Chrysler 2011 Annual Report Download - page 62

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recent 2010 launch, high demand for this engine resulted in production of one million Pentastar engines by January 2011 and steps
were taken to further expand production capacity. In 2012, the Ram pickup will also be offered with the Pentastar V-6.
In connection with the launch of the Fiat 500 in North America in December 2010, manufacture also began of Fiat’s 1.4L FIRE engine
which incorporates Fiat’s proprietary MultiAir technology. This has added an eco-efficient small engine to the portfolio. Chrysler has
adapted MultiAir technology to the new 2.4L 4-cylinder Tigershark engine, which will be used in future C- and D-segment vehicles
starting in 2012. This engine, utilized on the new Dodge Dart, provides better fuel economy and refinement than the current World
Gas Engine which it will replace by 2015.
As intended, engine mix is moving increasingly toward smaller, 4-cycliner engines. In 2011, 24% of vehicles incorporated a 4-cylinder
engine, as compared to the 19% mix in 2010. Engine downsizing is expected to continue through 2014.
Transmissions. Chrysler is currently adapting Fiat’s dual dry clutch transmission, or DDCT, for use in select vehicles. On small- to
medium-sized vehicles, the DDCT offers improved fuel economy over conventional automatic transmissions. Chrysler plans to
introduce DDCT technology in the U.S. market in 2012.
Chrysler entered into two commercial agreements with a key supplier, ZF, for the design, engineering and manufacture of new
automatic transmissions that deliver reduced fuel consumption with improved driving performance. The first agreement is for a rear-
wheel drive, 8-speed transmission for light- and medium-duty applications that was introduced on the Chrysler 300 in 2011, and
has also been introduced on select versions of the Dodge Charger, both of which showed marked fuel efficiency improvements, as
described above. In late 2012 and 2013, this transmission will also be available on the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Dodge Durango
and Ram 1500 pick-up. This transmission reduces fuel consumption up to 12% over the current 5-speed transmissions. Ultimately,
Chrysler plans to use this transmission in all of its rear-wheel drive vehicles except heavy-duty versions of the Ram pick-up.
The second agreement with ZF was for an all-new 9-speed front-wheel drive transmission for medium-duty applications. The
9-speed ZF transmission is not yet in production anywhere in the world. Once developed, it will be made available for a Chrysler
Group vehicle before being offered to any other manufacturer. The transmission is expected to reduce fuel consumption by up to
11% over current 6-speed transmissions, and Chrysler plans to use it in many of its next generation C- and D-segment front-wheel
drive vehicles beginning in 2013. The majority of 8- and 9-speed ZF transmissions for Chrysler vehicles will be manufactured at the
Kokomo plant in Indiana under license from ZF, with any remaining requirement met by purchase directly from ZF.
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