Chrysler to develop hybrids with hemi V8s.

[TheMightyFavog]

Kinda Defeats the purpose, doesn't it?

http://money.cnn.com/2007/04/30/autos/hemi_hybrid/index.htm?postversion=2007043016

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Chrysler Group announced Monday that the gas/electric hybrid Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen SUVs to be released in 2008 will be powered by the company's 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine.

The SUVs will use a "two-mode" hybrid system developed by Chrysler in conjunction with General Motors (Charts, Fortune 500) and Germany's BMW. The first vehicle to be sold using the system will be GM's GMC Yukon Hybrid slated to go on sale this fall.

Chrysler, the U.S. arm of DaimlerChrysler (Charts), calls the 5.7 liter Hemi, also used in the company's Chrysler 300C and Dodge Charger R/T sedans, its most fuel-efficient V8 engine. The Hemi engine shuts off four of its eight cylinders during highway cruising when their extra power is not needed.

[billyskank]

1. That's called greenwashing

And you're right, it is utterly pointless.

[Courtesy Flush]

2. I disagree

If anything really NEEDS to be a hybrid, it's big pickup trucks.

The first hybrids were tiny compact cars. That's pointless! Tiny compacts already get good mileage. They were squeezing turnips!

Many people have legitimate needs for a powerful truck. Problem is, the don't haul stuff all the time. I bought a larger truck (still smallish, at 6 cylinders) to tow my sailboat. We use it as a car 99% of the time, so it really should be a hybrid, and only use the extra power when pulling a load.

I think big hybrids definitely have their place, unless you just like to point fingers at big vehicles, and accuse them of not being green enough.