http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/ Autoblog Comments for Ford begins production of new mid-range six-speed automatic http://www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/
This one seems to have 6 distinct gears so its all good.
]]>May 8th 2008 4:48PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/May 8th 2008 4:50PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/
A transmission could have 6 overdrives and no 'regular' gears at all and do just fine, so long as it was matched with a suitable axle.
]]>May 8th 2008 5:38PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/
Sometimes the overdrive is simply another "regular" gearset in the transmission, like all of the other ratios, which I think is what you're thinking of.

What I think Johnny is referring to, though, is a secondary (inline) planetary gear speed multiplier that is used in combination with another "regular" gear set in the transmission. A good example of that are the overdrive units that where popular in '60s on British sports cars and such.

On an electronically controlled transmission, you can easily command it to engage the OD unit with more then one transmission ratio. Ford did that with the 5R55 family of transmissions - instead of running OD only with the 3rd gear (as in the 4R55), they operated it with 1st also, giving it "fake" second, which they could turn around and market as a 5-speed. If you combine it with 2nd as well, then you could call it a 6-speed.

Another way to do it, though, is like what Getrag did for the SVT Focus/Mini Cooper S: have 4 primary ratios and 2 final drive ratios. If you combine enough of them, you can make 6 effective gears. Maybe that's what he's thinking of...]]>May 8th 2008 6:41PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/
- Kirk K]]>May 8th 2008 9:20PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/
Oh AX4S/N (which ever came w/the Vulcan), how I hate thee...]]>May 9th 2008 12:44AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/http://www.ford.com/about-ford/news-announcements/press-releases/press-releases-detail/pr-ford-accelerates-shift-to-28198

{hey that is just like GM's 6t40 & 45. Primary axis, chain drive to secondary axis, and then axle ratio (helical bevel gear) to differential axis}

Look up GM's 6t45 gear ratios
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_6T40_transmission

6t70 (no chain drive)
http://wardsauto.com/ar/ford_gm_automatic/

The dual countershaft manual transmission does not work that way.
You are not just switching axle ratios to get 6 gears, you actually have 6 gears, it just happens that 3rd/4th drive gears do double duty, driving 3/4 & 5/6.

You are not being specific enough. You should not call your transmission a 4 speed automatic, it should be called a 3 speed + overdrive.
There are wholly integral 4 speed automatics vs 3 speed + overdrive]]>May 9th 2008 5:54PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/
6F50: 4.484 2.872 1.842 1.414 1.000 0.742

The old 4 speeds varied in ratios, depending on the model, but here's one example:

AX4S 2.77 1.54 1.00 0.69

Source: http://www.vibratesoftware.com/html_help/html/Ford/Ford_Transmissions_Main.htm]]>May 8th 2008 5:10PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/
2.89 1.57 1.00 .70 and axle was 3.04

]]>May 8th 2008 4:56PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/May 8th 2008 4:59PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/
Isn't there an OD off button on the side of the selector? I read the manual on the MKZ and the OD off button downshifts from 6th (or 5th) into 4th gear.
The L setting should downshift more than that.]]>May 9th 2008 6:12PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/
I don't mind downshifting from 6th at 65 to pass people in my cars. I'd rather get better mileage and do a bit more shifting...]]>May 8th 2008 5:11PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/
I wish more manufacturers would give us a choice of Axel ratios to accomplish this. I have a 2008 Honda Accord and the gear ratios are:
2.65
1.61
1.08
0.77
0.56
and axel ratio is 4.44

My 4cyl EX (190hp) turns about 2500 RPM at 70mph but Im sure I have enough power to do 2000 RPM at that speed with the 4.1 Axel ratio Honda has in its parts bin on other models. ]]>May 8th 2008 5:21PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/May 8th 2008 5:30PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/
Mazda is awful for this, especially with manuals: my old Protege was nearing 3500rpm at 100km/h. My Honda Fit is almost as bad, again, well over 3000 at 100. My Saab? 2200 at the same speed.

Never mind the fact that the lower gears in these cars as so short as to be useless. I can pull away in third in a Honda Fit--yes, a car with a 1.5L. That's just stupid gearing and yes, Mazda did the same thing: you could easily be in fourth or fifth gear at 50km/h. The ridiculous throttle tip-in that some manufacturers (GM, Nissan) doesn't help either. As far as I can tell, the only reason is to give the "feeling" of power.

I don't want the feeling of power at every damn intersection. If I wanted it, I'd have bought a Mustang GT instead of a sub-2.0L econobox.]]>May 8th 2008 5:38PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/
(Note that the Fusion's gearing is listed as the following: 4.15 2.37 1.56 1.16 0.86 0.69)

Four cylinder models are a different story, as are heavy CUVs. Automakers seem to think we all live in the Rockies, so a low top gear to climb them with is der rigeur. We shall see that change as fuel economy standards get tougher though.]]>May 8th 2008 6:00PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/May 9th 2008 8:57AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/http://www.caranddriver.com/content/download/92328/1185287/version/2/file/Mud+Puppies+-+Powertrain.pdf
That gearing is fine for a front drive VUE, but needs a shorter axle ratio for the 4x4 model. (use 3.16 instead of 2.77)
(The CR-V numbers are WAY wrong, just ignore-Bad C&D!)

So Ford could have a front drive V6 Escape top gear be 40mph per 1K, a 4x4 V6 38mph, Front drive 2.5 I4 also 38mph/, and 4x4 2.5 I4 36mph.

Who cares that top speed of a front drive V6 would be in 4th gear (130mph with a 240hp V6 seems plausible)]]>May 9th 2008 7:12PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/May 8th 2008 5:30PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/ford-begins-production-of-new-mid-range-six-speed-automatic/
The second reason is more psycological: there's that curious shiftless "slipping" feeling. I don't mind it--I quite like the lack of shift point "thumps"--but most scribes seem to find it objectionable and associate it with a lack of grunt. This isn't the case, as CVT-equipped cars usually can dust their conventional cousins fairly easily.

I like them, too. There's a simplicity to a CVT that doesn't exist in the valve-and-gear bonanza that is a modern automatic or DSG.]]>May 8th 2008 5:42PM