Chrysler Hybrids are a-Comin'

The summer heat is on: Chrysler LLC recently announced that its first hybrids will be available in August. Keep your eyes peeled for the 2009 Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid and the 2009 Chrysler Aspen HEMI Hybrid that are reported to achieve fuel economy up to 20 miles per gallon. Both vehicles use a two-mode system to achieve fuel savings that equate to a 40 percent improvement in city driving and 25 percent improvement overall. This is the same two-mode system that was developed in partnership with General Motors, Mercedes Benz and and BMW Group. And they are biggies: with a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine with 385 horsepower and 380 foot-pounds of torque, we're talking serious grunt and fuel suckin'. Yet the two-mode hybrid system helps take the bite out of that thirsty engine for those who seriously have need of such a large utility vehicle. As you may remember, we've driven the 2008 GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe Two-mode Hybrids and shared the nitty-gritty details on how these two-mode hybrid systems work.

According to a recent press release, Chrysler is pricing these new hybrid SUVS nearly $8,000 below the competition (yep, that would be the Yukon and Tahoe). Retail price for the Durango Hybrid is $45,350 and the Aspen Hybrid is $45,570--and a tax credit of $1,800 pretties up the package. Chrysler states that the two-mode hybrid system will help customers save several hundred gallons of gas per year. Sound good? Well, only you can determine if buying a $40,000+, 20 mpg vehicle is in your best interest--and future. Think it's a good deal?

photo © Dodge Durango Two-mode hybrid