Transmission maker ZF has announced plans to produce an 8-speed automatic transmission that will likely be used in future Ford, BMW and VW vehicles. The transmission called the "8HP" will be used in the new 2009 BMW 7-Series that will debut in late 2008.
Ford's PAG (Land Rover, Volvo and Jaguar) and VW's Audi will use the upcoming transmission in future luxury models as well.
The new transmission will allow the automakers to compete against Toyota. Toyota is the only automaker that currently has an 8-speed transmission on the market (Lexus LS460 and the upcoming Lexus IS-F).
Rumor has it that GM is also working on an 8-speed transmission for Cadillac.
Comments (7)
i wonder, whats it actually like to drive these 8 speed automatics, i presume that these are dual clutch transmissions, so i guess it would be a very smooth ride
Posted by Aditya | May 6, 2007 12:36 AM
Posted on May 6, 2007 00:36
As far as I'm aware, it's just a regular automatic......just with a lot of gears!
Posted by Remy LeBeau | May 7, 2007 6:46 AM
Posted on May 7, 2007 06:46
This is nuts. do we really need 8 gears? Just how many is enough? 9? 10? 12? 20 gears by 2020? :)
it's like buying a shaver with 4 blades, first 2, 3 4 now what are they up to? 6?
crazy marketing guys.
Posted by tt | May 8, 2007 4:29 PM
Posted on May 8, 2007 16:29
8 gears is old news here in japan!! check out Lexus's LS460 and LS600h.
Posted by jvax | June 20, 2007 1:30 PM
Posted on June 20, 2007 13:30
Rrrr... volvo and mack already got 16 speed transmission... but on their trucks hehehehe...
Posted by Loudy Azimada | August 19, 2007 12:20 PM
Posted on August 19, 2007 12:20
this is dumb.. i have 6 speed on my car and cant even really use the 6th gear unless im going 85-90 mph or higher.. so basically in order to utilize the 6th gear and save gas i have to break the speed limit.. speed limits desperatly need to be raised imo
Posted by Trent | October 5, 2007 3:11 AM
Posted on October 5, 2007 03:11
if you read on the toyota tranny, they only use a torque converter on 1st gear and then clutches on the other gears. from 1st gear on its a dsg like vw has made. with the torque converter, you can slip it a little in 1st gear and get torque multiplication for a few 100rpms to help with take off. as for a 6 speed manual, depending on what car (im guessing domestic) they are for racing highway speeds higher than 55mph. these 8 speeds are 8 tightly spaced gears so keep the engine in its powerband or put it there very fast. think of it in a cvt sense. but with higher power capabilities.
Posted by nate | November 20, 2007 6:41 PM
Posted on November 20, 2007 18:41