Even though I just purchased my Durango Hemi I really hope Dodge refines the transmission. I bought this vehicle coming out of a so called luxury brand - lexus - and am looking at the durango with my passenger car goggles on but the transmission is, IMO, the one shortfall of the vehicle. Fit and finish, materials, technology, touch & feel are all on par with the lexus I just got rid of but the transmission has essentially three usable gears, 1st, 2nd and 6th.

So the sooner they come out with a new transmission the better - let them get the bugs worked out and maybe I'll upgrade to a 2015 model year in 2014.

 

According to Allpar.com 8 speed Jeep GC tests are about to begin. I'd assume separate Durango tests would just be redundant. http://www.allpar.com/news/index.php...-tests-rumored (They don't specify V6 or V8)

Allpar has a pretty good history of their rumors becoming fact.

 

2014's will get two different 8 speeds

-(8HP45 w/3.6L)

-(8HP70 w/3.0L, 5.7L and 6.4L)

 

I agree the 5 spd is missing an additional cog and not fully utilizing the engine's powerband. The 8 spd tranny already employed on the Chargers/300s, hopefully Dodge should put it soon....here's a positive feedback on the 8 spd tranny from a forum member who drives a Charger see post #12.

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/dodge-c...charger-2.html