Mercedes to Up The Ante in Transmission Wars With 9-speed?
07-19-10, 08:46 AM
#1
Mercedes to Up The Ante in Transmission Wars With 9-speed?
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2...nsmission.html
When Mercedes introduced its 7-speed transmission, the German automaker launched a new era of multi-geared auto-boxes with all other luxury automakers taking part in a bid to offer increased performance and fuel economy. Lexus responded with an 8-speed automatic transmission, Infiniti developed a 7-speed box and both BMW and Audi now have 8-speed units as well. So what is Mercedes to do if it wants to stay at the top? Develop a 9-speed of course!
And that is just what engineers at the luxury automaker are doing, reports AutoCar. According to sources inside the company familiar with future engineering products, a new 9-speed automatic transmission is being developed that will drastically improve fuel economy.
According to those same sources, the new slushbox will be used on large displacement engines, meaning that it will most certainly come equipped on AMG models. Anything more than a 9-speed is unlikely though, as engineers believe that along with certain technical obstacles, consumers don’t want that much shifting.
The insider source gave no clues as to how far along in the development phase the new 9-speed unit is, or when we might first see it on a production model.
And that is just what engineers at the luxury automaker are doing, reports AutoCar. According to sources inside the company familiar with future engineering products, a new 9-speed automatic transmission is being developed that will drastically improve fuel economy.
According to those same sources, the new slushbox will be used on large displacement engines, meaning that it will most certainly come equipped on AMG models. Anything more than a 9-speed is unlikely though, as engineers believe that along with certain technical obstacles, consumers don’t want that much shifting.
The insider source gave no clues as to how far along in the development phase the new 9-speed unit is, or when we might first see it on a production model.
07-19-10, 09:00 AM
#4
Lexus Fanatic
Anything more than a 9-speed is unlikely though, as engineers believe that along with certain technical obstacles, consumers don’t want that much shifting.
The ultimate answer, of course, is a CVT....with an infinite number.
Last edited by mmarshall; 07-19-10 at 09:09 AM.
07-19-10, 09:13 AM
#7
Lexus Fanatic
Subaru CVT's (and, I believe, also Nissan units as well) have 6 programmed selectable "Gears" with the paddle-shifters. What they really are is 6 programmable belt-drive ratios when the transmission is in the Sportshift mode. You can select each one acording to conditions.
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07-19-10, 09:16 AM
#9
Lexus Fanatic
a new 9-speed automatic transmission is being developed that will drastically improve fuel economy.
07-19-10, 09:31 AM
#11
Guest
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For most drivers it's a great thing as it allows a carmaker to add more power and also increase MPG and increase acceleration. It also allows for good advertising.
Remember the Lexus 8speed uses less parts than the 6speed and from what we have seen the 8 speed is bulletproof.
BMWand Audi have 8 speeds now with Lexus. We all know Benz was going to join or pass sooner or later and I applaud the effort.
Remember the Lexus 8speed uses less parts than the 6speed and from what we have seen the 8 speed is bulletproof.
BMWand Audi have 8 speeds now with Lexus. We all know Benz was going to join or pass sooner or later and I applaud the effort.
07-19-10, 09:35 AM
#12
Why not just go with the CVT? It is often said that CVT can't handle a lot of torque, but in the LS600h it is handling more torque than the 8 speed in the LS460. I'm not 100% sure that the torque of the electric motors is transferred through the CVT, but even if its not, its still handling at least as much torque as the 8 speed with no issues.
07-19-10, 09:53 AM
#13
Lexus Champion
I appreciate the effort BUT
Will we ever be contented? If so when? When we reach 30 speed transmission (like those Shimano bicylces :P)?
IMHO, before breaking into double-digit gears.......we should look at any consequences (both positive and negative).
So in a hypothetical situation, do we expect that by year 2020, if these double-digit gear transmissions come along, I can't imagine how you'll shift in manual mode in this thing.
If you let's say have like a Shimano 30 speed transmission in let's say a MY 2020 Lexus LS 460 (for example), so if you run manual mode on this, do you upshift every 10 km/h
. Not to mention that since you have double-digit number of gears, expect the gearbox to go gear-hunting.
Hence IMHO, instead of double digit gears (10-speed gear or more), FOCUS ON CVT!!!
I mean, if you're really desperate in having a transmission with 10 speeds, 20 speeds, 30 speeds or 500 speeds.........then, why bother with those when you can use CVT which gives you INFINITE
Just make the timing chain, belt or whatever components stronger.....so that they can run on V8 engines, 10 cylinder, 12 cylinder engines or more.
The existing products are already neat. Just improve on them and who knows, maybe in the future (hopefully), cutting-edge CVTs can handle power and torque of an MB S65 AMG or an Audi Q7 V12 Turbodiesel.
Will we ever be contented? If so when? When we reach 30 speed transmission (like those Shimano bicylces :P)?
IMHO, before breaking into double-digit gears.......we should look at any consequences (both positive and negative).
So in a hypothetical situation, do we expect that by year 2020, if these double-digit gear transmissions come along, I can't imagine how you'll shift in manual mode in this thing.
If you let's say have like a Shimano 30 speed transmission in let's say a MY 2020 Lexus LS 460 (for example), so if you run manual mode on this, do you upshift every 10 km/h
. Not to mention that since you have double-digit number of gears, expect the gearbox to go gear-hunting.Hence IMHO, instead of double digit gears (10-speed gear or more), FOCUS ON CVT!!!
I mean, if you're really desperate in having a transmission with 10 speeds, 20 speeds, 30 speeds or 500 speeds.........then, why bother with those when you can use CVT which gives you INFINITE
Just make the timing chain, belt or whatever components stronger.....so that they can run on V8 engines, 10 cylinder, 12 cylinder engines or more.
The existing products are already neat. Just improve on them and who knows, maybe in the future (hopefully), cutting-edge CVTs can handle power and torque of an MB S65 AMG or an Audi Q7 V12 Turbodiesel
.
07-19-10, 10:07 AM
#15
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I think you still need gears in auto trucks because you might pull things and need a 1st or 2nd gear, or a low range etc; in something like an S-klasse I think CVT would probably go over just fine.