The 2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid is not just a footnote in motorcar history; it’s an intriguing oddity that bucked the trend. With a minuscule handful of scant barely a few hundred examples made during a short two-month span in 2008, the hybrid SUV is a testament to Chrysler’s adventurous plunge into the realm of hybrid technology. While its styling has not been universally praised, the engineering beneath is a tale of innovation and cooperation that is well worth exploring.
Powering the Aspen Hybrid is a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine combined with a highly sophisticated hybrid system jointly developed by Chrysler, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW. From this collaboration, the world’s first two-mode full hybrid system was born a setup that pairs electric motors within a conventional automatic transmission. In a press release, Chrysler billed the system as “a sophisticated fuel-saving system incorporating four fixed-gear ratios for high efficiency and power-handling capabilities.” The payoff? A vehicle with a combined better than 20 MPG a virtual miracle for a full-size, up-to-6,000-pound SUV.
The two modes of the hybrid system were tuned for city driving and highway driving. At low speeds, the Aspen would be able to run on electric power alone, its two 87-horsepower electric motors driving the car without the help of the HEMI engine. It experienced excellent fuel-saving during stop-and-go driving. At highway driving speeds, the system automatically switched to electric assist and V8 power blend, the engine’s Multi-Displacement System (MDS) giving it the capability to shift from four-cylinder to eight-cylinder operating modes. That two-mode capability was the heart of the Aspen’s fuel saving because it meant that the HEMI engine would have to spend more time in its sipping-gas four-cylinder mode than under non-hybrid configurations.
The Aspen’s hybrid system also incorporated regenerative braking, a system that harvested energy otherwise wasted through deceleration and transferred it to a Nickel-Metal Hydride battery pack in the floorpan below the middle-row seats. That power could be used to energize the electric motors, further helping the vehicle’s efficiency. Based on what one Munro & Associates engineer with two Aspen Hybrids said, both vehicles always returned over 20 MPG a milestone for a 390-horsepower SUV.
Although it was a technologically advanced car, the Aspen Hybrid did not succeed in the market. Launching during economic uncertainty and Chrysler’s lack of liquidity, the car was put on the cutting block only two months after retailing. However, Aspen Hybrid owners enthusiastically sing the praises of the car’s terrific performance and ride. A Guide Auto Web review referred to it as its “Cadillac-like magic carpet of a ride” and stated its interior was biggest in class, accommodating eight adults comfortably. The Aspen’s cabin boasted refined trim such as wood-grained panels and suede insertions on seats, providing it with subtle luxury.
But the Aspen Hybrid did have its oddities as well. Its regenerative braking system, although competent, caused its brake pedal to be “rubbery” and “spongy.” Besides, its response to the throttle was not quite as quick as those of comparable vehicles like the GMC Yukon Hybrid. But these were weighed against its superior gas mileage and the silky integration of its hybrid elements.
But the most compelling feature of the Aspen Hybrid probably was its cost. At a starting MSRP of $48,495, it undercut its luxury competition such as the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid by as much as $46,000. What that did was make the Aspen Hybrid an attractive choice for consumers who wanted performance, frugality, and an economical price.
The engineering of the Aspen Hybrid went beyond its drivetrain. Its rear suspension sported a Watts-Link setup that placed its axle in the center and minimized lateral motion, enabling it to enjoy its smooth ride and snappy handling. All this fuss was just another proof of Chrysler’s dedication to building a car that wed rugged capability with polished comfort.
Now, the Chrysler Aspen Hybrid is a mere memory in the annals of automotive history, a car that combined the unrestrained power of a HEMI V8 with the revolutionary efficiency of hybrid technology. Though its existence was brief, its name will be remembered forever as a reminder of what can happen when auto companies think outside the box. For the fortunate few who have one, the Aspen Hybrid is not only a car but a part of car history.
