bmw could get it right…..gm might need to wait until the third or fourth try. this stuff makes the four and even five speeds semms like cheap trash.

One question, what’s the point? Or what is it good for?

The heat is on! GM? GM is a company that wastes large sums of money—that they don’t have—on Super Bowl ads, while giving away second-rate cars to players who deserve better.

Wouldn’t it be easier to develop a CVT that could just handle some torque?

and then someones gonna come out with a 10 speed automatic soon. by 2020 we would probably have 15 speed automatics. a couple years ago 6 was alot.

The next step… 8 speed paddle shift to take over manual shift. I don’t want to see it coming, but imagine the entire M-line without manual shift. It’s a sad world.

Um don’t trucks already have 18 speed trannys. As for CVT’s trannys are only good for FWD vehicles, Audi sold the technology to other companies, and the Zeroshift transmission has no break in power like the Audi DSG.

The ZF engineers call it a ‘notchy CVT’ in private.

Soon BMWs will have more gears than bicycles.

Maybe after they’ve completed the transmission transformation, they can focus on better car design.

I say keep the lower number of gears, just make the cars look better.

—>LoL Jason…….SERIOUSLY, i think all this 7&8 speed bandwagon stuff is CORNY to tha FULLEST……i mean, the 7speed ///M5 in my view is perfect for its engine/powercurve characteristics, but EIGHT??? oh yea, lexus too……what difference would an 8 speed do for fuel economy really than a 5 or 6 speed??

And the bidding continues… do I hear 25, 35? Going going…

—–>What difference would an 8 speed do for fuel economy really than a 5 or 6 speed with larger overdrive gears??….and speedwise? my 5speed manual does just fine gettin my 4cyl. SRT-4 allway up to 153mph……corny trends…….

—–>What difference would an 8 speed do for fuel economy really than a 5 or 6 speed with larger overdrive gears??….and speedwise? my 5speed manual does just fine gettin my 4cyl. SRT-4 allway up to 153mph……corny trends…….

8 Seems a bit much. Going thought 8 gears manually does not seem “fun” to me. But if your driving an LS or 7 your prolly not gonna be the type to race through the gears in a manual fashion. It would be nice if they presented some data that shows what kind of improvements having a 8 speed tranny over a 7 or 6 would be if any. Is the 8 heavier, lighter, faster, smoother, better epa if so how much? Or is it just so you can say: “I’ve got 8…how many do you have?”

i think 6 speed is pretty much enough

The only reason they’re doing this is just to say they have an transmission with more speeds then all/most of the competition. There probably will be slight gains in fuel economy, acceleration and/or speed because of the added gear(s), but not a significant amount, unless they really work at perfecting the gear ratios or a miracle happens.

This only makes sense if it will be a DSG. Otherwise with a traditional automatic you’ll hit diminished returns as the transmission will spend more of it’s time switching gears than actual staying in gear!

Or is it just so you can say: “I’ve got 8…how many do you have?”

That’s exactly what its all about.

——>XeroBlue, how in tha world did you read my mind like that?? (”I’ve got 8…how many do you have?”)……that’s exactly what its all about….

I think this is a thing of the future. From what I hear, Cadillac is busy developing one of these eight speed autos, too. It’ll help gas mileage and acceleration just as much over a six speed than a six speed will over a four speed. It’ll make a difference, especially in marketing.

What technologically, does 8 speed offer over 6 or 7? My guess so far is even a quieter ride at freeway speed and marginal increase in mpg.

Didn’t BMW use GM transmissions on the 3 and 5 series for a while? I know the ZF 4HP22 on my old 7 was a ticking time bomb so they were nothing to brag about.

BMW: “when it comes to the number of speeds, we will not be left behind by the competition.”
How lame is that? BMW & ZF, compete with the dual-clutch if you can!
Make the transmission lighter if you can.
Ah, you cannot… Then just add one more gear, that easy, cheap and almost useless.

Dual clutch (DSG and others that will come) will completely eliminate this antiquated torque converter based technology. Wake up BMW, Lexus and ZF!

I agree. They should be focusing on improving the box with dual clutch or improved CVT.

I would have thought BMW was going to drop the automatic gearbox as soon as their Dual Clutch gearbox comes out as their SMG sucessor.

Lexus has a great 8 speed auto, the 7 speed MB uses is supposed to be great too, this is how things will become, progress is inevitable, etc, etc

Looks like everything I was going to say has already been said. I’ll have to come up with something to piss off Lambo.

CVT is the way to go.
The Subaru Justy had a CVT back in the early 1980’s and before that you could buy them for gokarts by mail order.
Nissan has a vastly improved design but requires a special fluid to work correctly. CVT technology done right will eclipse the functionality SMG, DSG and whatever else G.

“CVT technology done right will eclipse the functionality [of] SMG, DSG and whatever else G”

Correct, but the problem is no CVT can yet handle 350+ lbft of torque that these great engines make.

The dual clutch (DSG equivalent) in the Bugatti Veyron handles already 922 lbft of torque!

Right, 8 speed. Cause 7 arn’t enough in todays world. WTF ever. But, I will say I enjoy the 6-speed manual in my Wrangler. Every now and again, I actually get it into 6th gear, and think how cool I am doing so.

I don’t see the point of this, except for the pre-mentioned “mine is bigger than yours” theory. I’d say that’d the most valid, considering we all know BMW 7 series owners could care less about the .4 mpg saved rollin’ in 8th.

Almost as many speeds as a typical Peterbuilt…

Had to beat MB’s 7sp. Stupid.

Totally stupid. Engines are becoming ever-more ridiculously powerful, with torque characteristics we could only dream of, meanwhile the speeds we drive at are falling due primarily to congestion and secondarily to enforcement: shouldn’t we be reducing the number of ratios in our gearboxes and enjoying a smooth ride?

My old Blazer has three speeds and a mountain of torque, I love just slotting third at 15mph and not changing gear for the next hour or so, actually far more comfortable if I have to cover distances than my S2000. Having a box jammed full of ratios only adds to enjoyment when you are heading out for a blast, which is not a daily occurence for many of us any more.

Even if the auto boxes mentioned here are ultra-smooth, its still a whole lot of technology and weight that make our cars more expensive, heavier and ultimately more expensive to maintain.

American……..Nissans new EXT CVT system, (not in production) can handle much more than 350ftlb of torque without the slushy belt feel of the current CVT’s. DSG itself is limited by torque input unless you have and are willing to spend $1.4 million for the Veyron or you can wait for the Audi R8. Contrary to popular belief the Veyron doesn’t have a typical dual clucth like the ones found in say a VW GTI. This is why Porsche has yet to introduce a dual clutch for the 997 Turbo.

The current 6 speed is good enough but more is better

DeezNutz,
We have yet to see such Nissan CVT in production…
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Yes the current dual clutch systems are torque limited, but there will be improvements for sure…
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Veyron’s dual-clutch is even better than the VW DSG and it is built by Ricardo UK. Give some reference, what you mean by “doesn’t have a typical dual-clutch”??
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Porsche is lazy these days
But they will come out with a good dual-clutch system because is the only way they can keep the 911 competitive in the current horsepower war.

How about BMW plans to actually use real leather on their seats?

My Cannondale has more speeds than the Lexus or BMW, so I guess that makes my bicycle better than cars from either of these 2 Companies.

America,
It is my understanding that the Gen2 Nissan EXP CVT is Japan market only. Gen3 is supposed to be based on IVT tech. found in some heavy trucks and machinery.

By typical I meant the VW DSG. The Veyron is “beefier from the clutches to the gears to the AWD setup capable of propelling that monster. I’m sure you already know the detailed differences between the two.

You are correct, there will be improvements on the DSG for sure. I think we will see those improvements when Porsche and BMW release their versions of the system.
I mean they would have to be to handle the power flow of the 997 Turbo.

DSG is now.
CVT is the future.