Agreed it will help with Gas Mileage the most. Keep in mind where the Hemi build most of its HP(rpm's).
A good controller programmer with some torque management modification in the future could give better PERFORMANCE results.
The 8 speed is designed to get the D to top gear asap.
I dont mind the 6 speed so far, I can clearly tell a 5 speed may not be desireable in this D.
As long as this trans is dependable I am good with it!

 

SS2RT is right in that more gears will cost you more time in changing one to another and having so many gears can cause a lag in downshifting because of BLOCK SHIFTING. Where if you are in 8th gear in cruise and floor it the 5/6 speed can drop into second( speed 50 ish) where as the 8spd has to block shift to 4th first and then to second. That's two shifts.... Benefit of the 8 speed... First gear has an overall ratio of 16.18 (assuming same 3.45 axle) that's aproximately 4,692 lbs-ft of TQ at are torque peak in first gear. The 5/6 is only 10.35 and 3,001 lbs-ft TQ respectively. That's a almost 1,700 more lbs-ft of torque available to move this fatty of a suv.

 

More speeds should always be better up to a point, as long as they pick good ratios.

Remember the 4-speed automatics that were on the LH-series cars? I feel that's the only reason they were a little slow at 7.6 to 8 seconds 0-60. Compare their hp and torque to modern cars and it's similar, but 0-60 is greatly improved today -- the big difference seems to be the transmission.

The 3.5L Chrysler 300M had about 250 hp and about 250 torque, but it only weighed about 3,600 lb. A 2013 Chrysler 300 V6 has 292hp and 260 torque which is about 16% more, but it weighs about 400 pounds more as well, so that should be roughly a draw.

Yet 0-60 was 7.6 seconds with the 300M while the modern 300 V6 does 0-60 in 6.6 seconds. I chalk it up to more and better ratios in the automatic. First gear ratio was only about 2.84.

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...count=1&ref=nf

 

hey guys...keep an eye on the link in the first post. TONS of info and pics coming soon.....embargoed at the moment.....LOL

 

yeah they have the new tail lights up now

 

Looks like the diesel Durango is not a rumor anymore.

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2...auto-show.html

 

This is the shot that I used on the DF Front Page piece. Same angle that everyone else is using but I think that this one is sexier...



I think that Id actually be surprised if they did offer the EcoDiesel in the Durango. Fiat likes clear differentiation between models and only having the diesel in the Jeep would set it apart from the Durango. Then again, the Jeep guys get the 392 so we should get something!

 

THATS BS! I have the full chrysler press kit with 92 pics! There is no mention of the 3.0 diesel. I copied this directly from the release



Powertrain choices
Named one of Ward’s 10 Best Engines for three years, Durango’s standard 3.6-liter Pentastar
V-6 engine paired with the new standard eight-speed transmission delivers up to a 9 percent
improvement in fuel-economy when compared with the previous transmission, not to mention
improved performance. The standard flex-fuel 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine generates an
impressive 290 horsepower (295 horsepower on Rallye) and 260 lb.-ft. of torque, and can tow
up to a best-in-class 6,200 pounds.
The 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine produces a best-in-class 360 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque
with a best-in-class tow rating of 7,400 pounds. The 5.7-liter engine’s Fuel Saver Technology
with cylinder-deactivation seamlessly alternates between smooth, high-fuel-economy four-
cylinder mode when less power is needed and V-8 mode when more power is in demand. This
optimizes fuel economy when V-8 power is not required, without sacrificing vehicle performance
or capability.

 

the 14' durango is a stunning ride by the way....

the front is simlar to the rear...think "hockey stick" LEDS for the headlights