Kia Details New Eight-Speed Automatic For Front-Wheel-Drives
Kia has developed its own new eight-speed automatic transmission for its range of front-wheel-drive models. The carmaker says 143 patents were filed as the transmission came to be, and its key features include a lightweight design, intelligent dimensio
Kia has developed its own new eight-speed automatic transmission for its range of front-wheel-drive models.
The carmaker says 143 patents were filed as the transmission came to be, and its key features include a lightweight design, intelligent dimensions and an overall size close to that of a six-speed auto - but the new transmission weighs 3.5kg less.
Buyers won’t have to wait long to sample Kia’s new eight-speeder, with the large-sized 2017 Cadenza set to debut the new automatic.
The Kia Cadenza is not currently offered for sale in Australia, and the similarly-sized Genesis from sister company Hyundai already features an eight-speed automatic. The Genesis, however, is rear-wheel-drive, while Kia’s FWD unit is designed to overcome the challenges of mounting the transmission transversely.