8-speed transmission brings improved performance, MPGs to Hemi models

The 8-speed automatic transmission at work in the Dodge
Charger and the upcoming 2013 Ram 1500 when mated with the Pentastar V6 engine
have helped to make these vehicles (and a collection of other Chrysler Group
models) the most efficient models in their class but later this year, a
collection of Dodge models powered by the 5.7L Hemi will also benefit from this
8-speed automatic transmission.  The
addition of the 8-speed automatic transmission to the Dodge Charger R/T and the
Ram 1500 with the Hemi will both improve the acceleration of these V8-powered
models while also improving the already impressive fuel economy measures.

The 8-speed automatic transmission is expected to be available
with a large collection of Chrysler Group vehicles powered by the 5.7L Hemi V8
including the Dodge Charger, the Dodge Durango, the Ram 1500, the Chrysler 300C
and the Jeep Grand Cherokee.  The only
Hemi-powered model in the company lineup that will not receive the 8-speed
transmission in the immediate future is the Challenger, which will likely
receive this new gearbox when the next generation of the brawny Mopar muscle
car arrives in the next 18 to 24 months.

The new 8-speed transmission will be a welcome addition to
the likes of the Dodge Charger R/T along with the Hemi-powered Durango and Ram
1500 models for a variety of reasons. 
First off, the fact that this transmission has a 7^th and 8^th
gear designed to keep engine RPMs low allows for more aggressive gearing in the
lower gears which leads to stronger acceleration.  Also, having 8 gears allows the engineers to
have each gear be closer numerically to the previous and the next and this
reduces shift times while also improving the ride quality thanks to the
smoother, less noticeable shifts under gentle driving conditions.  Finally, the efficient gearing of 8^th
gear should allow all of these Hemi powered vehicles to be the most efficient
V8-powered models in their respective class in terms of highway mileage.

According to an insider at Allpar, the 8-speed automatic
transmission will become available for dealerships to order as soon as February
but those rumors also suggest that production will not begin until later in the
year – with the first deliveries of 8-speed Hemi models arriving in the early
summer of 2013.  Considering the timing
of the launch of these 8-speed transmission models (and the fact that 2013
models are already on sale), I would expect these models with the new
transmission to be labeled as 2014 model year vehicles.

There has been no indication as to what kind of price
increase will accompany the new 8-speed transmission but considering that this
new gearbox will afford the vehicle in question better acceleration AND better
fuel economy – this is a feature that will be worth paying for when it arrives.

Image courtesy of CG Media

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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