It’s been a long time in the making but Chrysler officially announced the launch of its eight-speed automatic transmission on Thursday. The ZF-sourced unit is set to launch on V6-powered versions of the 2012 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger.
Currently used in vehicles produced by Audi, BMW and Rolls-Royce, the ZF 845RE eight-speed transmission will launch on Chrysler’s full-size sedan models next month. The eight-speed unit will initially be limited to 300 and Charger models powered by Chrysler’s 3.6L Pentastar V6, but it will be available in rear- and all-wheel drive configurations.
Thanks to the addition of three cogs – the current cars use a five-speed automatic — the 300 and Charger will both be capable of 31mpg on the highway, up from the 27mpg rating on the 2011 cars. City economy is up 5 percent to 19mpg.
The AWD versions of the 2012 300 and Charger will use a front-wheel decoupling system, allowing for the same fuel economy ratings as the rear-wheel drive cars.
Chrysler says both eight-speed equipped cars will be able to accelerate from 0-60 in 7.2 seconds.
The 2012 300 and Charger are expected to arrive on dealer lots next month, although it will be sometime in 2012 before the V8 versions of the cars get the advanced gearbox.
