Fiat Dual-Clutch Transmissions are Planned for North American Products
By Bradford Wernle, Automotive News
Posted by AutoWeek on Thursday, November 5, 2009 10:42 AM


During the next five years, Chrysler Group's powertrain lineup will be transformed from one dominated by larger-displacement engines to one dominated by Fiat-derived four-cylinder engines, V6s and, eventually, electric vehicles.


Chrysler also said Wednesday that it will add Fiat-designed dual-clutch transmissions in its North American products.


The company also will launch its new Pentastar V6 engine on the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee in the second quarter next year, said Paolo Ferrero, Chrysler's powertrain chief.


The Pentastar will replace all Chrysler's V6 engines, from 2.7 liters to 4.0 liters in displacement.


The first dual-clutch transmission will appear on a new D-segment vehicle at the end of 2010. Also about that time, Chrysler will launch stop-start technology on the Jeep Wrangler diesel, an existing vehicle in Europe.


The combined Chrysler-Fiat companies will divide into centers of powertrain expertise. Fiat will produce small gasoline engines and diesels, while Chrysler will be the center of knowledge for V6s and V8s.


Chrysler was not clear on when, or whether, Fiat diesels will come into the North American lineup.
Chrysler's current engines gradually will give way to a new mix dominated by four-cylinder engines and the new V6.


In 2010, Chrysler's legacy engines--those in the stable before Fiat took control--will account for 84 percent of Chrysler's engine mix. By 2014, the legacy engines will be down to 12 percent.


In 2014, Fiat-derived engines will account for 42 percent of Chrysler's mix. The Pentastar V6, developed before Fiat came on the scene, will account for 38 percent.


Chrysler also plans to:

-- Introduce a 1.4-liter gasoline engine in the Fiat 500 in the fourth quarter of 2010.

-- Launch a turbocharged version of the 1.4-liter four-cylinder in the fourth quarter of 2011.

-- Apply Fiat technology to Chrysler's Pentastar V6--including MultiAir, which Fiat says improves fuel economy 10 percent by using electrohydraulic valve controls to adjust the air and valve timing for each cylinder. Single and twin turbocharging also will be used.

-- Apply Fiat fuel-saving technologies to engines it purchases from outside suppliers, such as the Cummins diesel.

-- Continue development of hybrid electric vehicles, including the launch of the Dodge Ram 1500 hybrid electric truck, due out in 2010 as a 2011 model.

http://editorial.autos.msn.com/blogs..._blg=1,1354499

 

Oh boy, here we go, hope they have a better time of it than Ford did with Navistar.

 

Looks like my next new truck may be a Ford.... Dang that was hard to type. If they goof up the Cummins, I am gone....

 

Thats what I was thinking, Maybe their looking at putting urea on the pickups.

 

Yep, you said it.

I dunno what to expect out of all this. I 'd atleast like to see a somewhat sporty compact diesel car out of all this. Maybe, maybe not?

 

Keep the Viper around and drop in a Cummins maybe???

 

This could be a good thing. In the full sized Rams, the Cummins engine will probably remain. There's a big following, and a lot of people say the same thing. If the Cummins goes, I go.

OTOH, Americans have a pretty short memory, and the dollar is king. We'll buy some crappy piece of junk if it saves a few bucks. Just look around you on the highway. They'll lose some loyal Cummins fans. But they'll save enough money on engines that in the end it won't matter.

On the good side, there are some excellent small Iveco engines available. How about a 3.9L 4 cylinder turbodiesel that makes 325 ft/lbs @ 2,700. A little tweeking and you're easily in the 375-400 ft/lb range. Put that in a Dakota, and you'll have an excellent truck that gets 25-30mpg. A Dakota is a nice sized truck (I loved mine) that weighs about a ton less than the Ram. I'd buy one of those.

 

wait until the dust seatles first Fiat is not a backwards car company with numbers like this there doing something rite;

Revenue: €59.4 billion (2008)
Net income: €1.721 billion (2008)
Employees 200,701 (2008)

thats Euros btw

 

Drop that dude in a Jeep Wrangler and I would look at it pretty hard. Better yet swap one into my 98TJ as its already built.

But, got to say... the only reason I have a Dodge truck is the Cummins. I tell people that I bought the Cummins/NV 6sp/AAM axles and the Dodge just came with it.

 

Yes, if the Cummins go, I go. But like others have said, a nice inline, turbo, intercooled 4 cylinder making big torque and I'd look at it...

 

They could do the same thing currently with the 3.9ISB, if they won't listen to that logic now.............

 

Well, I think the Cummins already eeks out an awful lot of very usable power for the amount of fuel it uses.
Fuel savings tech could mean dual clutch 'manual' automatics, for example. Convenience of an auto with the direct mechanical linkage of a manual throughout the gears. I welcome something like that, as I think my current auto is pretty slushy/inefficient until it locks up.