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The HEMI Engine is Losing its Luster |
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Monday, 29 January 2007
Written by Steve Rothfuss
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More bad news is coming out of the automotive sector as a result of higher gasoline prices. The Chrysler group has announced a 20 percent roll-back of the current 5.7L HEMI V-8 production. Daily output will change from 1,600 units down to 1,300 engines. In 2004, DCX launched the 300C, which took the American large sedan market by storm. They instantly started selling more than 40% of all LX vehicles (300C, Magnum, Charger) powered by the HEMI engine, essentially becoming a brand within a brand for the Chrysler Group. However, after another summer of $3.00+ for a gallon of gas, sales of large trucks are slumping and people are running to smaller, more MPG friendly vehicles. The Dodge Durango alone has seen a sales drop off of 41% this year. With this kind of market shift, who knows what the future will hold for upcoming products like the Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro.
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