An Overview of Chrysler Group LLC

In 2009, Chrysler, one of Michigan's Big 3 automotive companies, emerged from bankruptcy with the aid of Italian automotive company Fiat, forming Chrysler Group LLC. With headquarters located in Auburn Hills, Michigan, the new alliance boasts a product line that includes Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, SRT, Fiat, and Mopar vehicles. Under the leadership of CEO Sergio Marchionne, Chrysler returned to profitability less than 2 years after filing for bankruptcy. With over 70,000 employees, a massive technical facility, and a beneficial merger with Fiat, Chrysler Group LLC has put itself in position to be a major factor in the American and global automotive industries. [1]

Chrysler Group's headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan also houses its technical facility, known as the Chrysler Technical Center (CTC). The entire complex covers 5.4 million square feet, a size only the Pentagon exceeds, and is the workplace for about 11,000 employees. Opened in 1991, the technical center includes a 170,000 square foot pilot production plant and eight design studios, along with emissions and noise, vibration, and harshness labs, a powertrain test center, an electromagnetic compatibility facility, and an aero-acoustic wind tunnel. The engine test cells are built on their own foundations so conducting tests will not pass vibrations throughout the rest of the complex, and a 1.8 mile evaluation road and wide basement hallways allow vehicles to be run and tested within the complex. The advantage of having its main technical facility and headquarters all under one roof allows Chrysler Group's employees to work more efficiently and interact directly with each department, as well as upper management. [1][2]

An aerial view of Chrysler headquarters and the Chrysler Technical Center in Auburn Hills, MI [4]

With its latest lineup of vehicles, Chrysler Group is setting itself up for a productive year in 2014. The 2015 Chrysler 200 sedan will become the industry's first mid-size sedan with a standard nine-speed automatic transmission, allowing the vehicle to obtain highway fuel economy fuel ratings of 35 miles per gallon. Also a first is the sedan's fully disconnecting rear axle, which will improve fuel economy when all-wheel drive is not necessary. Dodge sports a 2014 lineup that includes the Journey, which enjoyed its best sales year ever in 2013, along with the Durango, Challenger, Charger, Dart, Avenger, and Grand Caravan. The compact Dart sports a 2.4-liter, 184 horsepower Tigershark engine, a 8.4-inch touchscreen, and notable safety features such as 10 standard air bags. Jeep has set a company sales record for its 2014 Grand Cherokee SUV, and the Ram 1500 pickup truck earned a best in-class 28 miles per gallon and allows 9,200 pounds of towing capacity. Fiat has joined the fray as well with the introduction of the 500 Abarth and Abarth Cabrio, small cars designed with race-car enthusiasts in mind. Finally, the SRT Viper offers another option for track aficionados. Chrysler Group has created a diverse array of vehicles that will appeal to consumers of all walks of life in 2014. [3]

2015 Chrysler 200 sedan [5]

2014 Dodge Dart [6]

2014 Ram 1500 [7]

With a newfound lease on life thanks to the merger with Fiat, the state-of-the-art testing facility and headquarters, and a new, innovative lineup of vehicles that appeal to many types of consumers, Chrysler Group LLC is slated for continued growth, both nationally and globally.

Sources:
[1] "About Us - Chrysler Group LLC." Chrysler Group LLC. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.chryslergroupllc.com/company/AboutUs/Pages/AboutUs.aspx>.
[2] "Chrysler Technical Center (CTC) and Auburn Hills Complex." Chrysler Technical Center (CTC) and Auburn Hills Complex. Allpar, n.d. Web. <http://www.allpar.com/corporate/factories/CTC.html>.
[3]"Brands and Products." Chrysler Group LLC. Chrysler Group LLC, n.d. Web. <http://media.chrysler.com/newsroom.do?id=174&mid=356>.

[4] <http://imagine-mexico.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/chrysler-auburn-hills-mi-headquarters2.jpg>

[5] <http://images.thecarconnection.com/lrg/2015-chrysler-200_100452642_l.jpg>
[6] <http://www.dodge.com/assets/images/vehicles/2014/dart/gallery/large/2014-dart-exterior-redbrick.jpg>
[7] <http://images.thecarconnection.com/med/2014-ram-1500_100441346_m.jpg>

A Look at the Latest Engines at Williams International

A small company with headquarters in Walled Lake, Michigan, Williams International has supplied small gas turbine engines to the aerospace industry since the 1950s. This post takes a closer look at the new projects the company has unveiled within the past year. [1]

Williams International made headlines last year when Swiss jet company Pilatus selected the FJ44-4A turbofan engines to power its Pilatus PC-24 aircraft. These engines can provide a normal takeoff thrust of 3435 lbf with an added 5 percent of thrust available in reserve through what Williams calls an Automatic Thrust Reserve. The special features of this engine, however, are what makes it even more appealing to small jet companies. The inlet of the engine is designed to reduce icing and noise, and a pre-cooler helps reduce bleed air and losses due to drag. The engine possesses a Quiet Power Mode, which provides energy to power the jet's electrical systems without the need of an auxiliary power unit. This allows for the aircraft to operate at a higher fuel efficiency. Finally, the FJ44-4A leads its engine class with a time between overhaul of 5000 hours, allowing the PC-24 to operate without interruption for a longer period of time. [1][2]

The Pilatus PC-24 aircraft [3]

In addition, Williams began production on two more FJ44 engines - the FJ44-1AP-21 and the FJ44-4A-32 - after both received certification from the Federal Aviation Administration in March and May of 2013. The 1AP-21 improves upon its predecessor, the FJ44-1AP, with a 10-15% increase in thrust and a percent decrease in fuel consumption during long range cruise. In addition, the engine provides more thrust at hot and high takeoff conditions and an increase in time between overhaul of 500 hours. With all these improvements, aircraft using these engines can operate more efficiently than before, takeoff under more extreme conditions, and fly for longer periods of time and greater distances. Cessna's Citation M2 jet makes use of the FJ44-1AP. The 4A-32 also improves in thrust,  its 3230 ibf output being nearly 500lbf greater than its predecessor. The other great benefit of the 4A-32 is its fuel economy: with its range at 1,930 nautical miles, it's an impressive 43% greater than the engine it replaces. The Hawker 400XPR reaps the benefits of this improved 4A-32 engine. 

The Williams International FJ-44 4A engine. This model was later improved upon by later iterations. [4]

With the improvements they've made to their FJ44 engines, Williams International has shown why they are held in high regard in the small gas turbine industry. 

The Cessna Citation M2 jet [5]

Sources:
[1] "Williams International | News." Williams International | News. N.p., 21 May 2013. Web.<http://www.williams-int.com/news.html?pid=32>.
[2]"Welcome to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd." Welcome to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/#278>.
[3]<http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/01-api/navigation/1.0/images/contentheader/slide/PC-24-SVJ/09.jpg>
[4]<http://www.aero-news.net/images/content/commav/2003/williams-fj44-1003b.jpg>
[5]<http://www.aopa.org/-/media/Images/AOPA/Home/News/All%20News/2011/September/Cessna%20offers%20Citation%20M2%20jet/110926cessna_citation_m2.jpg%3Fw%3D480%26h%3D260%26as%3D1>