Chrysler Upgrades World Engines

After Many Frenzied Months, Which have seen Chrysler LLC reorganize its management ranks while paring its product lineup amid the usual circus that surrounds national contract talks, things are getting a little quieter.

At least inside the auto maker's small and midsize vehicles.

In a bid to address noise, vibration and harshness issues associated with Chrysler's 4-cyl. World Engines, the auto maker has performed some recalibration, says Frank Klegon, executive vice president-product development.

As a result, Klegon tells Ward's, Chrysler has recorded engine-noise reductions in the 3-decibel range.

The World Engine, available in displacements of 1.8L, 2.0L and 2.4L, powers the Dodge Caliber C-car and its platform-mates, the Jeep Patriot and Compass cross/utility vehicles. The 2.4L mill also is the base engine in the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger midsize cars, and the Dodge Journey CUV.

The recalibration is among the growing list of upgrades Chrysler is introducing to its current and '09-model lineups. Compilation of the list, which numbers 500 items, evolved from a challenge issued to Chrysler employees by Robert Nardelli, the auto maker's chairman and CEO.

Chrysler says it has spent $500 million to expedite the upgrades, which also benefit the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger midsize car lines. Those fixes include:

As a percentage of total sales, the moves have widespread implications for Chrysler. According to Ward's data, Avenger, Caliber, Compass, Patriot and the Sebring models accounted for just over 25% of the auto maker's business through the first quarter.

The upgrades represent “a very solid step in the right direction,” says industry analyst Joe Phillippi of New Jersey-based AutoTrends Inc. And this is particularly true for the vehicles powered by the World Engines.

Designed in cooperation with Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp., the World Engines Chrysler uses are built in Dundee, MI, at the Global Engine Mfg. Alliance, a joint venture of the three auto makers. While the Caliber, Compass and Patriot launched strongly, critics have expressed disappointment with their powertrains.

“They've been a little on the rough side,” Phillippi says. “A little too coarse.”

Installation of the recalibrated engines began in January, says Chrysler spokesman Todd Goyer. The Caliber, Patriot and Compass are built at the auto maker's assembly plant in Belvidere, IL.

Klegon says customer feedback played a role in Chrysler's decision to address the engine's shortcomings. But a high-level source tells Ward's senior executives had refinement in their agenda well before the auto maker heard any complaints.

Regardless, the change comes at the right time. The World Engines are Chrysler's most efficient powertrains and gasoline prices are soaring with no relief in sight.

March saw Chrysler's C-segment trio reach their highest-ever combined monthly sales total.

“That lineup was up 51%,” says Chrysler spokesman Stuart Schorr. “And (it) was up big for the quarter as well, about a third.”

However, Schorr offers no hint about the direction of C-segment sales through the summer.

“Hard to predict any absolute numbers going forward but certainly any product enhancements should help,” he says.

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