Ford to equip 2009 compact SUVs, two other models with six-speed transmission
05/07/2008, 12:17 PM
By Drew Johnson
Ford previewed its upcoming six-speed automatic transmission at the 2008 New York Auto Show and on Wednesday released more information about the unit. The first applications of the new gearbox will be in the 2009 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner and the new transmission promise to boost performance while decrease fuel consumption and emissions.
Codenamed 6F35, the new transmission is intended for front-wheel drive applications. According to Ford, the new six-speed unit will increase fuel mileage by 4 to 6 percent — when compared to conventional 4 and 5-speed gearboxes — and also improves acceleration.
“With a greater gear span, the 6F35 allows the engine to operate at more optimum combinations of speed and load to meet certain driving conditions,” said Craig Renneker, chief engineer for new automatic transmissions, Ford Powertrain Operations. “The new transmission also enables the engine to run at lower speeds on the highway, which aids fuel economy.”
The new transmission will be mated to Ford’s 2.5L four-cylinder and 3.0L V6 engines in the 2009 Escape and Mariner. Both engines will see a boost in power for 2009, but thanks to the new transmission, fuel economy ratings will be increased by 1 mpg.
The 2009 Mazda Tribute – a sister vehicle to the Escape and Mariner — will also use the 6F35 transmission.
In its press release, Ford also said that “two other vehicles will use the transmission early next year”, presumably implying the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan.
05/07, 12:22 PM
posted by:
moto-racer13
Wow finally Ford decides to join the rest of the pack and offer a 6speed! Sure took long enough. I wonder if this new transmission will be just as unreliable as all of fords automatic transmissions?
05/07, 12:24 PM
posted by:
MercMark
How soon until they give us the car for free and get rich off the gas sales????
05/07, 12:29 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
A positive step in the right direction.
05/07, 12:34 PM
posted by:
cookie4me
They already announced the 6 speed is going to be used in the ‘09 Fusion.
05/07, 12:40 PM
posted by:
SR
Welcome to 2001, Ford, by finally offering a 6 speed.
05/07, 1:03 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Every extra gear helps. Most of these engines are tuned for bottom end torque anyway so why not make that last gear ratio as tall as possible? 70 mph at less than 2000 rpm should yield some pretty good highway numbers.
05/07, 1:05 PM
posted by:
xyunya
Again Ford installs new gears on trucks(trucklettes) first, cars next year. It is cars that will be selling when gas is $4/gallon
05/07, 1:31 PM
posted by:
Bubs Solo
Hold on there SR and moto-racer13. This is an industry first for this segment. Their competition does not offer 6 speeds.
RAV-4 4cyl offers a 4spd at
RAV 4 6cyl offers a 5spd at
CRV offers a 5pd
everyone else (non luxury) 4 or 5 speeds only.
The escape will be the only one with a 6 speed.
05/07, 2:25 PM
posted by:
xyunya
Then GM is a leader in 6 speed for 4 cylinder cars: Malibu is coming out in few months. But in reality, Honda was offering 5 speeds for 6 years in CR-V and in cars even longer. As a matter of fact all Honda auto transmissions are 5 speed. Ditto Toyota’s except 4 wheel drive paired with 4 cylinders (RAV-4 & Matrix). 6 speed is the same as in GM case, it was combined venture.
I wonder if extra cog(s) will yield 5-7% improvement. 4 speed RAV-4 WITHOUT overdrive has almost the same mileage as 5 speed CRV with 2 overdrive gears. Go figure.
The leader I think is Nissan with CVT: it was written that CVT will be impossible to hook to high torque vehicles, yet they did it and those are deemed reliable and efficient. I don’t think anybody else reached that.
05/07, 2:28 PM
posted by:
FordTaurusForever
xyunya you read my mind. That’s exactly it Ford is dog slow moving any of its hardware amongst its vehicles. Da wake up Ford
05/07, 3:01 PM
posted by:
Bubs Solo
xyunya I can’t argue with that… except the Element (non SC)still has 4 speed auto.
05/07, 4:15 PM
posted by:
xyunya
Bubs Solo, you did argued and won the argument. I forgot about Element. I see more cute commercials then actual trucklettes on the road. I cant figure out why they are built and even more so why they are bought. Out of sight out of mind.
05/07, 4:57 PM
posted by:
global_lightning
Now all it needs is paddle shifters to let you pick the gear…
05/07, 5:40 PM
posted by:
SigmaHyperion
Jesus Christ people…
This isn’t Ford’s first 6-Speed Automatic. It’s just their NEW 6-Speed Automatic.
As a matter of fact, Ford has offered 6-speed transmissions on a larger percentage of their models than ANY other automaker for many, many years. It’s got over 30 models today that use them.
05/07, 8:14 PM
posted by:
gilby7
Unreal, all that technology and ONE mpg. 39 YEARS AGO (!), a couple’three guys take off from earth and fly to the friggin’ MOON. They land, and then come back to EARTH again. And, in the thirty-nine years since then, nobody can come up with a vehicle that gets more than 25-35 mpg?! WTF!
05/07, 9:21 PM
posted by:
Bimmer
‘GM is a leader in 6 speed for 4 cylinder cars: Malibu is coming out in few months’ Comment by xyunya, posted on May7 at 2:25 pm
xyunya,
ti ebanylsya v kraj. GM had 4-speed auto for Malibu with either 4 or 6 cylinders, when Ford already for few YEARS was offering 5-speed auto for 4 cylinder Fusion and 6-speed auto for V6 Fusion. How does it make GM a leader?