The Chrysler Aspen has been around since 2007 and is essentially an upscale version of the more popular Dodge Durango. And as Dodge prepares to debut a hybrid Durango, Chrysler has announced that they will roll out a hybrid Aspen around the same time (late 2008). Also like Dodge, this will be Chrysler’s first hybrid vehicle - with both companies attempting to grab their slice of the hybrid suv pie. Since both of the trucks have Hemi’s, it’s only a matter of time before we’ll see a television commercial where someone rolls down their window and asks, “Hey, does that thing have a hybrid?”.
As of now, there isn’t a great deal of information available about the 2009 Chrysler Aspen hybrid. What has been announced mainly echos press about the upcoming green Durango, with a few differences. According to Chrysler, the Aspen exudes styling elegance, with clean, angular front and rear fenders, rear doors and rear-quarter panels creating a seamless profile. Individual chromed “Chrysler” lettering adorns the bodyside on each of the front doors. Premium touches also include chromed accents on bodyside moldings, door handles, side mirrors and roof rack, as well as 18-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels. Chrysler Aspen’s broad, chromed grille is crowned by a sculpted hood, a signature of Chrysler vehicles.
Chrysler has devoted a few pages of their website to the all new hybrid Aspen (here), although it’s not quite as detailed as the similar site from Dodge. Rather than rehashing everything we already put together on the Durango hybrid, we’ll wait for some new announcements on the green Aspen. And, while I haven’t found a good side-by-side comparison of how these two vehicles might be alike or different as hybrids, here are two (AOL Autos, NewCars.com ) comparing the currently available models.
10/23/2008 – Update: Only two months after the very first 2009 Aspen hybrid SUV rolled off the assembly line, Chrysler announced today that it will end production of this hybrid at the end of this year, when it closes the Delaware plant where the Aspen is built. The same holds true for the 2009 Dodge Durango hybrid. Read the full story about these discontinued hybrids here.
Reviews and Videos of the ’09 Chrysler Hybrid Aspen:
[...] Chrysler’s even bringing two more hybrid SUVs to the party in 2009 (a hybrid Durango and hybrid Aspen), but you probably won’t hear mention of them either. So, the marketing department over at GM is [...]
[...] Aspen [...]