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[Next-gen GM six-speed automatic to boost mileage another 5 percent ]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/14/next-gen-gm-6-speed-automatic-to-boost-mileage-another-5-percent/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/14/next-gen-gm-6-speed-automatic-to-boost-mileage-another-5-percent/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/14/next-gen-gm-6-speed-automatic-to-boost-mileage-another-5-percent/#commentsFiled under:

It's only been a year since General Motors launched its 6T40 six-speed automatic transmission for mid-size and compact cars. When it was introduced, this new transmission brought with it a five percent bump in fuel efficiency. The engineers at GM Powertrain are now developing a second generation variant of the 6T40 for introduction in 2011 that will bump fuel efficiency by yet another five percent.

The new version will have updated electronic control strategies based on the work done for the new 2011 Chevy Equinox with the four-cylinder engine. The Equinox manages a 32 mpg highway rating. These new controls developed for the Equinox will contribute three percent of the improvement for 2012 models like the Cruze compact.

Another two percent improvement will come from refinements to the guts of the transmission. Changes to the hydraulic valve body, friction plates and variable flow solenoid will cut internal pumping losses and friction.

GM is also working on its own in-house developed dual clutch transmissions. GMPT is developing a dry clutch system that should yield another incremental improvement in efficiency, but no announcement was forthcoming about timing.

[Source: General Motors]

Next-gen GM six-speed automatic to boost mileage another 5 percent originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6-speed automatic6-speedAutomaticfuel economyFuelEconomygeneral motorsGeneralMotorsgmtransmissiontransmission improvementsTransmissionImprovementstransmissionsFri, 14 Aug 2009 16:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Chrysler sues Getrag over U.S.-built dual-clutch trannies]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/10/chrysler-sues-getrag-over-u-s-built-dual-clutch-trannies/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/10/chrysler-sues-getrag-over-u-s-built-dual-clutch-trannies/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/10/chrysler-sues-getrag-over-u-s-built-dual-clutch-trannies/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Chrysler has managed to stay out of the doom and gloom news for a few weeks now, which goes to show that going private can have its benefits. But things couldn't stay quiet forever, and as if the company needed something else to deal with, it's now in row with German transmission supplier Getrag over a potentially failed joint venture.

Chrysler uses Getrag double-clutch transmissions (DCT) in the Euro-version Dodge Journey (seen above), and is planning on adding the Euro Avenger and Sebring to the DCT lineup. Getrag signed an agreement with Chrysler to build a factory in the U.S. that would also supply Chrylser's American products with DCTs, and in return for Chrylser agreeing to get such transmissions only from Getrag, Getrag would get $300 million to finance and tool the factory.

According to Getrag, it only intended to borrow the funds if said funds were guaranteed by the German government. According to the German government, it would only guarantee the $300 million loan if Chrysler put that same amount in an escrow account to guarantee repayment. According to Chrysler, it had no idea of such an arrangement, and Getrag never should have signed the agreement if it meant Chrysler needed to back Getrag's loan with its own cash. And that's how court cases are made. While the factory remains in limbo, Chrysler needs to find another supplier for DCTs for its American cars, and do it in a hurry.

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

Chrysler sues Getrag over U.S.-built dual-clutch trannies originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chryslerchrysler getrag lawsuitchrysler llcChryslerGetragLawsuitChryslerLlccourt casecourt casesCourtCaseCourtCasesgetraggetrag-dctlawsuitsmanufacturingplantstransmissionsFri, 10 Oct 2008 15:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyundai aiming to lose weight, increase efficiency by 2015]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/hyundai-aiming-to-lose-weight-increase-efficiency-by-2015/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/hyundai-aiming-to-lose-weight-increase-efficiency-by-2015/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/hyundai-aiming-to-lose-weight-increase-efficiency-by-2015/#commentsFiled under:

Like every other automaker that intends to do business in the U.S., Hyundai is planning for the future and the proposed fuel economy standards that are expected to hit in 2015. Currently, Hyundai's passenger cars average 32.4 mpg, while its trucks average 25.5 mpg. When the new regulations are in place, those numbers will have to increase to 37.5 mpg and 31.0 mpg, respectively. Hyundai's approach involves two separate strategies that will work together to achieve those figures.

The first step is to increase electrical efficiency by utilizing more LED technology that puts less strain on the powertrain, along with the use of electric power steering systems (in place of hydraulic units), direct-injection engines and six-speed transmissions. Those changes will be accompanied by the use of lightweight materials, aerodynamic enhancements and low-rolling resistance tires. While the electric power steering system only adds around one mpg overall, the combination of DI engines and six-speed 'boxes should increase fuel economy by between three and six percent.

Within the next two years, Hyundai plans to equip all of its V6-powered vehicles with six-speed gearboxes, while smaller models, with four-cylinder mills, will be upgraded to five-speed transmissions. All of this should help Hyundai achieve its goals, but more needs to be done, and Hyundai's senior manager of the powertrain department, Timothy White, says, "There is really no home run out there." Incremental are what it's about for the time being, and Hyundai seems to be making the first of many steps to accomplish that goal.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Hyundai aiming to lose weight, increase efficiency by 2015 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 May 2008 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6 speed6Speedefficiencyfive-speedhyundailightweightlightweightssix-speedtransmissionsMon, 05 May 2008 09:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Mercedes-Benz might dump its transmissions]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/30/mercedes-benz-might-dump-its-transmissions/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/30/mercedes-benz-might-dump-its-transmissions/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/30/mercedes-benz-might-dump-its-transmissions/#commentsFiled under: ,



Unlike many carmakers, Mercedes-Benz has traditionally built its own transmissions . It has even supplied them to others, such the slushbox that they sold to Porsche for the 928. Economic realities could soon cause that to change, as the team from soon-to-be Daimler AG investigates outsourcing transmission production to other companies. Mercedes wants transmissions that will help the fuel efficiency of their next generation A, B, and C-Classes, such as eight-speed dual clutch units. Rather than spend the resources developing its own. it might just purchase such a unit from a company like Getrag or ZF, according to a report in Auto Motor und Sport.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req'd]

Mercedes-Benz might dump its transmissions originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Aug 2007 19:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>transmissionsThu, 30 Aug 2007 19:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford shifts production back into gear at seven plants after identifying transmission defect]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/01/ford-shifts-production-back-into-gear-at-seven-plants-after-iden/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/01/ford-shifts-production-back-into-gear-at-seven-plants-after-iden/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/01/ford-shifts-production-back-into-gear-at-seven-plants-after-iden/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Ford was forced to halt production at seven assembly plants after finding a quality problem with a transmission component, but all seven plants affected by the stoppage should be up and running again today.

A supplied component, described as "a clutch mechanism that helps make the transmission shift smoothly between first and second gears" (sounds to us like the overrunning clutch), was found to be problematic, but the defect was caught before any suspect vehicles were delivered to customers. The supplier isn't being identified.

More than 4,000 units of light truck, van, and Lincoln Town Car production were lost, costing Ford somewhere in the neighborhood of $35M. The automaker says that making up for the stoppage won't be a problem, as they seem to have a bit of extra capacity to put towards the effort, and F-150 inventories are current running at about 107 days of sales.

[Source: Detroit News]

Ford shifts production back into gear at seven plants after identifying transmission defect originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 May 2006 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4R100Blue OvalBlueOvalE-SeriesE4ODEconolineExpeditionExplorerF-150F-SeriesFordMIchigan TruckNavigatoroverrunning clutchspragtransmissionsMon, 01 May 2006 15:31:00 EST<![CDATA[More on the Honda Fit (including video)]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/04/more-on-the-honda-fit-including-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/04/more-on-the-honda-fit-including-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/04/more-on-the-honda-fit-including-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The Auto Channel has an extensive article on the Honda Fit, which recently went on sale in the U.S. It delves a little deeper into the five-door subcompact: a summary of its main features; in-depth discussions on the vehicle's exterior, engine and transmissions; an overview of the chassis; a look at the interior with its "Magic Seat"; safety features; and, finally, an overview of all available accessories.

Of even more interest are three videos showing the Fit on the road, a tour of its interior, and the car gettin' dizzy on a turntable.

[Source: The Auto Channel]

More on the Honda Fit (including video) originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Apr 2006 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessorieschassisFITMagic Seatsafety featuressubcompacttransmissionsvideoTue, 04 Apr 2006 17:02:00 EST