DETROIT — Transmission developers have for years been advocating a move to six-speed automatics. Compared to the longstanding four-speed jobs that remain a standard in many kinds of vehicles, a move to six forward gears can deliver as much as 7 percent better fuel economy, while also improving performance and driving refinement. But the high cost of fuel is adding new incentives to push the adoption of six-speed automatics in the U.S., where automatic transmissions are the dominant choice of consumers.
Germany's transmission mega-supplier ZF Friedrichshafen AG offered its first six-speed automatic for the BMW 7 Series in 2001. Since then, ZF has ramped up production exponentially to the point where it manufactured 1.3 million six-speed automatics last year. Many European premium-car manufacturers — not to mention volume producer Volkswagen AG — were early adopters, and the six-speed has become common across their model ranges.
But you no longer have to spend German-premium money to get the benefits of a six-speed automatic.
General Motors Corp.'s powertrain division currently offers nine six-speed transmissions in 40 global vehicle models, and by the close of 2009 plans to use the transmission in another 10 models, when it will be producing 3 million six-speed (manual and automatic) transmissions annually. GM recently hustled its Hydra-matic 6T40 six-speed automatic into the pistol-hot Malibu, where it couples with the Malibu's 2.4-liter four-cylinder to deliver 22 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway — a 2-mpg boost for the highway number. The Malibu LTZ is one of the first domestic vehicles to pair a four-cylinder engine with a six-speed automatic.
Rival Ford Motor Company, which several years ago teamed with GM in a unique joint venture to design and develop six-speed automatics, also is ready to use its version of the transmission as a springboard for near-term fuel-economy gains.
Ford also has a new four-cylinder/six-speed auto coming. Starting in July for the '09 Escape compact crossover, Ford's 6F35 six-speed generates an extra 1 mpg in both city and highway driving — despite the fact the Escape's revised four-cylinder and V6 engines are markedly more powerful. Ford already uses a higher-capacity version of the 6F35 for its larger, six-cylinder vehicles, including the Edge crossover and Taurus midsize sedan and wagon.
Ford recently said by the end of 2009 it will have doubled its production of six-speed automatics for North American cars and trucks — to 1.4 million units annually. It also claims that by the end of 2012, 98 percent of its transmissions in North America will have six-speeds.
Chrysler has a slightly different approach: It is gearing up (pun intended) a significant new venture with German transmission specialist Getrag to manufacture dual-clutch automated manual transmissions for a wide variety of vehicles beginning in late 2009. Much like the now-familiar Direct Shift Gearbox pioneered by Volkswagen, the automated manual is a true manual transmission with automated clutching that enables it to be driven like an automatic.
Data from Edmunds.com shows the explosiveness of the move to six-speed automatics for the U.S. market. In 2001, there were just 15 models equipped with a six-speed automatic. For 2008, the number has increased by a factor of 12: There are 181 vehicles now offering the efficiency-enhancing six-speed.
What this means to you: We'll take the extra precision of a clutch pedal any day. But if you must have an automatic, the industry's progress toward providing six-speeds — even for everyday vehicles — means an upgrade in both efficiency and performance. — Bill Visnic, senior editor, Edmunds AutoObserver
Germany's transmission mega-supplier ZF Friedrichshafen AG offered its first six-speed automatic for the BMW 7 Series in 2001. Since then, ZF has ramped up production exponentially to the point where it manufactured 1.3 million six-speed automatics last year. Many European premium-car manufacturers — not to mention volume producer Volkswagen AG — were early adopters, and the six-speed has become common across their model ranges.
But you no longer have to spend German-premium money to get the benefits of a six-speed automatic.
General Motors Corp.'s powertrain division currently offers nine six-speed transmissions in 40 global vehicle models, and by the close of 2009 plans to use the transmission in another 10 models, when it will be producing 3 million six-speed (manual and automatic) transmissions annually. GM recently hustled its Hydra-matic 6T40 six-speed automatic into the pistol-hot Malibu, where it couples with the Malibu's 2.4-liter four-cylinder to deliver 22 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway — a 2-mpg boost for the highway number. The Malibu LTZ is one of the first domestic vehicles to pair a four-cylinder engine with a six-speed automatic.
Rival Ford Motor Company, which several years ago teamed with GM in a unique joint venture to design and develop six-speed automatics, also is ready to use its version of the transmission as a springboard for near-term fuel-economy gains.
Ford also has a new four-cylinder/six-speed auto coming. Starting in July for the '09 Escape compact crossover, Ford's 6F35 six-speed generates an extra 1 mpg in both city and highway driving — despite the fact the Escape's revised four-cylinder and V6 engines are markedly more powerful. Ford already uses a higher-capacity version of the 6F35 for its larger, six-cylinder vehicles, including the Edge crossover and Taurus midsize sedan and wagon.
Ford recently said by the end of 2009 it will have doubled its production of six-speed automatics for North American cars and trucks — to 1.4 million units annually. It also claims that by the end of 2012, 98 percent of its transmissions in North America will have six-speeds.
Chrysler has a slightly different approach: It is gearing up (pun intended) a significant new venture with German transmission specialist Getrag to manufacture dual-clutch automated manual transmissions for a wide variety of vehicles beginning in late 2009. Much like the now-familiar Direct Shift Gearbox pioneered by Volkswagen, the automated manual is a true manual transmission with automated clutching that enables it to be driven like an automatic.
Data from Edmunds.com shows the explosiveness of the move to six-speed automatics for the U.S. market. In 2001, there were just 15 models equipped with a six-speed automatic. For 2008, the number has increased by a factor of 12: There are 181 vehicles now offering the efficiency-enhancing six-speed.
What this means to you: We'll take the extra precision of a clutch pedal any day. But if you must have an automatic, the industry's progress toward providing six-speeds — even for everyday vehicles — means an upgrade in both efficiency and performance. — Bill Visnic, senior editor, Edmunds AutoObserver
Add A Comment »