Comments on: Trademarks: General Motors working on 8 Speed transmission?

By: jackjimturkey

jackjimturkey — Tue, 29 May 2007 23:56:16 +0000

What’s the point?

By: BrokenCadillac...

BrokenCadillac... — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 13:02:10 +0000

No quebero Taco Bell?

By: elviososa

elviososa — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 04:20:30 +0000

Que…Yo no complainte?

By: » Uma fuçada na lata de lixo das montadoras revela segredos interessantes- Super Carros, Noticias, Automovel, Lancamentos, Fotos, Novidades, Testes, Segredo

Sun, 10 Sep 2006 17:52:19 +0000

[...] O site das notícias não muito “certas” descobriu algumas coisinhas interessantes sobre o mundo automotivo que foram encontradas usando uns meios, digamos, obscuros. Primeiro, a General Motors patenteou o termo “8 speed”, para usar futuramente com uma transmissão de oito velocidades. Este detalhe colocaria suas marcas premium, como Buick e Cadillac, junto com a Lexus, na briga pelos câmbios mais modernos e eficientes, como o do LS460. [...]

By: Jon Luc

Jon Luc — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 17:33:07 +0000

I don’t wanna be wanting to work on that tranny. Or paying for it.

By: Gogogodzilla

Gogogodzilla — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 18:00:20 +0000

Geez, Audi/VW is already working on 8-speed DSG transmissions.

I don’t see how this is any more than a “keeping up with the Jones’s” move.

By: Veda

Veda — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 15:49:12 +0000

Actually MB’s 7 AT was critized for having to change gears too often. I say, go CVT all the way. It’s the future.

By: Dav is Dead

Dav is Dead — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 15:10:29 +0000

o who cares? its all the same crap.

By: JSP

JSP — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 03:35:06 +0000

I didn’t care for the 8-speed when Lexus announced it, and my opinion hasn’t changed. The current 6-speed autos already have very smooth gear changes (virtually imperceptible) and very close gear ratios. I thought the M-B’s 7-speeder was enough already.

By: autoweirdo

autoweirdo — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 21:00:04 +0000

Actually I can. Pretty big legs.

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 20:39:03 +0000

Veda, You make my point. Audi has CVT and Volkswagen and Porshe don’t. Even for these Audi cousins, CVT is not reliable enough for common use in larger vehicles.

By: 1c3d0g

1c3d0g — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 20:38:32 +0000

Good for you. Can you haul 5,000 lbs? Didn’t think so…

By: autoweirdo

autoweirdo — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 18:10:10 +0000

Big Deal! 8 speed! My bicycle is a 24 speed!

By: Veda

Veda — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 15:54:24 +0000

RIchard, if Audi can use a CVT on their 255HP 3.2 engine reliably then the technology has reached a point where it can be used for most applications. I just wish more and more manufacturers would develop their versions for bigger engines.

By: Wickedated

Wickedated — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 15:40:08 +0000

AuDub-
completely agreed on the manuals point. All my cars are stick.

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 15:18:01 +0000

The issue with CVT is that they use belts on adjustable pulleys rather than gears. Those belts can slip whereas gears can’t. Most current implementations of CVTs have been in small cars like the aforementioned Fit. The technology has a way to go before it is reliable enough for common use in larger vehicles.

By: Fatstrat

Fatstrat — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 14:32:24 +0000

This will be good for economy and further enhances the technical design overall. If it is reliable it will be a nice little move for GM, but not terribly substantial.

By: AuDub

AuDub — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 13:39:57 +0000

sorry, wikipedia won’t do for me.. i guess i’ll do some research on it.
but for now, i see where your (plural) logics lie, but i just can’t seem to grasp it; with the same engine, with the same top speed, i don’t see how having more gears can save gas. you can always switch gears early and cruise at a low RPM, that’s ALWAYS been one advantage of having a manual car.

By: Wickedated

Wickedated — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 13:20:28 +0000

AuDub-

8 speed smoothens acceleration much like a CVT transmission. That is, the next gear is pre-engaged as you accelerate so that shifting comes at an earlier RPM making the engine consume less gas, especially if you’re talking about a heavy vehicle or a vehicle that is towing something heavy. Think 18-wheelers. For more info on transmissions, use wikipedia.org.

By: nst101

nst101 — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 11:58:11 +0000

How many gears do you need before a CVT is more logical? Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for more gears that can make better use of the engine, but I think there is a point where a normal tranny should be swapped out for a CVT (i.e. I don’t think a 10 or 12 speed tranny would really make sense).

One good thing about all of the advancments in transmissions lately is they are able to better use a smaller engine with less hp and better gas mileage. Maybe we don’t need big 300hp V8s when a 250hp V6 with an 8 speed would give compareable performance.

By: zan

zan — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 11:23:01 +0000

One way an 8 speed could save gas is by keeping the RPM’s lower making the engine do less work.

If a 5 speed shifts at say 4k rpm a 8 speed might shift at 3k rpm (fake example lets not get picky) you get the point.

I am not saying its a good idea, I am no engineer, but in theory it makes sense, howeevr there would be a point where more gears would sart to hurt gas mileage and you would get diminishing returns.

By: Renton

Renton — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 11:04:33 +0000

I’m holding out for a 10 speed.

By: Joey D

Joey D — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 10:29:51 +0000

I don’t think Americans can do CVT’s, I’ve driven a Caliber and its aweful. Maybe that’s just because Chrysler can’t figure anything out correctly. I don’t know though.

By: elviososa

elviososa — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 04:49:14 +0000

I guess if 8 speed can save some gas…then 12 speed in the horizon will save a lot more…let’s who will get to 12 speed first!!!! Could it be Ford?

By: AuDub

AuDub — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 04:17:29 +0000

not trying to piss you off.. more like i just might be an idiot.. but i don’t see how having 8 gears could have anything to do with smoother acceleration and fuel efficiency.. please elaborate?

By: Wickedated

Wickedated — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 03:03:12 +0000

Everybody here is under the assumption that the 8 speed will be used for sedans or sports cars. It’ll be use to optimized full size SUVs and light trucks. 8 speeds handles a torquey engine and smooths acceleration for enhanced performance and better fuel economy on larger vehicles.

By: Don

Don — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 02:52:37 +0000

as a Japanes car fan, I gotta say i’m impressed with GM

By: Veda

Veda — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 02:43:03 +0000

Joey, I’d rather see a higher power CVT than a standard AT though. It’s getting popular with the smaller Japanese cars outside US, in fact the only CVT is offered for the Fit. The initial response and fuel economy are excellent. Now if Honda can do the same as Audi and Nissan, it’d be nice…

By: Joey D

Joey D — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 02:12:09 +0000

I’ve heard good things about the Lexus 8 speed, here’s to hoping GM can do the same. And in a world where people want high horsepower with good mileage, I think this is a very good thing. The addition of the 6 speed was a boost, imagine with two more gears. I think we could see trucks getting high 20’s in the mpg and still having 350 hp-ish.

By: Veda

Veda — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 01:33:34 +0000

Yes, but those cheating students are sometimes the most successful in the real world after they left school.

By: Kenny W

Kenny W — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 01:27:37 +0000

Meh, I think it was stupid when Lexus did it & I think it’s stupid now. If GM can get the programming of this right then I will change my tune, but until then I’ll continue to think that 8 speeds is overkill for 99.9% of the cars out there.

Madcapp, I think GM is working very hard on “the whole package” as evidence by each new product they put out being 10x better than the last. They still have a ways to go, but they’re catching up fast.

By: 1c3d0g

1c3d0g — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 01:27:24 +0000

GM, great move. Ignore the dumb asses that are against it.

By: Dan the Man

Dan the Man — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 00:56:26 +0000

Just to clarify for “ehhh?” … The reason why we complain about this is that GM should be devoting their resources to other areas such as design and reliability … hopefully in attempt to salvage the company. The reason why we dont complain when Lexus introduces it is because it is to be expected. I would rather GM stick with an old 4 speed and like Madcapp says “put together the whole package”. Once that is accomplished then certainly you can proceed ahead and develop your 32 speed gearbox.

By: Madcapp

Madcapp — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 00:44:29 +0000

The real issue is what type of antiquated pushrod engine are they gonna mate the 8-speed to? And then what crappy platform are they gonna stuff it into?

You have to be able to put together the whole package.

By: The Stig

The Stig — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 00:38:50 +0000

The early 90s Subaru Justy came with a CVT transmission so I’m not sure Audi has won that race.

8 speeds does two things: bragging rights and the ability to further optimize engine performance.