Chrysler to Build 8-Speeds
Friday, June 11th, 2010Industry giant Car and Driver is reporting the latest news from Chrysler. The American automotive icon has announced that the Kokomo, IN plant will be building eight-speed automatic transmissions, beginning in 2013.
The transmission itself is courtesy of German manufacturer ZF. It’s their 8HP model, versions of which are currently being used in the Audi A8 and the Rolls-Royce Ghost. This will be Chrysler’s first foray into 8-speeds; their current line has no more than six forward ratios.
The initial allotment of the transmissions will be sent to Chrysler from ZF’s plant in Saarbrucken, as a precursor to the transition to licensed production here in the United States by 2013. Car and Driver theorizes that this plan suggests the transmissions will be available in Chrysler vehicles before then.) In order for manufacturing to proceed, Chrysler will be spending $300 million to prepare the Indiana plants.
At this time, Chrysler isn’t revealing which of their products will be sporting the eight-speed gear box, or when any such vehicles will arrive, but it is known that the technology will be offered across the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram Truck vehicle lines, and it’s rumored to offer greater fuel economy than any of the company’s current offerings, boosting the company’s average fuel efficiency by 25% by the year 2014.