found this interesting Motor Trend article about the new 8-speed ZF automatic transmission.

Chrysler has been paying Mercedes a $250 royalty per transmission!


http://wot.motortrend.com/6656095/in...-zf/index.html

 

The question is how much will they be paying for the 8-speed and how much more will the 8-speed cost outside of royalties compared to simply adapting Chrysler's own 68RFE for the application. Also, WHY DO MOTOR TREND AND CAR & DRIVER ALWAYS get simple facts wrong. The 62TE is a FWD TRANSMISSION NOT A RWD and used in the minivans, Sebring/Avenger/Journey, and the such since 2007. What about the 62 would make them think it is a 8-speed transmission. Chrysler has used the same system for around 15 years, the first number indicates the number of ratios, the second indicates the strength level, the letter T or L indicates whether it is transverse or longitudinal, E indicates electronic and FE means fully electronic. This is why I am skeptical of the automotive press reviews when they don't know the most basic things about the companies they don't like.