Jeep Liberty to Boast a 3.2-Liter/Nine-Speed Combo

Jeep Liberty to Boast a 3.2-Liter/Nine-Speed Combo (11)

The next generation Jeep Liberty will make its debut in January 2013, boasting a new and improved Pentastar V6 powertrain. Proving that bigger is not always better in the automotive world, Chrysler will introduce the new 3.2-liter V6 engine, which even though smaller, is much better than the current 3.6-liter engine.

Apparently the secret lays in the engine-transmission combination, as the new Liberty will feature the incredibly efficient nine-speed automatic gearbox from ZF. Today the car features a 3.7-liter SOHC V6, coupled with a four-speed automatic transmission, and capable of 210 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque. The new combo, however, is expected to improve the overall efficiency of the Jeep (including better performance figures).

The exact fuel efficiency and power figures have not been unveiled yet, but you can expect them to be quite impressive. Talking about the role of excellent transmission in the development of better engines, Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne told Automotive News that “If we had known the eight-speed was coming, we could have made the [3.6-liter] Pentastar a 3.2-liter”.