GM bringing new six-speed tranny to market in 2010

[1931Chevy]

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/22/g...arket-in-2010/
In an effort to keep up with the foreign competition, while at the same time offering consumers more ratios than they can shake their stick at, General Motors has made a pledge to invest $332 million into its Toledo, Ohio plant.

The financial infusion is necessary to produce the new Hydra-matic GT40/45 six-speed transmission, designed for GM's midsized, front drivers, with production expected to begin in February of 2010. The FWD tranny will be built alongside the new rear-wheel drive six-speed that was announced last year.

Although the General's progress with six-speed cog-swappers is all well and good, 2010 seems like a long way out considering that several other automakers have already moved on to seven- and eight-speed transmissions.

[SJZ3]

Seems a bit late, no? Aren't most companies already useing 6-speeds and CVT today (2007)? 3 years later isn't exactly keeping up.

Heck, even in compacts you can get better than 4-speeds right now. Nissan's Versa and Sentra both have either a 6-speed manual to CVT automatic. VW's rabbit has 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic. Honda's Civic has a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic. Mitsubishi's Lancer has a 5-speed manual or a CVT automatic.

Outside of domestics, only Toyota gets away with a 4-speed.

[roteague]

Originally Posted by SJZ3

Seems a bit late, no? Aren't most companies already useing 6-speeds and CVT today (2007)? 3 years later isn't exactly keeping up.

GM already sells 6 speed transmissions. This doesn't mean they are behind, just that they are adding more capacity.

[spaz]

they were worng about mentioning the 7 and 8 speed trannys in the article, since they are RWD trannys. 6 speed FWD is still cutting edge

[JM9777]

Originally Posted by 1931Chevy

Although the General's progress with six-speed cog-swappers is all well and good, 2010 seems like a long way out considering that several other automakers have already moved on to seven- and eight-speed transmissions.

Except that 6T40/6T45 would generally be for four-cylinder engines in compact to mid-size cars. And we all know how common those are these days.

[gulfsolar]

Originally Posted by 1931Chevy

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/22/g...arket-in-2010/
In an effort to keep up with the foreign competition, while at the same time offering consumers more ratios than they can shake their stick at, General Motors has made a pledge to invest $332 million into its Toledo, Ohio plant.

The financial infusion is necessary to produce the new Hydra-matic GT40/45 six-speed transmission, designed for GM's midsized, front drivers, with production expected to begin in February of 2010. The FWD tranny will be built alongside the new rear-wheel drive six-speed that was announced last year.

Although the General's progress with six-speed cog-swappers is all well and good, 2010 seems like a long way out considering that several other automakers have already moved on to seven- and eight-speed transmissions.

Once again the general is a dollar short and years late. This is tricky master plan to sink the general. This way he can get his golden parashut and live like a king. While the blue collar workers will be lucky to get the pension they deserve

[likearock00]

Same for the trucks- wwwwaaaayyyyy too late!!

[genjy]

Is this going to be for the FWD Ecotec i4s and the pushrod v6s? The FWD 3.6L DOHC already has a 6-speed auto.

By 2010, CVT and DSG will really start to replace traditional automatic trannies in passenger vehicles.

[likearock00]

Originally Posted by genjy

Is this going to be for the FWD Ecotec i4s and the pushrod v6s? The FWD 3.6L DOHC already has a 6-speed auto.

By 2010, CVT and DSG will start to really replace traditional automatic trannies in passenger vehicles.

That's my take on it. I agree with your future forecast though. GM will start exploring that option when all the other manufacturers go with them across the board...

[steinravnik]

GM is already putting a 6-speed in FWD midsize cars. Is this a different transmission?

[drees1]

Trucks get it in 2009. 2008 is all for safety standard with GM...

[69Firebird400]

Originally Posted by steinravnik

GM is already putting a 6-speed in FWD midsize cars. Is this a different transmission?

I find the whole subject very confusing. If you go to GMI's transmission guide (http://www.gminsidenews.com/index.php?page=trans_guide), it says that the Hydra-Matic 6T40 (which I assume Autoblog is referring to as a GT40, since a 6 kind of looks like a G) will go into the 2008 Malibu. Yet the G6 and Aura - on more or less the same platform as the 2008 Malibu, with more or less the same engine - has a Hydra-Matic 6T70.

My assumption based on this article is that GM will continue to soldier on with four speed autos for the next several years. If that assumption is correct, then it's very disappointing. Honda Accords have had five speed autos since fall 2002 - which will be almost 8 years before this transmission plant are up and running.

Another possibility is that the 6T40 is a lower-strength, lower-weight 6-speed auto than the 70, so it will go into the four cylinder applications like the four cylinder Malibu LTZ, and as production ramps up, FINALLY replace the four speeds in the rest of the lineup.

Any transmission experts (other than the "four speeds suck, we need six speeds now" crowd - of which I'm a member, btw) care to chime in??

Edit: I just clicked through on the link to Autoblog, then to their source (Inside Line), and in fact they are referring to the 6T40, not GT40.

[Michael_S]

Originally Posted by genjy

By 2010, CVT and DSG will really start to replace traditional automatic trannies in passenger vehicles.

Only Nissan seems to be getting the mileage (literally) out of CVTs that people predicted when the technology first got media attention. Everyone else hasn't had a great experience.

DSG, on the other hand, seems to be spectacular. I'm just sorry Audi is leading the way instead of the Big Three.

[Redneck]

Originally Posted by Michael_S

Only Nissan seems to be getting the mileage (literally) out of CVTs that people predicted when the technology first got media attention. Everyone else hasn't had a great experience.

DSG, on the other hand, seems to be spectacular. I'm just sorry Audi is leading the way instead of the Big Three.

Ford has quite an investment in DSG too. Just nothing in production yet...

[mmm...bowtie]

Originally Posted by 69Firebird400

Another possibility is that the 6T40 is a lower-strength, lower-weight 6-speed auto than the 70, so it will go into the four cylinder applications like the four cylinder Malibu LTZ, and as production ramps up, FINALLY replace the four speeds in the rest of the lineup.

The way I understand GM's transmission numbering system the 6T40 should be a lighter less-beefy version of the 6T70. That would be my guess also, is that this is pretty much for 4 cylinders.

As a side note, are these fwd 6 speeds the ones that GM and Ford were working on together? I remember hearing about that a while ago, but never much more about it.