Phoenix Engines: Chrysler - Mercedes V6 Engines for 2010 and Beyond

MOPAR AUTO NEWS - -The Phoenix engines were first discussed by "superduckie" way back in March 2006. “ask1919” wrote in April, “Phoenix will be a collection of V6 engines to replace the whole line.” oh20, whose track record has been 100% accurate on such breakthroughs as the Caliber and Sebring, wrote in July that the engines would include:

• 1... 3.0L V6 base Phoenix (next gen LX, J1, L2, R2)
• 2... 3.0L V6 premium Phoenix (L2)
• 3... 3.3L V6 base Phoenix (current gen JS Avenger/Sebring, next gen RT Minivan)
• 4... 3.3L V6 premium Phoenix (current gen JS Avenger/Sebring, next gen RT Minivan)
• 5... 3.6L V6 base Phoenix (current gen JS Avenger/Sebring, current and next gen KA Nitro, next gen KK Liberty, next gen RT minivan, next gen LX, Grand Cherokee current and next gen, next gen Commander)
• 6... 3.6L V6 HEV Phoenix Engine (next gen RT minivan)
• 7... 3.6L V6 premium Phoenix Engine (current and next gen LX, next gen RT minivan)
• 8... 3.6L V6 PZEV Phoenix Engine (next gen RT minivan)
• 9... 4.0 V6 base Phoenix (next gen Pacifica, next gen NE Dakota, next gen Ram, next gen KK Liberty, current and next gen KA Nitro, next gen LX, next gen Grand Cherokee, next gen Commander, next gen JL Wrangler)
• 10... 4.0 V6 premium Phoenix (vehicles unknown)

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 new Phoenix line of V-6 engines will debut for model-year 2010 vehicles, which is to say, 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 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, if one is indeed built within Trenton, will cost $800 million and open in time for the 2010 model year, with groundbreaking scheduled for or before November 1, 2006.

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, DCX and Mercedes CEO, said the new engine family would operate on a modular base, reducing the corporation's V6 engine families to one (from five - four at Chrysler and one at Mercedes). The World Engine experience may provide some illustration of how that will be done, though hopefully the Phoenix will prove to be quieter and less peaky. The world's best V6 engines are being benchmarked; and Mercedes has a camless design that may be integrated into Auburn Hills’ work, since Zetsche is determined that all corporate divisions share technology as needed.

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 a much smaller number of job classifications (two). Production will begin for the 2010 model year, with final phaseout of the existing Chrysler V6 engines in calendar-year 2012.

Mercedes versions will most likely have more expensive features such as direct injection.