http://www.leftlanenews.com/chrysler...09-models.html

I find this kind of odd. I could see it being done on a redesign or refresh, but not now as people are leaving SUVs for cars. Chrysler needed to advertise AWD more, but I suspect this had more to do with CAFE or MPG ratings.

 

that seems like a rather bad idea... I guess they are all FWD though, so not as bad a dropping it from 300 and Charger, but still seems odd.

 

Even I wasn't aware that AWD was an option on the Avenger and Sebring.

On the plus side, AWD seems to be pretty well known on the 300.

 

I have actively searched for some AWD info on certain chrysler cars.
It just plain doesn't exist. The most detailed explination they offer is 'awd' on an option sheet.

This is a car board and I doubt many people even know the 5.7L hemi charger comes in AWD.
To me this is huge and yet you never hear about it.
I mean ford and GM's respective cars can boil the rear tires at will. Traction is an issue at todays HP levels. Here Chrysler is putting and AWD system in what was their muscle car until the challenger came out. To me this is big news. I can't even find anything telling how they did it? I mean most AWD cars have a trasnverse engine, so is the engine turned? Is it like a 4wd with a drivshaft to the front? How's it clearing the oil pan? All these questions and there is not a damn bit of info.
That's horrible advertising and no wonder no one is checking the option.

 

AWD is much simpler in a traditional RWD than FWD. Simply a transfer case at the rear of the transmission, a short driveshaft, a front diff and halfshafts, and that pretty much does it. On FWD, after devising a takeoff on the front transmission, you need to transmit that power to the rear of the car via much longer driveshaft, rear diff & halfshafts. Usually, on FWD the bias is towards the rear, therefore the additional driveline has to be much stronger as well as more extensive (and proportionally heavier) than on a RWD version. On the negative (for RWD) side, the additional weight tends to be piled up front.

On RWD, the front differential of an AWD system is typically on the passenger side of the engine and the halfshaft position is fixed under, in front of, or even through the engine.

 

The engine in Chyrsler's 300/Magnum/Charger/Challenger is longitudinally mounted, RWD or AWD.

Virtually all Audis (except the A3) use longitudinally mounted engine with Quattro AWD.

The question I have is just how durable are the automatic transmissions that Chrysler is using with HEMI and AWD?

 

Never knew that either

yes, quite a few AWD 300s are around here, in the northern climate

 

It's the Mercedes A580 - pretty much a bombproof gearbox (it's the same trans that went behind the twin-turbo V12 in various AMG models). Magna makes the transfer case, and it's basically a lighter-duty version of what you'd find in an on-demand half-ton pickup (an electric actuator drives a ball ramp that applies a clutch to drive the front propshaft when wheelspin is detected).

Back on the original topic... I can't imagine that it's CAFE that has caused the cancellation of the AWD option on the JS cars, since the take rate was only about 1%. In all likelihood, the supplier of the AWD system wanted a large cost increase because of the lower-than-expected volume, and Chrysler decided to kill the option altogether. That's just a guess, however.

 

Wow! I knew they were tough, but I didn't know they were that tough!

If GM does get Chrysler, I hope they switch to those autotrannies. They seem tougher than what GM seems to come up with.

Sounds like the most likely reason to me.

 

Actually there was no loss in mileage between the AWD and FWD models. I remember that being on the selling points I heard.

 

6l90e!

 

Allison 1000!

Sorry - got carried away

 

Allison may have been owned by GM when that came out, but I wouldn't say GM came up with the Allison 1000.

 

My biggest complaint with the Fords and Dodge/Chyslers is you can't get AWD on the 4 cyl. and it is BS to say it is bcause of weight because the Escape, CRV, RAV4, and Jeep patriot have AWD/4cy. and they are just as heavy.

 

15/24 for AWD vs 16/26 for FWD. Both pretty abysmal for such a small sedan. Only 1 mpg better than projected for the 400-422 hp Camaro SS!