Ford hasn’t said what transmission is in the new aluminum F-Series due late this year. Ram pickup has been using an 8-speed since 2013. The new Jeep Cherokee has 9-speeds.
GM said today that Chevrolet and GMC would have a new 8-speed automatic transmission standard on 2015 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra and GMC Yukon Denali/Yukon XL Denali models equipped with the 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8. In theory, fuel economy should improve on the EPA sticker, but estimates will be announced closer to the start of production in Q4 of 2014.
The GM trucks, the pickups at first followed by the trailing SUVs, face stiff competition from the all-new Ford F-Series and its SUV spinoffs, which makes extensive use of aluminum and sheds 700 pounds in the pickup version. (Ford F-150 Aluminum Pickup Sheds 700 Pounds Late this Year, 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Pickups Top F-Series and Ram in Fuel Economy with EPA 23 MPG Highway for V8) Both Ford and GM currently use six-speed automatics. At Chrysler Group, the Ram pickup went to a technically sophisticated air suspension, updated engines and an 8-speed automatic transmission for the 2013 model year. It has been setting sales records every month since – 204,000 CYTD. (Light Duty Diesel Ram Ups Fuel Economy Ante in 2014)
The GM-developed Hydra-Matic 8L90 8-speed is approximately the same size and weight as the Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic. With a wider 7.0 overall gear ratio spread than GM’s six-speed automatic transmissions, engineers are providing a numerically higher first gear ratio to help drivers start off more confidently with a heavy load or when trailering. The 8L90 also enables numerically lower rear axle ratios, which reduce engine rpm on the highway.
With 420 horsepower and 460 lb.-ft. of torque, the 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 is currently the most powerful engine offered in any light-duty pickup, and offers an optional trailer rating of 12,000 pounds, based on SAE J2807 Recommended Practices. Ford says it will finally go to the standardized test with the new F-Series.
As with other GM EcoTec3 engines, it switches to four-cylinder operation under lighter loads to improve fuel economy. Test drives by AutoInformed show engine cylinder killing is virtually imperceptible.
