Chrysler going with 8spd and 9spd transmissions

[Nick The Great]

Probably works great on a flat warehouse floor.

 

[01f1502wd]

Just think how often it is going to be shifting back and forth at highway speeds, every time you start up a little rise in the road...
I wouldn't like that at all...

with a dual clutch system you probably wouldnt even feel it unless you really punch it...then it shifts down 4-5 gears . and accelerating wouldnt bee too bad, more of a smoother motion, allows for shifting at lower rpms for more mpgs

 

[Zembonez]

8 speeds is ridiculous. 9 is a fucking joke. A CVT would do the job a ton better... but the marketing gurus know they are dealing with monobrow truck buyers who want to gloat about having more gears than you...

 

[Draenor]

I'd like to see the gear ratios.

8 speeds is ridiculous. 9 is a fWONking joke. A CVT would do the job a ton better... but the marketing gurus know they are dealing with monobrow truck buyers who want to gloat about having more gears than you...

+1

 

[mr_bots]

The RWD 8 speed is already in a ton of cars and most of the reviews have been pretty positive. From what I've read it can skip gears so it doesn't necessarily drop from 8th to 7th to 6th but can drop straight from 8th to 6th, etc. I figure as long as it shifts smooth and has good enough programming so it isn't constantly hunting around and can get it in the right gear at the right time there shouldn't be a problem. Got to be an improvement over Chrysler's current transmissions.

Gear ratios are:
1st - 4.696
2nd - 3.130
3rd - 2.104
4th - 1.667
5th - 1.285
6th - 1.00
7th - 0.839
8th - 0.667
R - 3.300

Not much info on the FWD 9 speed other than production is supposed to start in 2014 with use in Chrysler, Honda, and MINI transverse applications.

 

[drperry]

That's not too bad of a spread, really...

The fact it skips gears is nice.

The majority of people on the road can barely tell a 4L60 is shifting, I think the newer, more sophisticated stuff is safe

 

[PenguinLTZ]

I would take one in a heartbeat.

I never understand all the hatred for these transmissions.

I love my 6 speed, and laugh at all the smack talk being thrown around

It is so smooth and seamless, I could never go back to a 4 speed, and notice the gaps when I do drive our trucks with 4L60s.

I have a 6 speed in my Mazda CX7 work car, and like that one, too.

I want to go drive the first 8 speed that shows up on the lot.

 

[Darkanion]

I have to agree with teh Penguin on this one.. Having had the 6 spd in the Denali, if I had bought another pickup, I would've wanted another 6 spd.. I think the gaps in the gearing would've bugged going back to a 4 spd..

The Outback has 5 and I kinda wish it had more..

With proper programming, more gears could the vehicle more versatile. Lower lows, for instance that maybe aren't always used, but could be available for certain pulling or off-road situations.. High highs, for better MPG.. Skipping gears in the right situations, etc..

Done right, I think they could be very useful and wouldn't require all new propulsion technologies to achieve some of the MPG #'s the govt wants from automakers..

 

[DarrenWS6]

I read about this a month ago. Shoot I wish I could drive a 6spd auto truck, now theres an 8spd coming .

 

[PJB4x4]

Chrysler couldnt even make a 4 speed auto that lasted and now theyre doubling the speeds?