Trademark for Chrysler's new EcoDiesel badge filed with the U.S. Patents and Trademarks office

Trademark for Chrysler's new EcoDiesel badge filed with the U.S. Patents and Trademarks office

Chrysler is set to introduce a range of frugal diesel engines across its brands, starting with the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300 initially and spreading to other models if demand necessitates.

The move is just one part of Chrysler’s overall strategy to meet tough new CAFE standards proposed for 2025, with other initiatives including the launch of more small cars, downsized engines, fuel-efficient transmissions and even hybrids.  

We have now managed to dig up a trademark for a badge that will almost certainly indicate Chrysler’s future diesel models.

New diesel should pack up to 406 pound-feet of torque

It reads “EcoDiesel 3.0” and was registered by Chrysler with the U.S. Patents and Trademarks office late last month. The 3.0 figure in the badge denotes the displacement of the diesel engine Chrysler plans to install in several models in its lineup.

Built by Italian firm VM Motori and developed together with Fiat, Chrysler’s new diesel will be a 3.0-liter V-6 turbodiesel producing a peak output of 241 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. A version of this particular engine is already offered on several Chrysler models overseas, including the Jeep Grand Cherokee and 300, the latter of which is sold overseas with a Lancia badge.

Matched to a five-speed automatic, this engine is expected to return a mileage rating of around 23 mpg city and 33 mpg highway in the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Debuting in the 2014 Grand Cherokee

As we most recently reported, Chrysler is likely to delay the launch of its diesel models until the 2014 model year. While this is later than previously expected, the good news is that the 2013 model year for the Grand Cherokee will reportedly be shortened to make way for the arrival of the 2014 model as early as January of next year.

The delay will also allow for the addition of a ZF eight-speed automatic, which Chrysler has also confirmed is in the pipeline for the Grand Cherokee and slated for production in the U.S. With the eight-speed automatic, the previously listed fuel economy numbers should improve even further.