9 Speed FWD!?

Quote :

ZF ANNOUNCES 9-SPEED GEARBOX

Transmission maker ZF is working on the world's first 9-speed automatic gearbox for passenger cars.
But unlike the 8-speed ZF auto (which serves in BMWs, Audis and Range Rovers), the 9-speed gearbox is designed for front-drive applications rather than rear- or four-wheel-drive layouts.

"Already a leader in technically advanced, fuel-saving multi-speed transmissions for rear-drive vehicles, ZF's new 9-speed enables significant fuel economy improvements and delivers excellent performance characteristics for front-wheel-drive vehicles," says Hans-Georg Harter, ZF's CEO.

Such is the sophistication of the new gearbox, says ZF, that shifts are 'below the levels of perception'. This means that the gearbox can double-shift or even jump several gears without either the driver or passengers noticing.

ZF also reckons that the 'box's electronic brain selects the right gear for the driving conditions, eliminating unnecessary 'stepping' - or constant shifting.

Which is all very nice, but what's really important, surely, is that drivers of humble front-drive hatches will soon be able to thumb their noses at those Audis, BMWs, Range Rovers and Lexuses that have 'only' eight gears...

The new ZF auto will be built in a brand-new manufacturing facility near Greenville, South Carolina, and word is that the first application of the 9-speed auto will be beneath the bonnet of some sort of Chrysler.

I've driven the 8 speed Rangie, and it's a strange experience... in normal mode it doesn't rev like a normal box, it hits 1500rpm and changes to second, 2500 and changes to 2nd etc etc, but in sport mode it'll drop 3 or 4 gears if you boot it, and really let it rev!

Maybe auto (well selectable auto) is the future!?

Sweet!! That's going in the Clio!!

Must be strange to have that many gears! Do they really need that many?

nellers2001 wrote:

Must be strange to have that many gears! Do they really need that many?

Acceleration is seamless, the best way to describe it is like a monorail, just constant and perfect. Really strange thing to drive.

Has the v10 m5 got 7 gears?

Dodge caliber auto has no gears. You floor it and it stays at 6K as the speed builds. Dont ask me how it worked though lol. Sounds good as your always in the power band but it wasnt lol.