Any News about Fiat Ducato's 8-Speed Transmission

[Guigsy]

Is the lack of torque and subsequent loss of the top two gears in the US due to the Promaster / Ducato there being petrol rather diesel?

But petrol engines also rev much higher. I suspect there's a different gearing output ratio to compensate. Don't they also get a V6?

 

[Lenny HB]

But petrol engines also rev much higher. I suspect there's a different gearing output ratio to compensate. Don't they also get a V6?

Don't know about Fiat but I think Ford fit an inline V6 in the Tranie, that's the reason for it's ugly bonnet.

 

[Guigsy]

Don't know about Fiat but I think Ford fit an inline V6 in the Tranie, that's the reason for it's ugly bonnet.

3.6 litre V6 Pentastar with 276hp and a 9 Speed is the standard fit in the US for a Dodge Promaster.

 

[SpeedyDux]

3.6 litre V6 Pentastar with 276hp and a 9 Speed is the standard fit in the US for a Dodge Promaster.

What an excellent choice to maximise CO2 emissions. You gotta hand it to those Yanks.

 

[Orion]

If you have a 9-speed does it use the top 2 gears (use the manual override, can you get the rev reduction of the higher gears above 7? I tried this on a US van and it does stop at 7, can't access 8th, or 9th, gear).

Yes, can go all the way to 9th using the manual feature with mine.

I'd be interested to know what rpm you get in 7th, 8th, 9th at, say, 65mph, if anyone knows. No rush, just curious.

Had a chance to do this earlier today with a 100+ mile run up from Seville on the Autovia Ruta de La Plata (A-66). It’s a dual carriageway running over some quite hilly terrain, so gave the auto box a good work out with the cruise control on as it dropped into 6th on a few of the inclines.

This is a Ducato 2.2 160bhp and the CC was at a constant 95kph, so enough to keep ahead of the HGVs but still return decent economy. The ECO gear/throttle function was selected. Analogue dials but near enough to these figures:

6th gear 2500rpm
7th gear 2200rpm
8th gear 1800rpm
9th gear 1500rpm

The trip reading showed 33.6 mpg.

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[Lenny HB]

3.6 litre V6 Pentastar with 276hp and a 9 Speed is the standard fit in the US for a Dodge Promaster.

RWD or FWD?

 

[SpeedyDux]

Yes, can go all the way to 9th using the manual feature with mine.



Had a chance to do this earlier today with a 100+ mile run up from Seville on the Autovia Ruta de La Plata (A-66). It’s a dual carriageway running over some quite hilly terrain, so gave the auto box a good work out with the cruise control on as it dropped into 6th on a few of the inclines.

This is a Ducato 2.2 160bhp and the CC was at a constant 95kph, so enough to keep ahead of the HGVs but still return decent economy. The ECO gear/throttle function was selected. Analogue dials but near enough to these figures:

6th gear 2500rpm
7th gear 2200rpm
8th gear 1800rpm
9th gear 1500rpm

The trip reading showed 33.6 mpg.

7th, 8th, and 9th gears appear to be overdrive gearing, for lower revs and improved economy. 33.6mpg at that speed is quite impressive.

I don't think a manual box or ComfortMatic can be as economical because in both cases, 6th is as good as it gets.

 

[ontheroadagain]

I don't think a manual box or ComfortMatic can be as economical because in both cases, 6th is as good as it gets.

We have the same motorhome as Orion but with a 2.3L,140BHP, 6 speed manual.
30mpg is the best we get.

6th gear 2500rpm
7th gear 2200rpm
8th gear 1800rpm
9th gear 1500rpm

I would say your 7th gear is equivalent to 6th gear in a manual gearbox.

 

[Rozzer]

9 speed ZF is brilliant. Different world to comfortomatic which was like having a geriatric Italian changing gear for you… 3.5t Adria was comfort and managed 21-22mpg on a good day. Same engine on our KonTiki 4.5t with ZF 30-32 cruising at 60. Seamless gear changing and much more relaxing to drive.

 

[IRHP]

9 speed ZF is brilliant. Different world to comfortomatic which was like having a geriatric Italian changing gear for you… 3.5t Adria was comfort and managed 21-22mpg on a good day. Same engine on our KonTiki 4.5t with ZF 30-32 cruising at 60. Seamless gear changing and much more relaxing to drive.

Something wrong with the Adria or the driving if you were getting 21-22 mpg. I have a Matrix with 130hp Comfortmatic . 4000kg Average 28 mpg. No remap.

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[Mikeyv60]

2035 is 11 years away and that's for cars I think commercial vehicles will be excluded. Keep up boy.

Less than 26 tonnes will have to be zero emmisons by 2035 ... ev charging points are going to have to get bigger lol

 

[Lenny HB]

Less than 26 tonnes will have to be zero emmisons by 2035 ... ev charging points are going to have to get bigger lol

Never going to happen.

 

[georgio]

Likewise, 8 gears 9 gears I just lose count! I have 9 on the Fiat Van I think anyway it's superb.
8 gears on the Volvo and that has been superb as well. Manual boxes are so yesterday!

must be a good gearbox if you do.nt know when it changes

 

[dash300]

must be a good gearbox if you do.nt know when it changes

I think you missed to point of the humour.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Don't know about Fiat but I think Ford fit an inline V6 in the Tranie, that's the reason for it's ugly bonnet.

That’s why !

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[Guigsy]

Never going to happen.

I'm expecting there to be some compromises. I think the car ICE ban will happen. But for larger fossil fuel vehicles, I think they'll just put large registration taxes and high annual tax on them. You'll be able to buy them, but they'll be cost prohibitive.

Ten years ago, there were a few Nissan Leafs and a very expensive Tesla. We've now got BEVs that'll cover 95% of peoples use cases costing as little as £15k (although not at the same time). Delivery vans are going EV. There are a few 15t trucks running around on battery. Give it another 10 years and I expect battery will be a pretty easy choice for many medium to large vehicles.

I still think we'll be heavily compromised with motorhomes though.

 

[Guigsy]

That’s why !

The Promaster has a 3.6 litre V6. Not sure how they squeeze it in. I guess the space at the back that would have a turbo in a Ducato is now the rear cylinder bank?

 

[EuroTrotters]

The Promaster has a 3.6 litre V6. Not sure how they squeeze it in. I guess the space at the back that would have a turbo in a Ducato is now the rear cylinder bank?

Feel like I want one !

 

[Old Gibber]

3.6 litre V6 Pentastar with 276hp and a 9 Speed is the standard fit in the US for a Dodge Promaster.

Hired a Dodge (Fiat) PVC in Canada a few years ago. Compared to my 160bhp Fiat PVC with 9 speed auto it was awful. Acceleration was nothing spectacular due to the enormous heavy lump up front and fuel consumption was 20mpg on a good day. Compare that to the average 34-35mpg I get with my Fiat.

Mine will definitely go into 9th gear, it tries to keep the revs around the 2000 rpm mark.

 

[SpeedyDux]

Hired a Dodge (Fiat) PVC in Canada a few years ago. Compared to my 160bhp Fiat PVC with 9 speed auto it was awful. Acceleration was nothing spectacular due to the enormous heavy lump up front and fuel consumption was 20mpg on a good day. Compare that to the average 34-35mpg I get with my Fiat.

Mine will definitely go into 9th gear, it tries to keep the revs around the 2000 rpm mark.

Oh well, I shall give up my fancy to import a V6 Dodge PVC. never mind.

Only an impression but fuel consumption with the FIAT Multijet 2 diesel engine is optimised as long as you don't go above 2000 rpm.

Seems to be the case with my 150 bhp version with the variable turbo. I have seen 36 mpg on one day's driving on French D and N roads in light traffic. In the UK it struggles to do better than 29 mpg. The extra 3 gears in the 9 speed auto must be helping yours a lot.

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[Clewie68]

My pal has a Hymer with the current 9-sp in it and seems really efficient, certainly if they swap from the XF to an in-house I would guess that there’ll be a stampede for the “old” model and a big delay in orders for the new to ensure it is reliable. Or a jump to the alternatives like Ford chassis with its very solid 6-sp auto and drama free, mine’s almost 5 years now and the Fist at the time was Comfortmatic which always seemed like a breakdown waiting to happen

That's pretty much what is happening when I ordered a new Malibu 600DBK a month ago. I was told everyone wants the 9 speed box, resulting in a possible two year wait.
I'm just happy it's on order and I'm in the queue.

 

[IRHP]

Oh well, I shall give up my fancy to import a V6 Dodge PVC. never mind.

Only an impression but fuel consumption with the FIAT Multijet 2 diesel engine is optimised as long as you don't go above 2000 rpm.

Seems to be the case with my 150 bhp version with the variable turbo. I have seen 36 mpg on one day's driving on French D and N roads in light traffic. In the UK it struggles to do better than 29 mpg. The extra 3 gears in the 9 speed auto must be helping yours a lot.

It's amazing what a decent road surface does for fuel consumption, same for a tail or headwind.

 

[Pausim]

That's pretty much what is happening when I ordered a new Malibu 600DBK a month ago. I was told everyone wants the 9 speed box, resulting in a possible two year wait.
I'm just happy it's on order and I'm in the queue.

Are you in the queue for the 9 speed or the 8 speed. In a years time the series 9 may be history with the series 10 and the 8 speed coming off the production line. The 8 speed is, I believe, another torque converter box and should be ok.

 

[Lenny HB]

Are you in the queue for the 9 speed or the 8 speed. In a years time the series 9 may be history with the series 10 and the 8 speed coming off the production line. The 8 speed is, I believe, another torque converter box and should be ok.

I think the 8 speed is going to be built in the same Chrysler factory in South Caroline as the 9 speed is.

 

[Guigsy]

I think the 8 speed is going to be built in the same Chrysler factory in South Caroline as the 9 speed is.

Is the 8 speed also going to be a ZF sourced box?

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[Lenny HB]

Is the 8 speed also going to be a ZF sourced box?

Don't know but I would expect it to be.

 

[Clewie68]

Are you in the queue for the 9 speed or the 8 speed. In a years time the series 9 may be history with the series 10 and the 8 speed coming off the production line. The 8 speed is, I believe, another torque converter box and should be ok.

To tell you the truth, I haven't got the slightest idea. It was the 9 speed when ordered I believe.
Edwards motorhomes told me there's a lengthy order process between them and Malibu. Maybe Malibu will dicate which one it's going to be.
I'm not sure if I want the series 10 as the 9 is a proven model. I'll give them a phone tomorrow and see what's happening with the order.

 

[Guigsy]

Don't know but I would expect it to be.

Given that Stellantis has had a few more years to properly merge all the brands, they've now got a lot more designs that they can dust off and apply to all the marques, I think they'll go in-house. The ZF HP9 is very expensive and very few work vans (which are by far the majority of vans manufactured) take the option, which pushes up their average CO2.

 

[Lenny HB]

But it's been in production since 2013 it's used in Jeeps & Range Rovers.

 

[Guigsy]

But it's been in production since 2013 it's used in Jeeps & Range Rovers.

That's the 9 speed. Used for transverse engines, so used in the smaller Land Rovers. The ZF 8 speed is generally for longitudinal layouts.

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