Future FCA models will use the ZF 8-speed automatic gearbox with integrated electric drive

Future FCA models will use the ZF 8-speed automatic gearbox with integrated electric drive. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has reached a supply agreement with transmission manufacturer ZF to use a new 8-speed automatic transmission in its future rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive vehicles with a longitudinal front-engine layout.

This gearbox uses an integrated electric motor and will work with virtually any car in the group’s range featuring a longitudinal front-engine position, including Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Jeep, Abarth, Lancia and Mopar. The transmission can also be fitted to plug-in hybrid vehicles. In addition, FCA has yet to specify which of its models will receive the transmission, but it is expected to find its way into some of the company’s larger models.

Production of the new ZF transmission is scheduled to begin in 2022 at the company’s plant in Saarbrücken, Germany. Later, on a date yet to be confirmed, the automatic gearbox will also be manufactured elsewhere, including the United States and China.

Wolf-Henning Scheider, CEO of ZF, has stated that “we are delighted to be nominated as global transmission supplier by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. This is our second major order for the new eight-speed gearbox. This confirms our strategy of focusing on plug-in hybrids as an everyday solution and creating attractive new products in these areas”.

ZF will become the official supplier to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

One technical innovation of the improved transmission is the integration of the electric unit. With this, ZF helps its customers achieve their CO2 reduction targets. With this modular transmission concept, manufacturers will be able to easily switch from one transmission variant to another, giving them the flexibility to respond to market requirements.

ZF, the manufacturer of the new FCA automatic gearboxes, has noted that this is the second-largest order in its history and comes three months after its only other major order with BMW was signed, which aims to supply the state-of-the-art eight-speed transmission. Some sources have already reported that the order placed by FCA could be worth between 7,000 and 20,000 million dollars. In addition, a ZF spokesperson has confirmed that the agreement with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles “is very large and not much smaller than that of BMW”.

Some car manufacturers are beginning to move away from dual-clutch transmissions in favour of those supplied by ZF. BMW, for example, only offers the new BMW M5 with ZF’s 8HP torque converter transmission in place of the old dual-clutch.

The unit offered by the gearbox manufacturer is not only cheaper, but also more reliable and can easily handle the power and torque figures of most turbocharged engines in the industry.