percent when comparing the previous 2008 engine's fuel economy of 16 mpg city and 23 mpg highway.

Chrysler engineers have spent more than 25 years perfecting its
award-winning minivan formula and have created more than 65 minivan-first
features and more than 40 improved features from the previous generation
minivans. Today, Chrysler and Dodge minivans command more than 40 percent of the U.S. minivan market segment.

I sure wish my NITRO had a 6 speed!

**UN4GTBL** · #2 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008, 10:44 AM

Don't you have the 6-speed tho, as you have the R/T with the 4.0?

Or do you mean the manual?

**rickaren** · #3 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UN4GTBL

Don't you have the 6-speed tho, as you have the R/T with the 4.0?

Or do you mean the manual?

No, as far as know the NITRO R/T has a 5 speed AT and the other NITRO models have 4 speed AT. Am I wrong? Will have to recheck my facts.

**UN4GTBL** · #4 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickaren

No, as far as know the NITRO R/T has a 5 speed AT and the other NITRO models have 4 speed AT. Am I wrong? Will have to recheck my facts.

Nevermind, i got confused with the Avenger R/T...IT has a 6-speed auto in it

Congrats on the upgrade!