LexusMan77

How realistic is it that Lexus would introduce a 9 speed automatic(to one up the competition just like back in 2007) to pair with a larger displacement V8? In theory, it would improve fuel economy.

TRDFantasy

Lexus could introduce a new tranny, who knows. The thing is, as you add more gears to a tranny, you get diminishing returns in terms of performance and fuel economy. Transmission cost and complexity also increases. Having more than 8 or 9 gears doesn't make a whole lot of sense I think.

Mercedes is reportedly set to introduce a 9-speed tranny with the next-gen S-Class. We'll see what Lexus does.

BNR34

iTrader: (1)

Transmission cost and complexity increases, yes. But how is it diminishing returns in terms of performance and fuel economy? On theory, more gear ratio is better so the engine is always working in the best ratio, as long as it is automatically shifted and shifting time is very low. That's why a stick shift tranny stopped at 6-speed since a human can't handle that much shifting. But if it is done automatically, more ratio is better. Until it get too annoying I think. The current 8-speed is still not annoying yet, but it does feels like it is shifting all the time. MB think 9 speed is the max for something, I would guess is the max human would tolerate, it will be fun to see how it goes.

TRDFantasy

Diminishing returns, in the sense that going from a 4-speed to 6-speed gives you more fuel economy and performance benefit than going from a 6-speed to 8-speed. You still get benefits going from a 6 speed to 8 speed but not as much as going from 4 to 6.

Yes in theory more gears is better but like I said there is a practical limit with gears in terms of cost, complexity, and how much shifting people are willing to tolerate.

Also, modern transmissions do have the ability to skip multiple gears, but that doesn't really change the complexity and cost aspect.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

no doubt. i have to say i still can't get used to the cvt in gsh, rxh, and lsh

crazybuggy

though im in love with the 3.5 V6 in the iS350, an iS360 sounds way crazier... maybe cuz i have an xbox360.

BNR34

iTrader: (1)

That I agreed

Well said

BNR34

iTrader: (1)

The CVT in the GSH and LSH feels fine to me since they change the ratio in step.

I really don't like the power boating feel from the CVT in the Lancer.

Infra

iTrader: (1)

Hybrids will inflate the cost of the car, though, far beyond what a base IS350 costs today. I can see it as an option like in the GS - but not as a sole drivetrain.


Yeah, but paper stats are what sells cars. In practice, the 2 are so close that one cannot accurately tell which is faster by butt dyno. Look at how Lexus advertises it's "Class-leading horsepower" (among Lexus, BMW, MB, and Audi) even 5 years after the IS was first sold.

The current manual mode does kind of suck. They could simply make a software change that would shift up when you told it to, just like it currently shifts down when you tell it to.


CVTs still have more energy loss than automatics or DCTs. Definitely not fit for the IS or F series of cars.

BNR34

iTrader: (1)

9-speed auto is around the corner, it is even a FWD application!

I see a tons of new cars are coming with 8-speed auto now......I am looking forward to feel a 10 speeds. It is like talking about a bicycle.....10 speeds....LOL

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/11/z...ion-is-coming/

spwolf

then you need to try real cvt and understand what people mean . It feels nothing like GSh or RXh

BNR34

iTrader: (1)

The GSh and LSh feels fine to me, actually they feel good. CVTs in econobox feels really bad.