New Trenton engine plant helps environment, too
Not only is Chrysler’s new Trenton South engine plant making a new higher performing and more fuel-efficient V6 engine, the factory is the auto industry’s first engine plant to earn coveted environment certification for its recycling of materials, the conservation of water and electricity.
Nearly half – 44% — of materials used in constructing the 822,00- square-foot factory used recycled content. More than 90% of construction waste was recycled and the plant will use 1.5 million fewer gallons of water than the older adjacent engine plant.
Chrysler has committed to eliminate all shipments to landfills, which in a conventional factory would be about 670 tons annually.
Production has begun on the 3.6-liter Pentastar engine which will be the base powertrain on the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee that will go on sale by the end of June. The all-aluminum Pentastar eventually will replace Chrysler’s seven current six-cylinder engines and be available in most all midsize cars, crossover vehicles and midsize SUVs within a couple years.
Chrysler invested about $364 million in Trenton South, which incorporates many processes and technologies found in Chrysler’s Dundee plant which makes four-cylinder engines for smaller vehicles.
2009 Los Angeles Auto Show
If the North American auto show season has an official kickoff party, the Los Angeles Auto Show is it. In addition to world debuts of the 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe, 2011 Toyota Sienna and VW Up! Lite Concept, the 2009 LA Auto Show again played host to the Green Car of the Year announcement, which went to a diesel car for the second year in a row. The LA Auto Show is also a first chance to see and touch the cars unveiled around the world in the eight months since the New York Auto Show, which this year included jaw-droppers like the 2011 Lexus LFA and 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.
