Five-Speed Transmission? Pft. That's SO 1995

In recent years, as the fight against efficiency continues to ramp up we have seen plenty of new ways to tackle the battle for higher MPG. Hybrids were rolled out, electric vehicles are now making a splash and transmissions keep adding more gears.

It was not too long ago that the five-speed transmission reigned king. Then, the six speed came into play with even economy cars. Now, it is all about eight speeds.

Except the domestic manufacturers aren't on that same wavelength. For example, MSN Autos did some homework and saw that 22 models sold in the U.S. have an eight-speed transmission while 85 have seven speeds; however, none of them are domestic...

When it comes to automatic transmissions, five-speeds seem so yesterday. European and Japanese brands are incorporating eight-speed gearboxes, while domestic automakers are putting six-speed transmissions in even their smallest cars.

The new transmissions are also supplanting a technology that a few years ago had been seen as a winner: the continuously variable transmission.

In theory, geared transmissions should have long since fallen by the wayside in favor of the CVT. But the continuously variable transmission hasn't delivered hoped-for fuel efficiency, primarily because high friction in its belt drive mechanism and other weaknesses limit its application.

"Compared to other automatic transmissions, the CVT is the most demanding and the most expensive in production technology," said Gerhard Wagner, group executive of the car driveline division at supplier ZF.

"Realistically, we must expect that it will disappear again from the markets in Europe and North America," Wagner said.

Already, 22 models sold in the United States carry eight speeds, and 85 have seven speeds, according to data provided by Edmunds.com. None is a domestic brand....