Kia Details New 8-Speed Transmission
Kia Motors is providing full details about its new 8-speed automatic transmission designed for front-wheel drive vehicles that debuted with the 2017 Cadenza.
Photo of 2017 Cadenza with 8AT courtesy of Kia Motors.
Photo of 2017 Cadenza with 8AT courtesy of Kia Motors.
Kia Motors is providing full details about its new 8-speed automatic transmission designed for front-wheel drive vehicles that debuted with the 2017 Cadenza.
The new 8AT, which has been designed in-house by a Korean manufacturer, provides similar dimensions to a conventional 6-speed automatic transmission and weight about 3.5 kilograms (7.71 pounds) less. The 8AT includes a smaller oil pump and can use hydraulic oil more efficiently.
The transmission reduces the number of control valves to 12 from 20, which results in quicker gear shifts and a more direct mechanical link to the engine.
It includes an additional clutch and gear over Kia's 6AT, and the ratio between the top gear and lowest gear has been increased by 34% over the 6AT.
The transmission debuts on the 2017 Cadena that will go on sale this year. It will be paired with the 3.3L V-6 GDI engine. Kia plans to roll out the transmission in other mid-sized and larger front-wheel-drive models.
More Operations
Your Local Dealer Knows More Than You Think
Your local dealer can provide an information advantage that extends well beyond courtesy deliveries.
Read More →
Fleet Meets: Austin Schutte
Here are some industry insights, personal touches, and words of advice from the CEO and Founder of Anew Solutions.
Read More →
Soap Box Derby Challenge: What’s Powering Team Brown
The car is coming together, the students are solving real build problems, and the fleet industry is helping push Team Brown toward the starting line.
Read More →
Commercial Fleet Sales Contribute To June, YTD Gains
The fleet sector has boosted its vehicle purchases at a reliable pace in the first half of this year compared with 1H 2025.
Read More →
What Fleet Managers Really Want From Vendors
From customer service frustrations and technology breakdowns to RFQs, change management, and the growing impact of turnover across the industry, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the real operational challenges fleet managers are navigating every day.
Read More →
Fleet Safety Masterclass: Industry Leaders on Storytelling, Strategy & Innovation
In this special masterclass episode, industry leaders break down what it really takes to build safer fleets in today’s increasingly distracted and data-driven world.
Read More →
Integrating Legacy Fleet Systems and Historical Data
In this episode, we bring together fleet and technology leaders to unpack the realities of data integration, system migrations, and the evolving role of AI in fleet management.
Read More →
From Resistance to Results: Change Management Strategies for Fleets
From new technologies and safety programs to evolving regulations, fleets are under constant pressure to adapt. But as Dr. Betz explains, success isn’t about the system you implement—it’s about whether your people actually use it.
Read More →
Where We're Headed: A Practical Look at AI in Fleet
Discover how AI is actually being deployed in fleets, not just marketed, including practical use cases and emerging risks.
Read More →