Just When You Thought Eight Speeds Weren't Enough, Then There Were Nine

As automakers continue their quest for more fuel efficient vehicles, auto suppliers are doing their best to meet the need. One of the major gearbox manufacturers, ZF, has created the overkill nine-speed transmission.

And just when you may have thought eight speeds were over doing it, this behemoth comes out of right field. Having experience driving the Lexus IS-F and Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid, I can say one thing's for sure: eight speeds is horrible. Having nine can't be any better.

ZF insists that the new tranny can get people an extra 16 percent efficiency but I can't imagine it really mattering when I am irritated because the car's constantly searching for a gear.

What say you, Spies?

Is this insanity at this point or do cars need nine gears?

German transmission specialist ZF has launched the world’s first nine-speed automatic gearbox for passenger cars.

The gearbox has been designed for front-wheel drive cars with transverse engines and can handle between 200lb ft and 353lb ft of torque...

[Source: Autocar]

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Joe_Limon - 6/11/2011 2:03:18 PM

+3 Boost

Audi's need it, they are falling behind on the fuel economy front.

JRobUSC - 6/11/2011 3:23:05 PM

+6 Boost

"Having experience driving the Lexus IS-F and Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid, I can say one thing's for sure: eight speeds is horrible. Having nine can't be any better."

You're basing your argument against all 8+ speed transmissions on your experience with one? I'm sure there are "bad" 6-speed automatics out there, too, especially when they first came out, but there are now also plenty of good ones. The same is true of the 8-speed. The one in the IS-F hunts for gears, doesn't shift all that quickly, and can't skip multiple gears on downshifts -- well, the newest 8-speed autos don't have any of those issues (like the ones BMW is using, for example). You can't say "8-speed transmissions are horrible" just because one implementation is bad, it's like saying "all cars are horrible" based on having owned a Yugo.

dorisscott - 6/12/2011 2:23:44 AM

-2 Boost

yes it is true you can save money on your auto insurance by making few simple changes search online for "Auto Insurance Clearance" you will be surprised. especially with higher gas prices I need to save on my auto insurance.

Airliner - 6/12/2011 3:58:53 PM

+4 Boost

How many gears does it take to be considered a CVT? Sounds like this might be it??

F1_Driver - 6/12/2011 9:30:38 PM

+3 Boost

When you have this many gears you might as well call it a CVT.