Prince Valiant
01-12-2011, 10:24 AM
Up until the late 60's and into the early 70's, it wasn't uncommon that that was a choice presented to you if you wanted an automatic....
Well, now one has the options to choose 9 speeds :stare
ZF to build 9 speed @ freep.com (http://www.freep.com/article/20110112/BUSINESS01/101120375/1210/business01/Supplier-ZF-Group-aims-to-boost-fuel-efficiency-with-9-speed-transmission)
Apparently because of the traverse/fwd nature of the arrangement, a 9 speed makes more sense to build than the 8 in this layout. As compact as 6 speed w/ decent torque ratings of 295ft-lbs, the transmission is supposed to offer at least 10% efficiency increases over conventional 6 speed automatics.
the small steps b/w gears, plus shock-absorb torque converters are said to make shifts seems inperceptible...and a very wide gearspread will probably allow the use of much smaller/less more efficient engines to realize even greater efficiency gains...
One headline read "ZF 9-Speed Transmission Is One Gear Away From Drop Handlebars" lol...
The ZF Group unveiled a nine-speed automatic transmission Tuesday at the North American International Auto Show that the supplier says will improve fuel efficiency of front-wheel drive cars.
Adding speeds to a transmission improves the engine's efficiency because less energy is lost as gears are changed.
The new nine-speed from ZF is "a major step for front-wheel drive cars in terms of fuel consumption," said ZF Executive Vice President Michael Paul.
The new transmission will be built at the German supplier's new Greenville, S.C., plant, Paul said. Production is scheduled to begin in 2012, and Chrysler is a customer for the new sideways-mounted transmission.
He declined to discuss specifics about the new nine-speed transmission, including the number of gears in overdrive or the number of clutches, saying only that it will be a double-digit improvement in fuel economy and that the packaging is almost the same size as the eight-speed transmission's.
ZF -- whose Michigan presence includes a technical center in Northville and production facilities in Lapeer and Marysville, St. Clair County -- plans to triple sales in the North American market.
Sales last year were an estimated $17.1 billion -- an all-time high -- up from $12.4 billion in 2009, Paul said. However, 2009's figure was a 25% drop from $16.6 billion in pre-recession 2008, according to Paul.
The ZF Group's 2011 plans include increasing sales by 10%, creating 3,000 jobs worldwide and investing $1 billion in research and development.
This year marked the first time the driveline and chassis technology maker has had a booth on the main floor of the auto show, according to Paul.
Read more: Supplier ZF Group aims to boost fuel efficiency with 9-speed transmission | freep.com | Detroit Free Press http://www.freep.com/article/20110112/BUSINESS01/101120375/Supplier-ZF-Group-aims-to-boost-fuel-efficiency-with-9-speed-transmission#ixzz1Aq2Scz00
Well, now one has the options to choose 9 speeds :stare
ZF to build 9 speed @ freep.com (http://www.freep.com/article/20110112/BUSINESS01/101120375/1210/business01/Supplier-ZF-Group-aims-to-boost-fuel-efficiency-with-9-speed-transmission)
Apparently because of the traverse/fwd nature of the arrangement, a 9 speed makes more sense to build than the 8 in this layout. As compact as 6 speed w/ decent torque ratings of 295ft-lbs, the transmission is supposed to offer at least 10% efficiency increases over conventional 6 speed automatics.
the small steps b/w gears, plus shock-absorb torque converters are said to make shifts seems inperceptible...and a very wide gearspread will probably allow the use of much smaller/less more efficient engines to realize even greater efficiency gains...
One headline read "ZF 9-Speed Transmission Is One Gear Away From Drop Handlebars" lol...
The ZF Group unveiled a nine-speed automatic transmission Tuesday at the North American International Auto Show that the supplier says will improve fuel efficiency of front-wheel drive cars.
Adding speeds to a transmission improves the engine's efficiency because less energy is lost as gears are changed.
The new nine-speed from ZF is "a major step for front-wheel drive cars in terms of fuel consumption," said ZF Executive Vice President Michael Paul.
The new transmission will be built at the German supplier's new Greenville, S.C., plant, Paul said. Production is scheduled to begin in 2012, and Chrysler is a customer for the new sideways-mounted transmission.
He declined to discuss specifics about the new nine-speed transmission, including the number of gears in overdrive or the number of clutches, saying only that it will be a double-digit improvement in fuel economy and that the packaging is almost the same size as the eight-speed transmission's.
ZF -- whose Michigan presence includes a technical center in Northville and production facilities in Lapeer and Marysville, St. Clair County -- plans to triple sales in the North American market.
Sales last year were an estimated $17.1 billion -- an all-time high -- up from $12.4 billion in 2009, Paul said. However, 2009's figure was a 25% drop from $16.6 billion in pre-recession 2008, according to Paul.
The ZF Group's 2011 plans include increasing sales by 10%, creating 3,000 jobs worldwide and investing $1 billion in research and development.
This year marked the first time the driveline and chassis technology maker has had a booth on the main floor of the auto show, according to Paul.
Read more: Supplier ZF Group aims to boost fuel efficiency with 9-speed transmission | freep.com | Detroit Free Press http://www.freep.com/article/20110112/BUSINESS01/101120375/Supplier-ZF-Group-aims-to-boost-fuel-efficiency-with-9-speed-transmission#ixzz1Aq2Scz00