GM's 8 Speed Automatic is in the Works

[member12]

Originally Posted by Z16monte

Top gear probably won't be any more effecient than now. OD gearing is probably going to stay about the same.Over all more gears are mostly marketing hype. Most powerbands simply aren't narrow enough to take advantage of 6+ ratios in a trans.
Ed

I couldn't see more than six speeds being needed for GM's small blocks, to be honest. Maybe a Cadillac CTS or Corvette that needs to move at 200mph...but other than that, six speed autos would probably be just fine. The next step would be CVTs, no?

I'd like to see the world's best six speed everywhere there is an automatic transmission. Maybe the Volt can have a CVT. I'm curious as to what happens with the 8 speeds. It sure seems like they'd be shifting all the time...

I'd also like to see more 5 and 6 speed manuals...but that's a whole other issue.

[Z16monte]

Originally Posted by zabolots

I just hope that there's a secret project in GM Powertrain to do a DCT. It would be a big mistake by GM to ignore this technology. You get the best of both worlds: direct engine-to-tranny connection with full automatic shifting capabilities. In the world of the new CAFE, I'd think that getting rid of the slip in the torque converter would be a high priority.

Lock up torque converters do this already, with the advantage of torque multiplication while accelerating. They tend to unlock to readily though.
Ed

[Co27sskid]

Originally Posted by plane

GM will never have a DCT.
That's because GM steadfastly refuses to build any transmission with more than 4 gears.
Those so called "Six-Speed" transmissions?
Total marketing bull****.
Unless you buy the two-speed rear end, it's the same 4-speed under the aluminum.
Or so I've been told.
By a Honda salesman.
He seemed really believable.

U Sir, are a MORON!

#1 For listening to a sales man!
#2 Listening to a salesman from one brand talk about another as if he knew anything about it!
#3 just for being a NOOB!

[Saturn69]

Originally Posted by Co27sskid

U Sir, are a MORON!

#1 For listening to a sales man!
#2 Listening to a salesman from one brand talk about another as if he knew anything about it!
#3 just for being a NOOB!

Plane was being facetious (go on, grab your dictionary...I'll wait...), he's not serious. Ever. He's fun.

[Saturn69]

Originally Posted by ericmvest

You are right. Toyota still uses 4 speed automatics in many of their cars. The new Corolla and Matrix uses 4 speed automatics in some trim levels.

Toyota uses the 4sp autos in the Yaris, Corolla (except for the 2.4 4cyl version, which gets worse highway fuel economy than a Camry), all the Scions (3), the Rav4 (4cyl version, 2WD and 4WD) and the Matrix. Hmmm. Seems they use 4spA's in the same trim levels that GM does, and yet GM is the one that gets lambasted for doing so. Why?

[psece]

Originally Posted by zabolots

I just hope that there's a secret project in GM Powertrain to do a DCT. It would be a big mistake by GM to ignore this technology. You get the best of both worlds: direct engine-to-tranny connection with full automatic shifting capabilities. In the world of the new CAFE, I'd think that getting rid of the slip in the torque converter would be a high priority.

Or possibly raise the efficiency of the current Hydraulic transmissions. Remember that the DCT came about because the majority of European Car makers sucked at Hydraulic automatic transmissions.

Anyone know the type of tranny in the CTS V that set the record at Nurburgring? Didn't sound like a DCT to me......

[tamatt27]

Originally Posted by HotCarNut

I'd like more gears in my 2WD Acadia, and it has the 6 speed. The problem is that the damn gears are incredibly close and the thing is in it's top gear at 45. That's great when you're driving in town, but I'd love an 8 speed where 7th kicks in at 55 and 8th kicks in at 65 for maximum fuel economy. In other words, give me overdrive gears that let me drive the legal speed limit with great fuel economy. The vette may be able to loaf along at 75 at 1300 rpm, but my 5000 lb CUV with a V6 needs 2200 rpm and the gas mileage drops like a rock from the EPA estimates. At 55, I'll get 24-25. At 65, I'll get 22-23. At 75, I get 19.5-20.5. All of those are per the on-board computer and backed up by manual calculations when I stop for gas. I want the thing geared so that at 70 mph (highway speed limit here in Indiana) I can get 23-24 mpg.

You posted the problem to solve. The engine needs 2500 RPM's to maintain a constant pace at 70. Adding more gears doesn't solve the problem due to the ratio the gears would need to be at to save fuel. To save fuel the end ratio would have to be less than 1:1, which would result in torque reduction. The way to fix this is to have an engine with enough torque, to keep the vehicle moving at 70 MPH, available at a lower RPM.

[pinyon]

Originally Posted by plane

GM will never have a DCT.
That's because GM steadfastly refuses to build any transmission with more than 4 gears.
Those so called "Six-Speed" transmissions?
Total marketing bull****.
Unless you buy the two-speed rear end, it's the same 4-speed under the aluminum.
Or so I've been told.
By a Honda salesman.
He seemed really believable.

You know, I always start reading and when the juices just start flowing I look at the poster. Oh, it's plane! Keep it coming.

[tgagneguam]

Originally Posted by mbukukanyau

u r joking, right?

It's a really, really well known fact that plane is satiric in nearly every single response he posts. You would think that it would grow really, really old by now-and in some ways, it has-yet I'm constantly amazed that people continue to question the intent of his posts. Good lord! You're not new to this site, mbukukanyau, you should appreciate that.

[psece]

Originally Posted by tgagneguam

It's a really, really well known fact that plane is satiric in nearly every single response he posts. You would think that it would grow really, really old by now-and in some ways, it has-yet I'm constantly amazed that people continue to question the intent of his posts. Good lord! You're not new to this site, mbukukanyau, you should appreciate that.

I like them because it busts me out of any emotional thinking I may be having of the subject at hand. And the real comedy starts when people take him seriously.....

[Chaz_23]

What good are 6 speeds if 2 of the gears are overdrive?

What good are 8 speeds if 4 of the gears are overdrive?

GM needs do get over their CAFE repression and learn how to build decent transmission from the Germans.

[Saturn69]

Originally Posted by Chaz_23

What good are 6 speeds if 2 of the gears are overdrive?

What good are 8 speeds if 4 of the gears are overdrive?

GM needs do get over their CAFE repression and learn how to build decent transmission from the Germans.

That's funny considering BMW uses GM transmissions.

[vanshmack]

Originally Posted by Saturn69

That's funny considering BMW uses GM transmissions.

Here, here!!

And the last car I drove with a 6 speed auto was a new VW Jetta. All the thing did was constantly hunt. GM should continue NOT emulating the Germans in terms of transmission tech!

[Rick_VT]

8sp autos woudl prob work great on a autobahn where u have unlimited speed but whats the point if your limited to 110Kmh (70Mph) on freeways and much less in cities.

Would a 8sp auto be more suited to a diesel motor than a petrol one??

[SDVite]

Ha! Why not 9? Heck, why not 10?? Why stop there? More is better, right?