New BMW 7-Series Will Come With 8-Speed Transmission

Agent009,

Do you have any idea why these German automakers are not adapting the CVT? Are there reliability issues with CVT? Perhaps it's consumer perception of a shifting transmission and speed.

CVT absolutely sucks. DSG is the future, in my opinion.

mitch, we agree on many things. This is one of them.

You people know nothing about CVT. It is not something new; it is SUPER OLD (dating from Leonardo da Vinci).

BUT!

The new version of CVT 2.0 is of much more difference. It is stronger, lighter when making shifts, and of course what everyone wants today, fuel efficiency advantage. This is in fact the reason why many companies are adopting this system. And, this new version of the CVT has been recognized as a great advance in mechanical engineering. You should read more about CVT before saying that it sucks, etc.

***By the way for driving enthusiasts they still can feel the jerk when shifting, because many drivers expect a jerk when they begin to move the vehicle. The satisfying jerk of a non-CVT transmission can be emulated by CVT control software though, eliminating this marketing problem.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuously_variable_transmission

As you can notice, today there are more and more companies that are adopting this new version of the CVT 2.0.

Let me remember you that CVT is old, very old, but it has been developed and upgraded mostly by the Japanese car companies. One of the most outstanding and responsible in what today is CVT is the Japanese company, "JATCO."

Make some investigation about JATCO, and CVT, and then take your conclusions. Later then you will understand why car companies are making these moves.

Thank you, and have a nice day.

S4cabriofoxone
agree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

not sure why they're not adopting CVT. but i must say that 8-speeds seem completely unnecessary. can't believe BMW is getting caught up in this silly one-upmanship.

If they really want to oneupman the other car makers, then shouldn't they come up with a 9 speed? Anyways, this is just following Lexus with the 8 speed.

Personally I think 6 or 7 speeds is more than enough. In my car I don't even bother using the manual mode on my 2004 E500.

I'm waiting for the 2012 fifteen-speed Mercedes S580 with 490,000hp.

You forgot the rocket launchers and pollution free engine! hahaha

All the CVTs I've seen figures for can only tolerate a maximum torque of 250-275 ft lbs. Evidently, the way in which the pulleys in a CVT rely on friction to keep the belt from slipping has the side effect of reducing the permissible force being applied through them.

Look at that! The Germans are "copying" Lexus!

*Sarcasm intended*

What happened to 8 speeds being unnecessary??? Hybrids, 8 speeds, what else are the Europeans going to copy next?

Hybrid was first introduced as a concept by Audi (Audi Duo) back in the mid 90's but no one cared for it at the time.
8 speed is useless.
DSG tranny with 7 gears is all you need.

It will be interesting to see how such dinosaur nut-cases as Automobile Magazine, Road n Track and Car n Driver react to the new BMW 8-speed box. None was especially complimentary about Lexus with its world's first 8 speed box.

They will say this, "Lexus was the first come out with the 8 speed and we thought it was completely unnecessarily. In this BMW however we find that it compliments the drivetrain, why? Well of course this is a BMW."

Also if 8 is unnecessary so is 7. Six is all you need if you make that arguement.

Copy um. The Germans are credited with the first car (what is now M/B), so all brands are coping them.

oh abd by the way you don't actually need 7 gears either!

As usual Lexus fan boys getting mad and accusing of copying...

I want a 10 speed auto transmission!!!

You need to peddle away some of that belly fat, by riding on a ten speed.

LOL Will that was funny.

the magic feel.

Yeah i too want to hear what the German fans and German (Biassed) Reviewers have to say about the new 7 Series with 8 gears.

(In Lexus it is useless and a gimmick)

JUGNU

Ah.,......you freakling German fanboys loser. Look like your favorite brand copying the big daddy Lexus. Who copy who now? Loser...Loser....I wonder what the German brand are going to Toyota/Lexus. Maybe they going to the Acura or even design too.

Lexus

Come on..let a game, it call followed the leader, LOL:) ah...ha...ha...ha... Lexus is the leader in auto lexury and technology. Even the bit mighty German brand has to copy the leader in auto industry(A.K.A) Toyota/Lexus

hahahaha, when i saw this it cracked me up, first you guys talk trash about hybrids and then the germans use it. then you guys make fun of lexus for having a 8-speed transmission and guess who is going to also have it, I'll let you guys guess.

RICEMASTER, i think that only trick the German still try to figure out. They must off ask each other how does the Toyota/Lexus and other Japanese does it? how do they master reliability in their product? could it be the rice they are eating? or could it something else mystical? hmmm...

Ah...ha...ha...ha..sure would to see those German fanboys face now as they are reading this. Loser....loser....

thank you for copying Toyota/Lexus and please come again;) I wonder what are they going to copy next? perhap a hybrid sportcar like the Toyota sportcar concept?

Lexus

ah....ha...he...he....he..ha...he...ha..he...

Their are nothing to be ashame of. Because you are copying and following the leader in the auto lexury industry. LOL:)....................................ah.......ha...ha....ha....ha....ha...

Where is are the Lexus basher hiding, probably hiding because shame that their favorite is copying Lexus. I wonder which German brand will jump on the bandwagon and copy Lexus 8 speed too.

C'mon, it not copying. It's like air-filled tires. Only one company had them at first, now every single automobile has 'em. It's just technology advancing.

Yeah! sure whatever you say mstangpnyo7;) sure whatever you say. Hey! we just doing for the hell of it man. Because the German fanboys was making fun of Lexus. Now it our turn to make fun of them and their brand, with interest of course. This is only for fun only, please do not take this personal.

Lexus

p.s. BMW you still copy Lexus LOL :) ....

Ha!

They're copying Lexus!

And don't worry, Lex fans... I still think the eight-speed is stupid, and I will even if it comes out in the new A8.

Audi will probably be smart and engineer a seven-speed DSG for their cars. DSG rules!

"XeroK00L" Aston Martin actually had the LED headlamps first not Lexus. Seeing as you care so much though BMW was the first with Xenon & l.e.d tailights, which everyone now uses.

What "success Lexus has"? The LS hasn't been on sale for longer than five or six months.

Audi isn't going to do that; they're having their own seven-speed DSG. Normal automatic transmissions are a thing of the past; adding an extra cog isn't innovation at all.

Although I think it's funny that BMW is doing this, this isn't "copying" at all. Every once in awhile somebody, somewhere, designs a car with one more gear than everyone else. Someone made the first two-speed. Then three-speed. Then four-speed (which, by the way, Lexus was still offering in the RX300). Then, the five-speed automatic was introduced... all the way up to the S-Class with the 7-speed and the LS with the 8-speed.

This isn't some revolutionary transmission. Somebody's going to come up with a nine-speed before Lexus... will I care? No!

ooouuuu bmw following lexus footsteps.

"S4Cabriofoxone1" you’re trying to tell me that; as he puts it, to be a “really man” I should drive a used Nissan that’s not even in production anymore?

So let me get this straight, a hard working man who has the luxury to afford a car like an M6, R8, or 911; which could tare apart a skyline on the track, isn’t a real man.

Grow up, non-auto enthusiasts won’t understand a Nissan Skyline, most woman (or girls in his case) who can’t see past the badge on the car’s hood, won’t think it’s nice! Tuner car’s aren’t attractive they’re fun.

Buddy if you only had a clue. Learn some proper English & grammar...then people on this site MIGHT take you seriously.

Just to point out MunichRob the current Infinti G35 is the Nissan Skyline in Japan and it is currently produced. Of course you were probably talking about the R34.

You people know nothing about CVT. It is not something new; it is SUPER OLD (dating from Leonardo da Vinci).

BUT!

The new version of CVT 2.0 is of much more difference. It is stronger, lighter when making shifts, and of course what everyone wants today, fuel efficiency advantage. This is in fact the reason why many companies are adopting this system. And, this new version of the CVT has been recognized as a great advance in mechanical engineering. You should read more about CVT before saying that it sucks, etc.

***By the way for driving enthusiasts they still can feel the jerk when shifting, because many drivers expect a jerk when they begin to move the vehicle. The satisfying jerk of a non-CVT transmission can be emulated by CVT control software though, eliminating this marketing problem.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuously_variable_transmission

As you can notice, today there are more and more companies that are adopting this new version of the CVT 2.0.

Let me remember you that CVT is old, very old, but it has been developed and upgraded mostly by the Japanese car companies. One of the most outstanding and responsible in what today is CVT is the Japanese company, "JATCO."

Make some investigation about JATCO (a Nissan subsidiary), and CVT, and then take your conclusions. Later then you will understand why car companies are making these moves.

Thank you, and have a nice day.


P.S. Aisin Seiki Co. is a Toyota subsidiary that manufactures transmissions systems for Toyota and for other companies. And, Honda makes their own transmission systems.

Very soon The big Germans will also copy the Self-parking feature,Messageing + reclining Seats,Hard disk for storing music(S class's don't store music),Rear big screen....etc

And also maybe will use a less displacement high power engine(MB especially)

JUGNU

I am patiently waiting until someone will come out with 11 speeds re: "Spinal Tap". That will be the one to buy!

The whole "BMW is copying Lexus" and vice versa is getting REALLY old. Why must you people argue about which one is superior? We already all know the answer anyways. Why did Lexus even come out with the IS? To TRY and de-throne the 3 series, which it hasn't done. Is there even a comparison test where the IS came out of top? Not to my knowledge. Also, who is copying who? The whole reason the IS even exists is because of BMW. End of story.

With that said, the whole argument is lame.

When Lexus came out with the IS they were trying to dethrone a successful car, which is not as much copying as it is good business sense. If a product sells well other companies will come up with a competitor to that product - they aren't trying to copy the BMW as much as they are just trying to make money off of the market.

Looks like Lexus is gunna get jacked up by BMW.

lol

Well you know about Lexus reliability right? I would be worried about the BMW.

The new 7 series will also have a two-speed reverse system.

What? You can't drive in reverse at 80mph? You must not be an enthusiast.

All 2008 Lada s will come standard with a 23 speed transmission including 9 speed reverse.

Let's see ... each gear adds how many pounds to the transmission, and each shift adds how many milli-seconds from acceleration time?
We must have crossed the threshold where more gears increase the time to accelerate to 100k or 60 MPH ... the main bragging criteria.

But what baffles me is why a performance company like BMW would get dragged into a pi55ing match with a luxo-barge company like Lexus? Is this a case of tranny envy?

PS: Does anyone remember the Aston Martin (I think?) that used a Corvette 6-spd standard trans, but left out 6th gear because "we have enough power that we don't need more than 5 gears!"