Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Honda announces 6-speed manual for 2010 Acura TL]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/26/honda-announces-6-speed-manual-for-2010-acura-tl/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/26/honda-announces-6-speed-manual-for-2010-acura-tl/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/26/honda-announces-6-speed-manual-for-2010-acura-tl/#commentsFiled under: ,

Click on the above image for our high res 2009 Acura TL gallery

Acura is again tossing enthusiasts a bone with a new six-speed manual transmission option for their 2010 Acura TL SH-AWD model. While the 2009 model is only available with a five-speed automatic with paddle shifters, next year will mark the return of the stick shift -- and the first time Acura has paired their SH-AWD with a manual transmission. The six-speed is all-new, and stronger than the manual last used in the 2008 model. It features a more rigid aluminum case and heavy-duty internals. New gear synchronizers improve accuracy while a standard short-throw shifter improves feel. In addition to the six-speed manual, the TL SH-AWD receives "Hill Start Assistant" to hold the vehicle on hills during a start, and special enthusiast-oriented suspension tuning for flatter cornering. The manual transmission also comes with stiffer engine and transmission bushings, heavy-duty front driveshafts, and stronger CV joints. Best of all, the manual transmission weighs 88 lbs. less than the automatic, moving the TL's weight distribution even further rearward.

Gallery: 2009 Acura TL

[Source: Honda]

Continue reading Honda announces 6-speed manual for 2010 Acura TL

Honda announces 6-speed manual for 2010 Acura TL originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Sep 2008 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 Acura TL SH-AWD2010AcuraTlSh-awd6-speed6-speed manual6-speedManualAcura TLAcuraTlmanualSH-AWDstick shiftStickShiftFri, 26 Sep 2008 12:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Chrysler ekes out additional 2 mpg on 2009 minivans]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/11/chrysler-eeks-out-additional-2-mpg-on-2009-minivans/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/11/chrysler-eeks-out-additional-2-mpg-on-2009-minivans/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/11/chrysler-eeks-out-additional-2-mpg-on-2009-minivans/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


With moms now actually reading EPA fuel economy figures on the window sticker before trying out the dozen cup holders found in most modern minivans, Chrysler went back to the engineering lab and knocked out a few more miles per gallon for its 2009 minivan offerings. Bragging that no other minivan offers better fuel economy than the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan, the automaker is boasting EPA figures of 17 city / 25 highway for the minivans when equipped with the automaker's 4.0L six-cylinder engine and minivan-first 6-speed automatic. Considering that the original 1984 Chrysler Town and Country achieved 18 city / 21 highway with a 2.6L four-cylinder and three-speed transmission, we've clearly come a long way. To squeeze out the extra miles per gallon, Chrysler tweaked the large 4.0L V6 engine and then changed the ratios on the transmission. With a higher ratio first gear, and smaller steps between the new ratios, the minivans are quicker off the line and the engine doesn't loose as much speed between shifts. The result is a fuel economy improvement of about 8 percent or about 2 mpg. Now, if the engineers could just do something about that minivan stigma...

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Chrysler ekes out additional 2 mpg on 2009 minivans

Chrysler ekes out additional 2 mpg on 2009 minivans originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 chrysler town and country2009 dodge caravan2009ChryslerTownAndCountry2009DodgeCaravan6-speedChryslerDodgeDodge CaravanDodgeCaravanefficientfuel economyFuelEconomyimprovementsMinivanTown CountryTownCountrytransmissionThu, 11 Sep 2008 14:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Lutz: '09 Pontiac G8 GT gets optional Tremec 6-speed stick]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/20/lutz-09-pontiac-g8-gt-gets-optional-tremec-6-speed-stick/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/20/lutz-09-pontiac-g8-gt-gets-optional-tremec-6-speed-stick/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/20/lutz-09-pontiac-g8-gt-gets-optional-tremec-6-speed-stick/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the 2008 Pontiac G8 GT

CarDomain recently sat for lunch with GM car czar Bob Lutz, and one of the topics that came up was the ever-vanishing manual transmission. Lutz explained that modern automatics are no longer the less efficient option by default, and with CAFE dictating so much nowadays, carmakers can actually improve their fleet average fuel economy more by going with automatics that can be programmed to deliver maximum efficiency (as far as the EPA is concerned, at least). He then went on to state that there will be manuals available in both the Camaro and the 2009 Pontiac G8 GT, which gets a 6-speed unit from Tremec. So if you waited on Poncho's new muscle sedan, your patience will be rewarded. Of course, your patience will also got you a price increase too, but at least those dopey digital auxiliary gauges will be gone, as well.

Gallery: Review: 2008 Pontiac G8 GT


[Source: CarDomain]

Lutz: '09 Pontiac G8 GT gets optional Tremec 6-speed stick originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 Pontiac G8 GT2009PontiacG8Gt6-speedcardomaing8gtlutzmanualpontiactremecFri, 20 Jun 2008 11:29:00 EST<![CDATA[M5's traction control 'off' switch nixed for a reason]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/27/m5s-traction-control-off-switch-nixed-for-a-reason/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/27/m5s-traction-control-off-switch-nixed-for-a-reason/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/27/m5s-traction-control-off-switch-nixed-for-a-reason/#commentsFiled under: , ,



When Automobile got their paws on a six-speed manual version of the M5, they were none too pleased that BMW's engineers wouldn't allow drivers to fully disable the traction control. At the time, we assumed that BMW's legal boffins pictured overly enthusiastic Americans, stomping the go pedal and promptly winding up in a ditch.

Not so, according to Car. The magazine learned that the M division had no way of controlling clutch plate actuation, which would normally quell the axle tramp caused by the V10's prodigious power delivery. Acceleration times would rise and drivetrain components' lifetimes would fall. Hence, the only conceivable solution was to make the DSC a permanent fixture within the Bimmer's brain.

Still, you can partly disable the system in M Dynamic mode within iDrive (if you dare), but that may not be enough for those who want to test the limits of adhesion of the 285s in the rear.

[Source: Car]

M5's traction control 'off' switch nixed for a reason originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Jan 2007 10:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6-speedbmwidrivem dynamic modem5manualMDynamicModesix speedSixSpeedSat, 27 Jan 2007 10:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Automobile gets a 6-speed M5. Better, but not great.]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/01/automobile-gets-a-6-speed-m5-better-but-not-great/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/01/automobile-gets-a-6-speed-m5-better-but-not-great/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/01/automobile-gets-a-6-speed-m5-better-but-not-great/#commentsFiled under: , ,



When BMW opted to only make the M5 available with a seven-speed SMG gearbox, the hue and cry from U.S. purists was heard across the ocean. For 2007, BMW has finally decided to appease American customers by equipping the 500 HP uber-saloon with a six-speed manual, much to the apparent disgust of Gerhard Richter, the development chief of the M division.

Automobile magazine got their hands on the manual version of the M5 and seem to have come away with the opinion that it's better, but still not as good as it should be.

Aside from the fact that the manual cog swapper slows forward momentum of the V10-powered sedan, BMW also decided to nix the ability to completely disable the traction control. This decision, surely on the part of BMW's legal wonks, will likely cause another up swell of consumer complaints.

Overall, the reviewer thought that the action of the clutch and shift linkage was up to BMW standards, but in the end, the two words that stuck with us after reading the review were, "even clumsier."

[Source: Automobile]

Automobile gets a 6-speed M5. Better, but not great. originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Jan 2007 09:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6-speedbmwm5manualsmgMon, 01 Jan 2007 09:54:00 EST<![CDATA[GM makes another investment in new six-speed automatics]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/01/gm-makes-another-investment-in-new-six-speed-automatics/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/01/gm-makes-another-investment-in-new-six-speed-automatics/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/01/gm-makes-another-investment-in-new-six-speed-automatics/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

General Motors upped this week's total investment in its new six-speed automatics to $500 million with Thursday's announcement that it was investing over $330 million in an upgrade to its Warren, Michigan plant, which will produce compact FWD and AWD models of the new transmission.

All told, GM's investment in the design, development and production of the new model automatics now stands at $1.7 billion.

The Warren plant will produce the new Hydra-Matic 6T70 and 6T75 six-speeds (pictured at right) for GM's midsize sedans and crossovers, including the Saturn Aura, Pontiac G6, Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave. The new transmission debuts in 2007 models.

As in the bigger versions of the six-speed, a low first gear improves launch performance while an overdrive sixth gear boosts highway fuel economy.

The the mechanical elements of the new transaxle were co-developed by GM and (gasp!) Ford, but the controls, calibrations and operation of the transmission are unique to each company.

[Source: GM]

Related:
GM invests another $170 million in shift to six-speed automatics

GM makes another investment in new six-speed automatics originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Jun 2006 16:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6-speedautomaticsix-speedtransmissionThu, 01 Jun 2006 16:22:00 EST