Redfour5
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It is a very interesting time... I posted this another place after research and a similar question... I'm a gas guy also...
Speaking to the 6.4 hemi and any new gas ICE (internal combustion engine) version like a souped up six banger or adapted Cummins 6.7, who knows? ZF can't sit on their laurels forever as far as the gas version goes...or maybe they can? I wonder if they are working on something... That may tell the tale. This 2022 Press Release sort of shows where they are going but this is oriented around the "electric" approach. Nada on ICE transmission tech. https://www.zf.com/master/media/pro...ns/cvs_drive_event/ZF_ebeam_release_FINAL.pdf
Stellantis did a fifth gen change on everything you cannot see in 2019 in terms of the frame, metals etc...except the transmission/engine 6.4 Hemi whose days are numbered for sure I'm thinking. I'm also thinking as far as the transmission goes, ZF created the industry standard for next gen tranny's over a decade ago and it is relatively bulletproof even if it can't quite get the performance of the next gen.1 10 speeds by others, but even they are not perfect either as there may be a limit to more gears not necessarily meaning better if all they do is hunt around all the time... But that often is in the software now days.
If you note in the press release above, ZF also specializes in that arena technologically speaking. They could keep the hardware the same including number of gears, but perhaps make changes in software to keep the present highly regarded 8 speed going until the industry transition toward electric is clear or Hydrogen ICE gains "traction." The press release below hints at this. I bet they have new trannys on the drawing board maybe even a few prototypes but committing to a new one strictly for ICE engines they could be hesitating on that kind of capital investment waiting to see which way the wind blows on EV or Hydrogen ICE approaches. It is evident by the press release above that they are moving forward on EV but ICE???? It's an expensive big deal to commit to that as they did in 2011 with the 8 speed and the South Carolina plant. This press release may hint at the future of that with their "powerline" trannys for medium duty "commercial trucks." https://press.zf.com/press/en/releases/release_36480.html
We are in a transition phase right now. AND, we have Cummins in the mix also. They are working on Hydrogen ICE and can make their 6.7 work on most anything including hydrogen. A variant on all that could mate well with ZF tech and RAM could be the future. I'm thinking a ZF 8 speed "Powerline" variant of the 8 speed could potentially be on the horizon for RAM HD's mated to a turbo charged six banger "Hurricane" that Ram is already rolling out. It appears to be a very capable "platform" that can be adapted in many ways. AND, the world may be moving away from diesels...horror of horrors.
Speaking to the 6.4 hemi and any new gas ICE (internal combustion engine) version like a souped up six banger or adapted Cummins 6.7, who knows? ZF can't sit on their laurels forever as far as the gas version goes...or maybe they can? I wonder if they are working on something... That may tell the tale. This 2022 Press Release sort of shows where they are going but this is oriented around the "electric" approach. Nada on ICE transmission tech. https://www.zf.com/master/media/pro...ns/cvs_drive_event/ZF_ebeam_release_FINAL.pdf
Stellantis did a fifth gen change on everything you cannot see in 2019 in terms of the frame, metals etc...except the transmission/engine 6.4 Hemi whose days are numbered for sure I'm thinking. I'm also thinking as far as the transmission goes, ZF created the industry standard for next gen tranny's over a decade ago and it is relatively bulletproof even if it can't quite get the performance of the next gen.1 10 speeds by others, but even they are not perfect either as there may be a limit to more gears not necessarily meaning better if all they do is hunt around all the time... But that often is in the software now days.
If you note in the press release above, ZF also specializes in that arena technologically speaking. They could keep the hardware the same including number of gears, but perhaps make changes in software to keep the present highly regarded 8 speed going until the industry transition toward electric is clear or Hydrogen ICE gains "traction." The press release below hints at this. I bet they have new trannys on the drawing board maybe even a few prototypes but committing to a new one strictly for ICE engines they could be hesitating on that kind of capital investment waiting to see which way the wind blows on EV or Hydrogen ICE approaches. It is evident by the press release above that they are moving forward on EV but ICE???? It's an expensive big deal to commit to that as they did in 2011 with the 8 speed and the South Carolina plant. This press release may hint at the future of that with their "powerline" trannys for medium duty "commercial trucks." https://press.zf.com/press/en/releases/release_36480.html
We are in a transition phase right now. AND, we have Cummins in the mix also. They are working on Hydrogen ICE and can make their 6.7 work on most anything including hydrogen. A variant on all that could mate well with ZF tech and RAM could be the future. I'm thinking a ZF 8 speed "Powerline" variant of the 8 speed could potentially be on the horizon for RAM HD's mated to a turbo charged six banger "Hurricane" that Ram is already rolling out. It appears to be a very capable "platform" that can be adapted in many ways. AND, the world may be moving away from diesels...horror of horrors.
