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Chrysler expecting up to 200,000 9-speed transmissions for 3 models this year

Striving for improved fuel economy, we already knew that Chrysler will begin using a nine-speed automatic transmission in some of its new products this year, but what we haven't known is that volume at which this gearbox will be used. According to Bloomberg, Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne has been quoted as saying that the automaker expects to sell close to 200,000 units equipped with this new transmission in 2013. Those gear-rich trannies will be spread out across three models, consisting of the redesigned Chrysler 200, the still-unnamed Jeep Liberty replacement and the Dodge Dart.
This transmission should play a pivotal role in making Chrysler vehicles more competitive in their respective segments. Just for comparison, one of the Dart's key competitors, the Toyota Corolla, still uses a four-speed automatic, and a previous report indicates that the next-generation 200 could get up to 38 miles per gallon on the highway, which is better than most non-hybrid midsize sedans on the market. Marchionne says that the new Jeep model is expected during the second quarter of this year, but there is no word as to when the new 200 or nine-speed Dart will debut, but clearly Dodge would like to have the transmission in its compact yesterday. As for that volume figure, it definitely doesn't seem out of reach since the Dart, Liberty and 200 combined for a total of more than 225,000 units in 2012.
How many more gears can we expect in future cars? Probably not many more, since the CEO of transmission-builder ZF, Stefan Sommer, previously stated that nine speeds was the "natural limit" for transmissions.

Canadians build Jeep Wrangler out of cans for charity

The Jeep Wrangler can do a lot of things. It can traverse most any terrain, take you to work, the kids to school, get you and your friends to the surf on time, and so on. Turns out it can also feed the hungry – or at least this one can. And by can, we mean actual cans of food. To celebrate Canada Day (which was Wednesday), Jeep recreated a Wrangler out of more than 4,500 cans of food. The project was undertaken together with Canstruction Inc, a charity that works to fight hunger and poverty, serve the community, and promote science, technology, engineering, and math. The full-scale replica took a team of teenagers a good 12 hours to build. It's being displayed at Vancouver's waterfront Canada Place during the festivities, after which it will be dismantled to provide 3,120 meals for the hungry through the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society. This is the second such project we've seen FCA Canada undertake together with Canstruction. Last time it was a Dodge Grand Caravan created to celebrate the minivan's 30th anniversary. It was built out of 30,000 cans and displayed in downtown Toronto before being distributed as 2,000 food baskets through the Daily Bread Food Bank. Next time maybe we'll see a Viper or Challenger made out of cans on display in Montreal during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend and donated to the Old Brewery Mission, which this writer knows first-hand does good work to feed Montrealers in need. Related Video: JEEP® AND THE FCA FOUNDATION CELEBRATE CANADA DAY WITH LIFE-SIZE 'CANSTRUCTION®' OF JEEP® WRANGLER FOR CHARITY - Full-scale Jeep® Wrangler built from over 4,500 cans of food will provide more than 3,120 meals to Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society - Vehicle built by local students 12-18 years of age - Jeep and the FCA Foundation again partnered with Canstruction® Inc. for the build, an international non-profit organization that aims to raise awareness for hunger and poverty, along with Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) principals, plus community service - Public can stop by Canada Place on Canada Day to take a #JeepCANselfie in the vehicle - In 2014, FCA Canada was the top-selling automaker in B.C., a title it's retained thus far in 2015 - Jeep Wrangler is B.C.'s best-selling small SUV by more than double its closest competitor July 1, 2015 , Vancouver, B.C.

Stellantis expects to hit emissions target without Tesla's help

Franco-Italian carmaker Stellantis expects to achieve its European carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions targets this year without environmental credits bought from Tesla, its CEO said in an interview published on Tuesday. Stellantis was formed through the merger of France's PSA and Italy's FCA, which spent about 2 billion euros ($2.40 billion) to buy European and U.S. CO2 credits from electric vehicle maker Tesla over the 2019-2021 period. "With the electrical technology that PSA brought to Stellantis, we will autonomously meet carbon dioxide emission regulations as early as this year," Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares said in the interview with French weekly Le Point. "Thus, we will not need to call on European CO2 credits and FCA will no longer have to pool with Tesla or anyone." California-based Tesla earns credits for exceeding emissions and fuel economy standards and sells them to other automakers that fall short. European regulations require all car manufacturers to reduce CO2 emissions for private vehicles to an average of 95 grams per kilometer this year. A Stellantis spokesman said the company is in discussions with Tesla about the financial implications of the decision to stop the pooling agreement. "As a result of the combination of Groupe PSA and FCA, Stellantis will be in a position to achieve CO2 targets in Europe for 2021 without open passenger car pooling arrangements with other automakers," he added. Tesla's sales of environmental credits to rival automakers helped it to announce slightly better than expected first-quarter revenue this week. The next tightening of European regulations will soon be the subject of proposals from the European Commission. The 2030 target could be lowered to less than 43 grams/km. Related Video: Government/Legal Green Alfa Romeo Chrysler Dodge Fiat Jeep Maserati RAM Tesla Citroen Peugeot Emissions Stellantis