The Wall Street Journal reports that FIAT EO Sergio Marchionne sent an edict to downplay the Hemi. The enginge will simply be called the 5.7 V8 in Jeeps and Chryslers, but hold on to the Hemi monicker in the Dodge Charger and Challenger.
We can argue about whether or not the new Hemi is worthy of its hyper or whether it is a true Hemi, but is it a wise move to move Chrysler away from its historical roots?
HEMI is not politically correct any more. I think the GM & ford "big block" kind of has the same problem.
Hemi means sport with no regard for mpg. I think the idea of calling it a 5.7 V8 when placed in a 300M lux barge and calling it a HEMI in a Charger sport lux barge is a good idea.
In reply to jrw1621:
A rose by any other name eh?
I still think you don't give up brand identity. With the multi displacement system it isn't too bad. Besides, people buying Hemis are not doing so for fuel mileage.
Let;s call the Corvette the Chevrolet Sportster. It sounds cuter and not so politically inorrect. Corvette, Mustang and Hemi are icons and should not be tampered with, IMHO.
God I am becoming an old fart.
the new Hemi isn't really a Hemi, and they aren't really that impressive, anyways. i can see why they might want to downplay the 'hemi' thing.
An Jeep with a V8 is no more politically incorrect than a Jeep with a Hemi V8. People who are greenwashed will avoid "V8" either way, and you potentially lose sales for those people that do care about what engine is in their car beyond the number of cylinders it has.
If Fiat wants to muck with and downplay elements of post-Daimler Chrysler, the first thing I'd do is publicly execute every single non-trail rated "Jeep". Jeep should be a niche manufacturer; if you try to turn it into a lifestyle brand, it loses all meaning, and you trade a few dollars now for the legitimacy of the entire brand tomorrow. If they want to sell A->B people movers, they can do with the other brands under the Chrysler umbrella.
Jeep is already a lifestyle brand....
Call it a twin V4... That'll green it up.
The non-trail rated jeeps should go away along with any model that can be ordered strictly front wheel drive (Compass and Patriot, I'm looking at you!) How does a company take their economy car platform and make a Jeep out of it, let alone two of Jeeps?
RossD wrote: The non-trail rated jeeps should go away along with any model that can be ordered strictly front wheel drive (Compass and Patriot, I'm looking at you!) How does a company take their economy car platform and make a Jeep out of it, let alone two of Jeeps?
To many consumers the badge makes it so. I am with you.
Chrysler could probably do with a lot less nostalgia and goofy cartoon manliness if it wants to be treated like a real car manufacturer. Smart move IMO. Now if they would just trash every single small car they make and put Dodge badges on Fiat 500s instead, that would be an even better idea.
Moparman wrote: In reply to jrw1621: A rose by any other name eh? I still think you don't give up brand identity. With the multi displacement system it isn't too bad. Besides, people buying Hemis are not doing so for fuel mileage. Let;s call the Corvette the Chevrolet Sportster. It sounds cuter and not so politically inorrect. Corvette, Mustang and Hemi are icons and should not be tampered with, IMHO. God I am becoming an old fart.
The Corvette gets 26 mpg. The Mustang gets about the same. Just saying.
I had a Reliant once with the Mitsu 2.6. Technically, that has hemispherical combustion chambers.
It had "2.6 Hemi" badges. Didn't make it suck any less.
RossD wrote: The non-trail rated jeeps should go away along with any model that can be ordered strictly front wheel drive (Compass and Patriot, I'm looking at you!) How does a company take their economy car platform and make a Jeep out of it, let alone two of Jeeps?
Is it wrong to want to see what a T.R. Patriot can do? Maybe against a Vitara?
The hemi line boasted some competitive power numbers when it was released, but it's probably mid-pack at best nowadays.
The Hemi moniker once meant something.
It doesn't mean anything to a modern car. Hell, the 3T-C in my Corolla is a Hemi.
The Hemi was impressive in it's day but it wasn't the end-all, be-all that Hemi fans would like you to believe.
The 440 six-pack was known to put the hurt on 426 Hemi cars on a fairly reglular basis. Buick GS Stage 1 cars, LS-6 and ZL-1 'vettes also gave them trouble.
Shawn
IMO that would be a move in the right direction to improve the image of the brand. I very much dislike most of the hemi powered vehicles, and most of the people who drive them.
Dodge killed the hemi image with thier own commercials
Good riddance. Hemisperical combustion chambers are old news. Bragging about 1950's technology 60 years later reeks of Harley Davidsons marketing division and that is a very bad thing.
Trans_Maro wrote: The Hemi moniker once meant something. It doesn't mean anything to a modern car. Hell, the 3T-C in my Corolla is a Hemi. The Hemi was impressive in it's day but it wasn't the end-all, be-all that Hemi fans would like you to believe. The 440 six-pack was known to put the hurt on 426 Hemi cars on a fairly reglular basis. Buick GS Stage 1 cars, LS-6 and ZL-1 'vettes also gave them trouble. Shawn
uh, yeah it was. Ever hear of the Silver Bullet? Street racer that never lost a race on the mean streets of New York back in the muscle car heyday. I used to run muscle out here on the west coast. Sure, in mild street trim the Buicks, Wedges, Fords and such were strong runners. When folks got serious it was Rats and Hemis. Guy out here used to hit the local socal cruises. He'd lean against his '66 Hemi Satellite until all the poseurs had finished throwing revs and chirping tires from the red lights. Eventually, someone would approach him with a fist-full of cash, they'd head over to the industrial park, the Hemi would win and that would be that. ZL1 Vettes? You are kidding , right? Did one of the three built cruise the streets in your area?
They still basing top fuel engines(still the most powerful race cars ever built) off of Buford's and Rats? your Corolla? Didn't think so.
Travis_K wrote: IMO that would be a move in the right direction to improve the image of the brand. I very much dislike most of the hemi powered vehicles, and most of the people who drive them.
Like they give two sh*ts what you think.
ditchdigger wrote:
Says who?
Moparman wrote: The Wall Street Journal reports that FIAT EO Sergio Marchionne sent an edict to downplay the Hemi. The enginge will simply be called the 5.7 V8 in Jeeps and Chryslers, but hold on to the Hemi monicker in the Dodge Charger and Challenger. We can argue about whether or not the new Hemi is worthy of its hyper or whether it is a true Hemi, but is it a wise move to move Chrysler away from its historical roots?
It actually makes sense that they would emphasize the Hemi in the performance models.
forzav12 wrote:Travis_K wrote: IMO that would be a move in the right direction to improve the image of the brand. I very much dislike most of the hemi powered vehicles, and most of the people who drive them.Like they give two sh*ts what you think.
Since I agree with the choice of the person who is currently in charge of the company I think someone must, because if I feel that way, I am sure I am not the only one. To me the last decent car Chrysler made was the first gen neon. If the selection of vehicles they sell improves, I would find a new fiat or alfa far more interesting than anything they have sold since 1999.
forzav12 wrote:ditchdigger wrote:Says who?
Bankruptcy courts come immediately to mind.
For better or worse, the Hemi name has a niche. I agree that there is nothing groundbreaking about this engine. I agree that it isn't even a Hemi (the little 4.7 has probablyu closer to a Hemi with a "D"-shaped combustion chamber). Nostalgia sells. If it didn't Harley-Davidson would be out of business. The Hemi is a four-wheeled Harley. I am not a Harley fan either.
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