9 Speeds. Count 'em. Nine.

"Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom" (will-alib)
08/08/2014 at 16:03 • Filed to: reviews

Just got this yesterday for a week review. Initial impressions? The interior is really nice, and the seats are excellent. This one has the 2.4 which is adequate, but I'd probably spring for the V6. The Infinity sound system is impressive, and that Jaguaresque shifter is kinda cool, or just different.

DISCUSSION (22)

JGrabowMSt > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
08/08/2014 at 16:07

Is 9th gear the "cruising at 100mph" gear? I can't imagine it has much use until highway speeds...

Cebu > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
08/08/2014 at 16:08

Why would one ever need nine speeds?

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > JGrabowMSt
08/08/2014 at 16:11

The gear ratios are spaced closer together to keep the engine in its power band. The top four gears are overdrives.

http://www.allpar.com/mopar/transmis…

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Cebu
08/08/2014 at 16:12

gear ratios are spaced closer together to keep the engine in its power band

http://www.allpar.com/mopar/transmis…

Cebu > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
08/08/2014 at 16:15

IMHO it's too much mechanical complexity and added weight offsets any gain in effeciency.

HammerheadFistpunch > Cebu
08/08/2014 at 16:17

Its actually quite small, light, and very drag efficient. Its a great design.

Cé hé sin > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
08/08/2014 at 16:20

What is it? Only nine speeds I've heard of are the Evoque and sundry Mercs.

GhostZ > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
08/08/2014 at 16:25

Congratulations Dodge, you just made the 1999 Chrysler 300M.

GhostZ > Cebu
08/08/2014 at 16:27

More speeds doesn't usually mean added weight, as counter-intuitive as it sounds.

But I agree. Build an engine with a wider torque band (you've got turbos, intakes, exhausts, and valve timing to mess with, it isn't hard to do) and use fewer gears, rather than the other way around.

Takuro Spirit > GhostZ
08/08/2014 at 16:34

Complete with Indiglo gauges!!

Kinja'd!!!

GhostZ > Takuro Spirit
08/08/2014 at 16:48

Well, they did use the same sound system and many-speed transmission, both were praised for their looks at the time, etc.

The only difference is that the 200 is a base model and the 300M was a high-end model.

As Du Volant > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
08/08/2014 at 17:12

Did you find the Detroit skyline in the cubby under the center stack?

Interesting behavior with the 9-speed: it skips gears. If you're cruising at 50mph in 8th and then hammer it, it'll instantly jump to 3rd.

GhostZ > Cé hé sin
08/08/2014 at 17:16

The new Chrysler 200. Yeah, that's their economy car, not even close to the Merc and Evoque price ranges.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > As Du Volant
08/09/2014 at 08:43

Interesting easter egg there; will have to look. I haven't noticed any transmission patterns yet, but I've only had it a day.

Saf1 > GhostZ
08/09/2014 at 19:16

Whether that's simple to do or not I question, but is moot as everyone discusses peak power and torque which would surely diminish in a more "balanced" engine

Saf1 > As Du Volant
08/09/2014 at 20:51

Surely this happens with the 7 and 8 speed autos of today as well?

Saf1 > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
08/09/2014 at 20:56

Damn that 9-speed gives good mpg ratings: 23 city/36 hwy VS 20 city/31 hwy for a 6-speed 2.4. I can't believe more gears made that much of a difference, especially in city driving when you aren't in one gear anyway

GhostZ > Saf1
08/10/2014 at 04:04

Exactly. The idea is that you build an engine that is, at peak, just a little more powerful than your rivals, and then try to widen the powerband as wide as possible aftewards.

As Du Volant > Saf1
08/11/2014 at 08:03

Can't speak for the 7 speeds as I haven't had much opportunity to play with them, but the ZF 8-speed that multiple brands are using does this as well.

Saf1 > As Du Volant
08/11/2014 at 09:23

Actually now that I think of it, I'm sure even 6AT would skip gears if you went from hwy 6th and floored it it would probably go to 4th or even 3rd. Maybe that behaviour is not so interesting!

As Du Volant > Saf1
08/11/2014 at 09:28

Chrysler's old 6-speeds didn't- they were internally built or sourced from Hyundai or Mitsubishi depending on the application.

Every one of them shifted sequentially. Floor it in 6th? You'll feel it downshift each time until it hits the gear you want. Sometimes it's so fast you can barely feel it, but it's there.

Saf1 > As Du Volant
08/11/2014 at 09:36

Inefficient design! But why? Dit really require that many more parts or tech back then to make a gearbox that can select gear based on rpm and throttle? (I don't really know how AT works apart from seeing they have fluids channels all over the casing and a torque converter)