Land Rover bringing world's first nine-speed automatic transmission to Geneva
02-28-13, 11:27 AM
#16
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I thought 8 speeds were stupid on Lexus, and I also think they're stupid on BMWs. I've driven a few BMWs with the 8-speed automatic and the difference in RPMs at highway cruise between the upper gears is measured in hundreds of RPMs. 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th... very little difference. Pick two of those, how bout 6th and 8th, and you're good to go. The rest is all marketing. 9 or 10 is ridiculous.
02-28-13, 12:53 PM
#17
Lexus Champion
I thought 8 speeds were stupid on Lexus, and I also think they're stupid on BMWs. I've driven a few BMWs with the 8-speed automatic and the difference in RPMs at highway cruise between the upper gears is measured in hundreds of RPMs. 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th... very little difference. Pick two of those, how bout 6th and 8th, and you're good to go. The rest is all marketing. 9 or 10 is ridiculous.
If they can actually eliminate a two-speed transfer case (lots of weight and additional drivetrain loss) with one of these 8+ speed units though, then it's actually worth it. Start off in 4th gear as a normal first gear, and reserve 1st through 3rd for slow off-road crawling situations only. That would make sense.
If they can actually eliminate a two-speed transfer case (lots of weight and additional drivetrain loss) with one of these 8+ speed units though, then it's actually worth it. Start off in 4th gear as a normal first gear, and reserve 1st through 3rd for slow off-road crawling situations only. That would make sense.
Please go look up the fuel economy of a DCT M3 vs. the IS F. It's not even remotely close, yet the IS F is just as fast in all acceleration metrics. The economy benefit is crucial with the new CAFE standards that are being imposed. Manufacturers have to find EVERY way possible to meet the new standards, hence higher gear tranny's, turbos, weight reduction, aerodynamics, etc. etc.
02-28-13, 02:02 PM
#19
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Then you simply don't get it.
Please go look up the fuel economy of a DCT M3 vs. the IS F. It's not even remotely close, yet the IS F is just as fast in all acceleration metrics. The economy benefit is crucial with the new CAFE standards that are being imposed. Manufacturers have to find EVERY way possible to meet the new standards, hence higher gear tranny's, turbos, weight reduction, aerodynamics, etc. etc.
Please go look up the fuel economy of a DCT M3 vs. the IS F. It's not even remotely close, yet the IS F is just as fast in all acceleration metrics. The economy benefit is crucial with the new CAFE standards that are being imposed. Manufacturers have to find EVERY way possible to meet the new standards, hence higher gear tranny's, turbos, weight reduction, aerodynamics, etc. etc.
02-28-13, 02:06 PM
#20
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And was that because of "more gears" or because the newer transmission shifted a lot faster? There's no reason why in either of our BMWs with the ZF 6AT that 5th and 6th gears couldn't be stretched out a tad more to get the same boost in efficiency as an 8AT. In the 8-speed auto Bimmers I've driven, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th are so friggin close that you don't really need the intermediate gears. Take 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 8th as your ratios and put them into a 6 speed along with the faster shift speeds of the newer transmissions and you get the same benefit. The benefits aren't necessarily because of more gears per se.
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