Autoblog

New 'Imported from Detroit' commercial touts Chrysler 300's new 8-speed auto

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Chrysler

Chrysler's latest commercial for the new 300 looks to tout the automaker's new eight-speed automatic transmission for 2012, which offers up to 31 miles per gallon on the highway when paired with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine. That's commendable mileage for a large, rear-wheel-drive sedan, and Chrysler deserves credit for making it happen.

The Detroit-based automaker is also still pushing its "Imported from Detroit" tagline, which we like, and, as ever, has homed in on the community aspect by driving the 300 through downtown Detroit and through the suburbs to what appears to be a very nice home somewhere near the city. It's all pretty effective, we think, but there is one glaring issue with the commercial for those paying close attention.

The car pictured in all the driving shots is actually a 2012 Chrysler 300C (as mentioned in the disclaimers), which still comes with a five-speed automatic connected to the much-lauded Hemi V8 engine. There's a quick flash to the new shifter that connects the driver to the eight-speeder, but that's clearly not in the same car we see elsewhere in the ad. We don't really understand why Chrysler made that decision, as all the goodies you'd want to show off can indeed be had with the V6 model, but maybe that's why we're writers and not marketers.

In any case, check out the latest video in Chrysler's "Imported from Detroit" series after the break.

Continue reading New 'Imported from Detroit' commercial touts Chrysler 300's new 8-speed auto

New 'Imported from Detroit' commercial touts Chrysler 300's new 8-speed auto originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford confirms 1.0L EcoBoost three-cylinder, eight-speed transmission

Steven J. Ewing — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Ford

2011 Ford Fiesta - Click above for high-res image gallery

Derrick Kuzak, Ford Group Vice President of Global Product Development, has confirmed that the Dearborn automaker will offer turbocharged EcoBoost powertrains in 90 percent of its vehicles here in the United States by 2013. This journey for (nearly) full-line forced-induction started with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 found in the Taurus, Flex and F-150, as well as the Lincoln MKS and MKT. Next, we'll be seeing a 2.0-liter EcoBoost inline-four under the hood of the Edge and Explorer, and now, Ford has confirmed development of a 1.0-liter EcoBoost three-cylinder engine.

This 1.0-liter, inline-three will be the smallest engine in Ford's portfolio, and it will find its way under the hood of vehicles across the globe. No specific output or fuel economy numbers have been divulged just yet, but Joe Bakaj, Ford's Vice President of Global Powertrain Engineering, says that the 1.0-liter triple will provide similar power to the automaker's 1.6-liter naturally aspirated four, while improving fuel economy. When asked, Bakaj tells us that the fuel economy improvements will be similar in percentage to those with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 compared to a naturally aspirated V8.

Ford says it plans to announce more information about the 1.0-liter engine at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show, including exactly what vehicles will be powered by this mill. Since Ford is benchmarking its 1.6-liter engine here - the powerplant used in the Fiesta - we'd expect that this EcoBoost three almost certainly slot into Ford's smallest offering here in the States.

The Blue Oval has also confirmed that it is working on an all-new eight-speed automatic transmission, which is being designed, engineered and built by Ford in-house. Bakaj states that the eight-speed automatic will offer "best-in-class" shift smoothness and responsiveness.

Follow the jump for Ford's official press release.

Continue reading Ford confirms 1.0L EcoBoost three-cylinder, eight-speed transmission

Ford confirms 1.0L EcoBoost three-cylinder, eight-speed transmission originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 BMW M5 to be automatic only?

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, BMW, Rumormill, Luxury

2012 BMW M5 spy shots - Click above for high-res image gallery

As enthusiasts, we can't help but get depressed over the near-extinction of the manual transmission. More and more of our favorite performance cars are being offered without three-pedal setups, and if you believe the latest reports, the next car to fall victim to this change of engineering is the 2012 BMW M5. Don't get your hopes up for any sort of dual-clutch setup, either - Motor Trend is reporting that the next-generation M5 will be offered exclusively with an eight-speed automatic.

When the 2012 BMW M5 goes on sale, it will be powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 with direct injection. Motor Trend reports that BMW apparently tried to mate its M DCT transmission to this powerplant, a less-powerful version of which is used in both the X5 M and X6 M. The latest reports state that the 2012 M5 will produce over 550 horsepower, and while there's no word about what sort of torque numbers will be on tap, it's obviously too high to be handled by the M DCT unit. Presumably, the eight-speed autobox in question is the ZF unit that's spreading like kudzu throughout the automaker's lineup, and at least we know it to be a very agreeable and quick-shifting unit.

Look for the 2012 BMW M5 to debut in concept form at the Shanghai Motor Show this Spring, followed by the production car's debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show this Fall.

Gallery: 2012 BMW M5 Spy Shots

[Source: Motor Trend | Images: CarPix]

2012 BMW M5 to be automatic only? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZF developed nine-speed transmission is coming

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:32:00 EST

Filed under: Technology

Did your favorite brand just move to six-speed automatics? Are you already cruising along happily in seventh gear or perhaps you're enjoying the scenery with your transmission lazily churning in eighth. Well move over because ZF is getting ready to produce a nine-speed automatic gearbox.

Marking a first for front-wheel drive passenger vehicles, the ZF nine-speed will help automakers generate greater fuel-economy gains while also providing a smoother driving experience. The shift times are said to be quite short and the resulting gear changes are nearly imperceptible to passengers.

The nine-speed automatic will be produced in a brand-new manufacturing facility located near Greenville, South Carolina, and there's talk that one of its first homes will be under the hood of something from Chrysler.

[Source: ZF]

Continue reading ZF developed nine-speed transmission is coming

ZF developed nine-speed transmission is coming originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Chrysler pulling ahead production of eight-speed transmissions

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler

Chrysler is getting serious about its eight-speed transmission plans as evidenced by a new report by TheDetroitBureau.com saying that Auburn Hills plans to pull ahead its production schedule. It takes money to make things things like this happen, and Chrysler has announced it is investing $85 million into its Kokomo Transmission Plant in Indiana. That $85M will get added to a rather large pile of cash because Chrysler has already announced an investment amount of $843 million for its various Kokomo facilities.

The eight-speed was originally slated for production at Chrysler's Indiana Transmission Plant I, but the move to Kokomo allows ITPI to focus on a new front-wheel drive transmission.

[Source: The Detroit Bureau]

Report: Chrysler pulling ahead production of eight-speed transmissions originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW announces pricing for 2011 X3

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 13:32:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Crossover, BMW, Luxury

2011 BMW X3 - Click above for high-res image gallery

We're about to drive the 2011 BMW X3, but before we get behind the wheel, BMW has announced pricing for its next-gen. cute 'ute, and as before, the new CUV will be offered in two trims. The base X3 xDrive28i, which features a 240 horsepower inline-six, will start at $37,625. The more powerful xDrive35i, which boasts a 300-hp turbocharged six-cylinder engine, starts $41,925. Both models come standard with all-wheel drive and BMW's eight-speed automatic transmission. The 2011 BMW X3 will arrive in dealer showrooms at the end of 2010, and both models will be available at launch.

Additionally, Blackberry users will have something to be excited about. The X3 is fitted with technology to pull loads of utility out of its smartphone integration. The navigation screen can display emails when the car is stationary, and when it's in motion, the system utilizes a text-to-speech program to read messages through the audio system.

The base price of the 2011 BMW X3, even though the car has been refreshed and features more standard items, is less than the 2010 model it replaces. It's a $2,100 price drop down from the 2010 base MSRP of $39,725.

Gallery: Paris 2010: BMW X3

Continue reading BMW announces pricing for 2011 X3

BMW announces pricing for 2011 X3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler plans eight-speed automatic production in Indiana [w/video]

Chris Shunk — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Technology, Videos, Chrysler, Dodge

Chrysler eight-speed automatic transmission - click above to watch the video

Chrysler has announced that it will begin fitting an eight-speed transmission to select models for the 2013 model year. The ZF Group-sourced slushbox will be built at Team Pentastar's Kokomo, Indiana transmission plant thanks to a $300 million investment by the parent company. That cash commitment secures the 1,200 jobs currently working at the plant.

Eight-speed transmissions provide considerable fuel economy improvements compared to an automatic with five or six forward speeds. Chrysler isn't divulging which products will receive the new transmission, but Wards speculates that the upcoming eight-speed tranny makes the most sense in Chrysler's rear-drive LX platform vehicles like the 300 and Charger. That makes sense to us considering the fact that Chrysler will need to improve fuel economy considerably to meet stringent new EPA standards of 35 miles per gallon by 2016.

Senior Powertrain VP Paolo Ferraro says that the new transmission "will offer our customers refinement and comfort while achieving greater fuel economy and performance." Chrysler plans to improve its overall fuel economy by 25 percent by 2014. For comparison's sake, the ZF-sourced eight-speed transmission used in the BMW 760i is said to improve the big Bimmer's fuel economy by six percent. Learn more by checking out the official video and press release after the jump.

[Sources: Chrysler, Wards Automotive]

Continue reading Chrysler plans eight-speed automatic production in Indiana [w/video]

Chrysler plans eight-speed automatic production in Indiana [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Videos: Hyundai shows off direct-injected V6, four-cylinder, eight-speed automatic

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:28:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Videos, Hyundai, Beijing Motor Show

Hyundai 1.6-liter GDI engine - Click above to watch the videos after the break

We already saw the new Hyundai Verna - known as the Accent in some other parts of the world, including here in the United States - debuted at the Beijing Motor Show, but the Korean automaker had other important new tidbits to show off as well. Specifically, a direct injected version of its Lambda V6 engine, a new direct-injected 1.6-liter four and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

While all three developments are notable for various reasons, we're naturally rather drawn to the new DI V6 engine, which was shown in a longitudinal arrangement. That means we can likely expect to see this updated six in rear-wheel-drive platforms first, such as the Genesis Sedan and Coupe and the new Equus luxury cruiser. It's not a stretch to imagine this mill mated up with the eight-speed auto, either. Power for the DI V6 comes out to only 296 horses, but that's likely an underrated configuration, as it's less than what the Genesis Coupe makes now.

As for the 1.6-liter directed-injected four, you can count on that powerplant showing up in the next-gen Accent and possibly the Elantra as well. Power comes in at 138 ponies, which compares rather well with the 110 horsepower of the current non-direct-injected 1.6-liter four. Hyundai also says the 1.6 is a likely candidate for turbocharging, so that's something else to look forward to.

Click on past the break for a trio of videos showing off the new technology, if only for the stellar voiceover that we think we've heard somewhere before.

[Source: Hyundai via Inside Line]

Continue reading Videos: Hyundai shows off direct-injected V6, four-cylinder, eight-speed automatic

Videos: Hyundai shows off direct-injected V6, four-cylinder, eight-speed automatic originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Eight-speed transmissions to proliferate through Audi lineup

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:27:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Audi

How many gears are enough? While it seems that six-speed automatic transmissions are just now becoming the de facto standard in most circles, Mercedes-Benz has been working with seven ratios for a while now and Lexus did its German rival one better by designing its own eight-speed. Not content to sit idle while other marques earn bragging rights, Audi and BMW have recently utilized eight-speeders of their own for their latest flagship models.

Citing unnamed sources within Audi, the crew at Inside Line are suggesting that the automaker will spread the eight-gear love across its model line, including even the lowly entry-level A3 hatchback with its 2.0-liter turbocharged four. Why all those gears? More ratios to choose from generally equals quicker and smoother acceleration along with increased fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.

As an aside, we're not quite sure where the law of diminishing returns will intersect with the desire for performance and bragging rights when it comes to automatic transmissions. In other words, what are the chances that we'll someday see nine or 10-speed gearboxes in luxury cars? Time will tell.

[Source: Inside Line]

Report: Eight-speed transmissions to proliferate through Audi lineup originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi and BMW to utilize 8-speed gearboxes to take on Lexus

Michael Harley — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, SUV, Technology, Audi, BMW, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz

As we reported last month, it appears BMW and Audi, following the lead of Lexus, will begin to offer eight-speed automatic transmissions in their flagship models. Sources are now saying the transmission will be supplied by ZF Friedrichshafen, a familiar German supplier to both marques. Although we don't know all of the specifics, Audi is expected to debut the new slushbox in the range-topping A8 sedan, Q7 SUV, and their future A7 premium model. BMW will likely debut the new gearbox in their premium 7-Series sedan and the X6 Sport Activity Vehicle, according to company sources.

The current Audi A8 and BMW 7-Series both use six-speed automatics. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class utilizes a seven-speed automatic of their own design, while Lexus debuted their eight-speed transmission in the LS 460. Increasing the number of forward gears offers advantages in smoothness, acceleration, and improves fuel efficiency. Lower fuel consumption equates to reduced emissions, helping the powerful models meet increasingly stringent air quality standards in Europe and the United States.

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

Audi and BMW to utilize 8-speed gearboxes to take on Lexus originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 May 2008 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New BMW 7-series will come with 8-speed transmission

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 08:32:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Technology, BMW

When BMW released the redesigned 7-series back in 2001, they were the first to offer a six-speed automatic transmission. Two years later, Mercedes upped the ante by throwing an additional cog into the mix, equipping their new S-class with a seven-speed auto. Now that Lexus is offering an eight-speed slush box in their waftastic LS460, BMW has vowed not be left behind in the ratio wars and plans to bring an ~~nine-~~ eight-speed transmission to market by the end of the decade.

The next 7-series will be due for a substantial redesign by 2009 or 2010, so that's when industry analysts expect the eight-speed box to find its way into BMW's luxury sedan. The engineering haus, ZF Friedrichsafen, has been tapped to create the new automatic and has plenty of experience increasing fuel economy, while decreasing build costs, on the current model's six-speed automatic.

When will this cog-swapping numbers race end? We're not entirely sure, but as soon as manufacturers start cresting the double digits, we doubt anyone will even be paying attention.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

New BMW 7-series will come with 8-speed transmission originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Feb 2007 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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