![]() ![]() ![]() Fortunately, the 8HP has a trouble-free record. The biggest risk when a single manufacturer supplies so many companies is widespread production delays or recalls if any problems arise. If there is one cause for concern with the 8HP, it's the transmission's sheer pervasiveness. Any criticisms of the 8HP have to do with the individual tunings a carmaker applies rather than with the unit itself. Our experience in cars outfitted with the 8HP is that you hardly notice when it's working, which is exactly how an automatic transmission should operate. Automotive News awarded ZF its PACE award in 2010 for the 8HP, and the transmission continues to make its way into new models. Further available add-ons include a power takeoff for all-wheel drive, an engine stop/start system, or even a 47-hp electric motor in place of the torque converter for hybrid vehicles. The transmission has a range of 221 lb-ft to a massive 738 lb-ft, but most applications land between 330 and 550 lb-ft. Different internal clutch packs can be used depending on a manufacturer's specific torque requirements. ZF works most closely with automakers on the software side, adjusting the transmission's electronic calibration for things such as shift strategy and the speed of the gearshifts.īut the options on the 8HP go beyond software programming. That means manufacturers need to make only minimal changes to adapt the 8HP to existing powertrains and need not worry about major structural issues. Play icon The triangle icon that indicates to playĪccording to Johnson, the 8HP has fewer parts than the company's previous 6HP six-speed automatic and still fits in the same packaging. "We sell it as a kit, rather than working to fit within the unique constraints of one manufacturer-which keeps costs low and maximizes potential applications." The kit approach even extends to licensing the transmission design to Chrysler, allowing the automaker to ensure a steady supply for its own vehicles and freeing ZF from the risk of production shortages. "We design it to be as flexible as possible," Johnson says. What makes the 8HP novel, however, is its staggering versatility.Īccording to ZF's Bryan Johnson, the 8HP is popular because it is a great multitasker. Adding more speeds to a transmission helps efficiency: Extra gears allow for a wider spread of ratios and let the engine keep the revs low whenever possible, saving fuel. The popularity of the 8HP isn't all that surprising given current industry trends. If you count every make, model, body style, and driveline configuration, the number of places where this transmission shows up is enormous. You can find the 8HP paired to 25 different engine families in vehicles sold in the United States. Underneath the disparate bodies lies a shared automatic transmission-the ZF 8HP eight-speed, from German-based auto-parts supplier ZF Group. But as the cliché goes, appearances can be deceiving. One is the acme of automotive extravagance the other epitomizes blue-collar, working-class values. The $400,000 Rolls-Royce Phantom and $24,0 don't appear to have much in common. ![]()
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