Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[ZF boss says transmission gear count one-upsmanship nearing end]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/10/zf-boss-says-transmission-gear-count-one-upsmanship-nearing-end/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/10/zf-boss-says-transmission-gear-count-one-upsmanship-nearing-end/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/10/zf-boss-says-transmission-gear-count-one-upsmanship-nearing-end/#commentsFiled under: ,

2012 Chrysler 300 vs. 2012 Hyundai Genesis

Remember the Powerglide? An automatic with two forward speeds, it's almost inconceivable today that such a transmission was ever state of the art. Why, we've heard plenty of grumbling from the peanut gallery about Honda and its continued widespread use of a five-speed automatic when most of the rest of the world is offering six speeds. And then there are those carmakers engaging in the mine-is-bigger-than-yours battle of transmissions that resulted in eight-speed automatics in cars like the Chrysler 300 and Hyundai Genesis pictured above.

German transmission supplier ZF has a nine-speed automatic that will be introduced next year, and reports have said Hyundai is looking to pack ten forward gears into a forthcoming gearbox. What's next? Cars with as many gears as mountain bikes?

That's unlikely, says ZF North American president Julio Caspari, who tells Automotive News that the gear race is "close to the limit." AN says Caspari thinks marketing may be a bigger factor than engineering when it comes to developing transmissions with additional gears, citing just an 11-percent difference between the best transmissions today and a theoretically perfect unit.

Caspari questions the cost-effectiveness of building a so-called "perfect" transmission, saying that further friction reduction would require expensive materials, like ceramic ball bearings.

ZF boss says transmission gear count one-upsmanship nearing end originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Jul 2012 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10-speed automatic10-speed transmission8-speed automaticautomatic transmissioncasparigearboxjulio casparizfzf transmissionTue, 10 Jul 2012 14:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20275174/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/10/zf-boss-says-transmission-gear-count-one-upsmanship-nearing-end/20275174/article-detail.xml 20275174 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/01-chrysler-300-hyundai-genesis-comparo-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/01-chrysler-300-hyundai-genesis-comparo-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Audi and BMW to utilize 8-speed gearboxes to take on Lexus]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

As we reported last month, it appears BMW and Audi, following the lead of Lexus, will begin to offer eight-speed automatic transmissions in their flagship models. Sources are now saying the transmission will be supplied by ZF Friedrichshafen, a familiar German supplier to both marques. Although we don't know all of the specifics, Audi is expected to debut the new slushbox in the range-topping A8 sedan, Q7 SUV, and their future A7 premium model. BMW will likely debut the new gearbox in their premium 7-Series sedan and the X6 Sport Activity Vehicle, according to company sources.

The current Audi A8 and BMW 7-Series both use six-speed automatics. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class utilizes a seven-speed automatic of their own design, while Lexus debuted their eight-speed transmission in the LS 460. Increasing the number of forward gears offers advantages in smoothness, acceleration, and improves fuel efficiency. Lower fuel consumption equates to reduced emissions, helping the powerful models meet increasingly stringent air quality standards in Europe and the United States.

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

Audi and BMW to utilize 8-speed gearboxes to take on Lexus originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 May 2008 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6-speed automatic6-speedAutomatic7-speed automatic7-speedAutomatic8-speed automatic8-speedAutomaticeight-speedseven-speedsix-speedzf automatic transmi...ZF Friedrichshafenzf transmissionzf transmissionsZfAutomaticTransmi...ZfFriedrichshafenZfTransmissionZfTransmissionsMon, 12 May 2008 14:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1192581/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/1192581/article-detail.xml 1192581 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/05/8-speed_zf_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/05/8-speed_zf_opt.jpg <![CDATA[New BMW 7-series will come with 8-speed transmission]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/05/new-bmw-7-series-will-come-with-8-speed-transmission/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/05/new-bmw-7-series-will-come-with-8-speed-transmission/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/05/new-bmw-7-series-will-come-with-8-speed-transmission/#commentsFiled under: , ,



When BMW released the redesigned 7-series back in 2001, they were the first to offer a six-speed automatic transmission. Two years later, Mercedes upped the ante by throwing an additional cog into the mix, equipping their new S-class with a seven-speed auto. Now that Lexus is offering an eight-speed slush box in their waftastic LS460, BMW has vowed not be left behind in the ratio wars and plans to bring an nine- eight-speed transmission to market by the end of the decade.

The next 7-series will be due for a substantial redesign by 2009 or 2010, so that's when industry analysts expect the eight-speed box to find its way into BMW's luxury sedan. The engineering haus, ZF Friedrichsafen, has been tapped to create the new automatic and has plenty of experience increasing fuel economy, while decreasing build costs, on the current model's six-speed automatic.

When will this cog-swapping numbers race end? We're not entirely sure, but as soon as manufacturers start cresting the double digits, we doubt anyone will even be paying attention.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

New BMW 7-series will come with 8-speed transmission originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Feb 2007 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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