GM & Ford join to develop 9 and 10 speed auto transmissions

[Norm Peterson]

Originally Posted by POWERFREAK

A 10 spd trans sounds pretty useless to me. More gears for the computer to hunt through....yippie.

The idea is that for most driving the engine can be kept within a narrower rpm band optimized for minimum fuel usage. I'm guessing that the tranny control logic could get a bit busy in hilly country with any of several ratios being reasonable to be in at just about any driving speed. Might even shift up or down on you with the cruise control set.


The alternative is a CVT, which brings a few limitations of its own to the table (think significant torque management interference when launching / starting up from a complete stop, and a sensation that it's "always slipping" even though nothing is actually slipping mechanically).


Norm

[Twoblindsheep]

Originally Posted by 06_warrior

Can't wait for the 21 speed!

hahaha like fast and furious?! they are always switching gears lol

[POWERFREAK]

Originally Posted by Norm Peterson

The idea is that for most driving the engine can be kept within a narrower rpm band optimized for minimum fuel usage. I'm guessing that the tranny control logic could get a bit busy in hilly country with any of several ratios being reasonable to be in at just about any driving speed. Might even shift up or down on you with the cruise control set.


The alternative is a CVT, which brings a few limitations of its own to the table (think significant torque management interference when launching / starting up from a complete stop, and a sensation that it's "always slipping" even though nothing is actually slipping mechanically).


Norm

Oh, I know it's all about mpg. I would think it also will allow better gear ratios so cars can get away with less power from the motors (better mpg). I drove a 2014 grand cherokee with the 8 spd...it was hunting all over the place. I was told that the computer takes a while to "learn" and it gets better, but it was a turn off...and mpg only improved by 1 with the new trans. I'm guessing it'll take some time to get it perfected.

[tonyko1]

The CVT looks like it isn't quite perfected yet either. I hear tell that mfg'ing it is a nightmare, the failure rate is huge, tolerances are tight to non-existant and everything has to line up just so. Which can only mean catastrophic failure or a major overhaul or both not long down the road, like 100 miles out of warranty, of course. Honda has taken the lead on CVT and they are huge on making things better each year........compare 1971 Honda Accord to the 2013 for instance.

At least they aren't just lowering weight with less materials as has been the case since 1979.

I like the 6sp auto on my Camaro, the AFM, not so much...

[Partlow]

Originally Posted by Twoblindsheep

i know dodge have the 8 speed already on the chargers
and Chrysler and Land Rover both said they have the 9 speed coming out soon for their cars

chrysler IS building the 9 speed (at the factory i work at). The 8 speed which is being built a couple miles south at another plant is reaching 250k miles without failing

[POWERFREAK]

Dodge does a better job w/ DOD, it's pretty seamless (not sure how it is w/ aftermarket exhaust though). If AFM was disabled in sport mode, I think there would be a lot less hate.

[FenwickHockey65]

GM and Ford teaming up is nothing new. This isn't a novel concept.

[fbodfather]

Actually the Detroit three have worked together for several years on various technologies. (...Example: for many years, most manufacturers used 'Saginaw Steering Gear's' Power steering units - owned at the time by GM....)

As fuel economy standards march toward 56mpg by the early 20s, you'll see more and more speeds in automatic transmissions - and other sorts of technology to get us there.

While I cannot speak for other manufacturers, I do know that our ECMs 'learn' from your driving. The early 6 speed automatics did quite a bit of searching - and I would find myself doing the battery disconnect on some of my company cars because my driving is so varied. I'm finding that the newer transmissions have had substantially more algorithm work - and that they're quite responsive.

[Eich]

I wish they'd work together on a manual clutch/transmission system that didn't grind when cold or at high RPM.

[ZED SLED]

Originally Posted by classicrockr

We just bought a 2013 Ford Focus. That transmission takes a lot to get used to - it's an auto with a "computer controlled clutch". If you slow down to anywhere under 20, then step on the gas again, it feels like it's almost going to stall out.

On the other hand, we ARE getting between 38-42 mpg on a regular basis...

My 2011 Equinox is the same way. Step on the gas after slowing to about 10 or so and it goes into 'drool mode' for a couple of seconds before it reacts. Sometimes I think someone on the line must've stuck an old Commodore64 programmed with a cassette data tape in for a tranny controller when it was built.

[POWERFREAK]

Scott/fbodfather, I am quite impressed with the 6spd in the new GMC Acadia (got one last month for my new dd). I've heard pre '13 models did a ton of hunting and the new ones have some reprogramming done...it performs great, never does it feel unsure of what gear it wants to be in (even before it did any "learning").

[Rocky1974]

Originally Posted by Twoblindsheep

did you guys read about this?
i guess GM and Ford is working together to make a new 10-speed automatic transmission.

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/general-...212407582.html

sorry if this is a repost!

This is the third transmission project that GM and Ford have worked together on.

[Rocky1974]

Originally Posted by fbodfather

Actually the Detroit three have worked together for several years on various technologies. (...Example: for many years, most manufacturers used 'Saginaw Steering Gear's' Power steering units - owned at the time by GM....)

I remember changing the oil in a 69 Oldsmobile, when I was a teenager working in a gas station. It was a 3-speed on-the-column and it had a factory-installed Ford Toploader. I've seen them in Pontiac's too. I've also see Ford's with Factory installed Rochester Quadrajets. AMC's were always full of GM, Ford, and Chrysler parts. Back in the day, Rolls Royce's had GM Turbo 400's in them. There's always been lots of parts sharing, but I think this sharing in the development is fairly recent thing. I think this is the third transmission project that GM and Ford have worked together on, in the last ten years.

[shaffe]

Originally Posted by boombuilt

Oh what the brand loyal sheep will have to say about this.

yep and....

Originally Posted by MEDISIN

Just a matter of time before the Ford engineered portion of each transmission fails...

boy that didnt take long for the brand loyalists to come out of hiding.