July 16, 2013—Chrysler Group recently announced it will offer two “firsts” for the auto industry in 2014: a new nine-speed automatic transmission and a front-wheel-drive-based 4x4 system with rear-axle disconnect, according to a report from Automotive Fleet.
Chrysler also announced the production of four new engines and a number of updates to Chrysler’s 2014 vehicles.
The new engines include a 6.4L HEMI V-8, a new 3.0L EcoDiesel V-6 slated for the 2014 Ram 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee, a new 3.2L Pentastar V-6, and a new 3.0L EcoDiesel I-4 commercial truck engine.
Chrysler’s 2014 Jeep Cherokee will features the new 4x4 system and the nine-speed transmission.
Chrysler says the transmission, featuring more than 40 shift maps corresponding to specific conditions, is designed to optimize shift quality and improve fuel economy and performance. The four-wheel-drive system will deliver traction whenever it’s needed without the driver needing to control the system manually.
