Just putting some stuff in for tranny developments....

It's looking like around 2010, Chrysler will begin to use two new automatics. Now, these aren't automatics as we are used to seeing, but an automatic manual.

For FWD cars, it'll be a six-speed unit. For RWD cars, Trucks, both HD/otherwise, it'll be a SEVEN-speed unit.

The FWD units will be rated for 370ft-lbs max, while the 7 speed units will be rated for as high as 850ft-lbs of torque and for use in vehicles with GVWR as high as 26,000lbs.

Some of the patents being used suggest that these may also form the basis of a new manual trans as well, or a selectable option b/w the two as one patent is for using a clutch pedal with this transmission.

It's a dual clutch unit...but not dual clutches as we'd normally see. As it's described, one clutch will be used for gears 1-3-5 (and 7) and another for 2-4-6. This allows the gear to already be engaged and awaiting one clutch to engage/other disengage for seamless shifting...thus promising smoother operation than current automatic manual based units from BMW, toyota, Ferrari/maserati. Sadly, the units from these manufactuers has dampend public opinion of these units dramatically, but they also each operate vastly different than this upcoming unit does.

Some of the advantages of this unit over current automatics:
Simpler
lighter
mechanically more efficient
greater number of ratios
should be mechanically more reliable

The pay-off should be increased acceleration while decreasing mileage. 10% better acceleration with 10% better mileage was quoted due to lighter weight, better ratio's, a gains in mechanical efficiency.

They are predicting that cars will recieve these first behind the upcoming phoneix engines, with trucs to recieve them later.