[Mike V.]

one wonders how far along the 3.2 pentastar might be.

It better be pretty far along, the Cherokee is literally right around the corner.

Mike

 

[Jared]

If I had to guess, I'd say it is due to transmission availability.

I know the good people of Chrysler are working hard on this, but maybe Sergio needs to buy more directly from ZF to help navigate through these initial debuts.

There is a lot riding on this transmission. This is purely my guess.

Mike

It would be the only 9-speed for a passenger car on the market, no? That would be huge...

Either way, Ford and GM are hot on the trail as well, from Sept, 2012

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/29/us-autos-transmission-idUSBRE88R1JZ20120929

 

[freshforged]

It better be pretty far along, the Cherokee is literally right around the corner.

Mike

true, I was thinking more in terms of their ability to ramp up production. If the new Cherokee lives up to its billing, 3.2 production might be constrained for a while.

 

[AHHA]

2/10/2014

 

[Jackratchett]

Since I was the first to say anything I want to explain.

I did not mean to give any negative impression of Jackrachett's skills. I greatly appreciate his time and talents. It gives us an idea of what to expect. I'm not faulting him when I find fault with the design and styling direction the automakers have taken. I merely voice my own opinions based on 34 years of driving. I feel I am a safer and better driver when I can see out of the vehicle I can driving.

No offense taken. All opinions good or bad are welcome, especially if they help to improve the rendering closer to the real thing.
As far as delays go from what is heard, manpower cuts at pilot production do not help one bit and the build on a dime theory doesn't work. There is money in the safe but the time lock is set to Chrysler hitting the stock market. Will that be too late?

The 8 speed transmissions are already in short supply, next will be production halts because of it.

 

[oh2o]

true, I was thinking more in terms of their ability to ramp up production. If the new Cherokee lives up to its billing, 3.2 production might be constrained for a while.

3.2L seems to be on schedule, volume production getting starting in March, ramping up from there.

 

[Erik Latranyi]

I believe (from memory) the priority list for the 9-speed are as follows:

Cherokee
200
Minivan
Dart

 

[dave28j]

Hi, Always love to hear any new information about the new Chrysler 200. I have a 2011 200 now.

 

[RVC]

Anybody knows if ZF's Greenville production line for the 9sp is up and running? IIRC they were scheduled to start production this year for 400k units/yr.
if they aren't ready and Kokomo isn't ready....

Another interesting point is that Honda/Acura is also rumored to have reached a deal for the 9hp with ZF, starting 2014. If we have any more delays, Chrysler might even get their thunder stolen from Honda/Acura.

 

[Erik Latranyi]

Anybody knows if ZF's Greenville production line for the 9sp is up and running? IIRC they were scheduled to start production this year for 400k units/yr.
if they aren't ready and Kokomo isn't ready....

Another interesting point is that Honda/Acura is also rumored to have reached a deal for the 9hp with ZF, starting 2014. If we have any more delays, Chrysler might even get their thunder stolen from Honda/Acura.

Sergio is going to be in Kokomo in the next few days.

Unlike the 8-speed, I though Chrysler was not buying any 9-speeds from ZF, but licensing the design for in-house construction.

I believe there are some differences between the purchased 8-speeds and the Chrysler-made 8-speeds. The same holds true of the 9-speed.

All this is from memory, so I could be way off-base.

 

[MoparNorm]

Anybody knows if ZF's Greenville production line for the 9sp is up and running? IIRC they were scheduled to start production this year for 400k units/yr.
if they aren't ready and Kokomo isn't ready....
Another interesting point is that Honda/Acura is also rumored to have reached a deal for the 9hp with ZF, starting 2014. If we have any more delays, Chrysler might even get their thunder stolen from Honda/Acura.

Tipton....official announcement soon, very soon.

 

[TripleT]

Tipton....official announcement soon, very soon.

Really, last month I drove by and the for Lease sign was still up on the building.