TorqueFlite Eight-Speed Automatic Transmissions In More Than 1M Vehicles Worldwide
Chrysler says they project a reduction in combined CO2 emissions to be more than six million metric tonnes.
TorqueFlite eight-speed transmissions are found across a wide-range of Chrysler products including the 2014 Ram 1500 V-6 and Hemi models, giving them class-leading fuel economy and performance.
Depending on the application, a TorqueFlite transmission can account for fuel-economy improvements of up to nine percent, compared with a more conventional automatic.
“The TorqueFlite’s wide 7.03 ratio spread is the reason it can deliver such superior performance,” Lux says. “This enables engines to operate at peak efficiency in a broader range of driving conditions.”
The TorqueFlite’s design inherently contributes to efficiency. Paired with the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 in the 2015 Dodge Challenger, it weighs just four lbs. (1.8 kg) more than the five-speed gearbox it replaces while contributing to a fuel-economy gain in the range of five percent.
Internally, the transmission features four gear sets and five shift elements consisting of multi-disc clutches and brakes. Only two shift elements are open at one time, which reduces drag losses stemming from the rotation of multiple parts.
Lower viscosity transmission fluid is used to improve operating efficiency and fuel economy, especially during cold environments or vehicle start-up. The TorqueFlite also is “fill-for-life,” never requiring oil changes, when subjected to normal driving conditions.
In the Ram 1500, TorqueFlite function benefits further from a thermal management system that quickly raises engine and transmission fluid temperature. This improves fuel efficiency by 1.7 percent by reducing the parasitic losses that occur when engine oil and transmission fluid are in their natural, lower-viscosity states.
Model-year 2014 pickup benchmarks to which TorqueFlite technology contributes are:
- Best-in-class city fuel economy, 2WD full-sized pickups (20 mpg; Ram 1500)
- Best-in-class highway fuel economy, 2WD full-sized pickups (28 mpg; Ram 1500)
- Best-in-class combined fuel economy, 2WD full-sized pickups (23 mpg; Ram 1500)
- Best-in-class city fuel economy, 4WD full-sized pickups (19 mpg; Ram 1500)
- Best-in-class highway fuel economy, 4WD full-sized pickups (27 mpg; Ram 1500)
- Best-in-class combined fuel economy, 4WD full-sized pickups (22 mpg; Ram 1500)
The TorqueFlite 845RE is produced under license from ZF Friedrichshafen AG at Chrysler Group’s manufacturing complex in Kokomo, IN. The 8HP70 and 8HP90, respectively, are produced at ZF’s plants in Gray Court, SC, and Saarbrucken, Germany.
