One can easily picture Spinal Tap’s Nigel Tufnel explaining Chrysler’s new transmissions, “But these go to eight.” Chrysler’s ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission recently made its debut on 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6-equipped Chrysler 300s and Dodge Chargers. According to a recent report from across the pond at Autocar, the new eight-speed transmission will soon be making its way onto not only the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s V-6, but its Hemi V-8 as well.
According to Autocar, the current Mercedes-Benz-sourced five-speed auto will be replaced by the ZF eight-speed auto in both V-6 and V-8 applications. Jeep Europe chief Joe Veltri allegedly confirmed that the new transmission could handle the torque from all engines in the Grand Cherokee’s lineup, including the Euro-only 237-hp 3.0-liter diesel V-6 with 406 lb-ft of torque.
Jeep CEO Mike Manley allegedly also disclosed to Autocar that the new ZF transmission is compatible with a hybrid drivetrain. Autocar also said that Manley confirmed to them that Jeep would bring a Wrangler-based all-electric vehicle to the marketplace by 2012.
This all sounded a bit fishy to us so we contacted high-ranking sources inside Jeep who said they were shocked (no pun intended) that Manley would confirm to Autocar that a Jeep EV would go into production next year. Our sources even went so far as to tell us that there were no plans for an electric Jeep in the foreseeable future.
As for the hybrid Jeep rumor, our source says that Jeep is also looking at fuel efficient technologies, but that a Jeep hybrid isn’t currently in the pipeline.
The only Autocar rumor to hold any salt was the eight-speed automatic transmission rumor. Our sources at Jeep confirmed that the Grand Cherokee would in fact get the ZF automatic next year. Throughout Chrysler, the eight-speed auto will first be introduced on Pentastar V-6 models (as it has on 2012 300s and Chargers), before it will spread to the Hemi V-8s.
