8 Speed Automatic

[DeltaT]

At some point you might as well go to one of those CVT's(Continuously Variable Transmission). There's got to be a point of diminishing returns...

Jim

[Ralph LoGrasso]

At some point you might as well go to one of those CVT's(Continuously Variable Transmission). There's got to be a point of diminishing returns...

Jim

I agree on the diminishing returns with the autos. BUT, I can see the benefit of a 7 speed manual. You'd have 6 real close-ratio forward gears and one overdrive for the mpg on the highway.

[Steve Chryssos]

No, the benefits of these new 6, 7, 8 speed automatics is that the computer can select which of the gears to choose from. They don't necessarily use all eight gears. They might skip certain gears and instead just choose the right gear for every situation.

Kinda like a chinese menu.

[DeltaT]

Would it also leave you hungry for more 2 hours later?

J

[ShawnF]

I have the new GS Lexus with a six speed auto and love it. The car is so smooth and 100mph is not even 3000rpm. My dad and I drove from Phx to Las Vegas and even at 125mph the car was getting 25-27 mpg so I could only imagine what the new LS could do with the eight speed and 100 more horses(torque). Yes, I do agree the parallel parking is a little overkill but their cars are a pleasure to own and drive and in my opinion a bargain. The one thing with lexus is they don't break if you take care of them and if they do they will take care of you. Sure things can happen but they are an incredible car in everyway. In my opinion Detroit could study up and learn some things from Toyota (Lexus) and maybe they wouldn't have to give cars away.

[ProTouring442]

In my opinion Detroit could study up and learn some things from Toyota (Lexus) and maybe they wouldn't have to give cars away.

Yeah, marketing! My '96 SSEi has 100K with no problems, my previous Bonneville had 200K and all I ever replaced (other than normal maint.) was an alternator and a master cylinder. My dad has gone through several GM wagons, all of which went 100K or 200K with no problems...

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
'72 442 "Inamorata"
www.FQuick.com/ProTouring442

[Steve Chryssos]

Would it also leave you hungry for more 2 hours later?
J

Yes.

[Steve Chryssos]

Well it's official: The first 6/8 speed manumatics for Hot Rods are now available. Consists of a 4 speed electronic automatic (4L60E or 4L80E), a GV unit, Bowler electronics and valve body and our paddle shifter. Mark's electronics allow you to actuate both gear changes and gear splits from our paddle shifter--so you don't need to reach down to do the gear splits. Your hands never leave the steering wheel.

With the gear selector in D (3rd gear) you have a 6 speed with engine braking. And with the selector in OD (4th), you have an 8 speed w/o engine braking. As you can imagine, the 6/8 is not cheap. Do the math: Trans, GV. Computer, Paddle Shifter, etc.....

Expect our SEMA 2007 show car to be equipped with the 6/8 Manumatic behind a twin turbo LS1.

[Yelcamino]

Kinda like a chinese menu.

[Bandit]

At some point you might as well go to one of those CVT's(Continuously Variable Transmission). There's got to be a point of diminishing returns...

Jim

I agree woleheartedly. Why do some people think more is always better?

[Steve Chryssos]

Again--these eight speeds are not necessarily using all eight gears. They do not go 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 like an old school auto trans. The computer determines load and then chooses from a wide range of gears. The trans might skip 1, 3, and 7 based on specific circumstances and only use 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 and then skip down to 5th gear instead of going 8, 7, 6, 5.

This is in the same way that a human might decide to start out in 2nd gear when their manual trans equipped car is starting out on a steep downhill slope. See? Think of the eight speed is really multiple 5 speeds hiding in one housing.

[Splinky]

I recall reading not too long ago that one possible direction of these transmissions with 6, 8, and more speeds was the potential elimination of the torque converter. The trans control module would modulate application of an oversized primary clutch pack to get the vehicle moving. First gear would be quite low making life easier on the primary clutch pack and making up for the lack of torque multiplication.

Wonder if this is still the direction they are thinking?

[Steve Chryssos]

Clutch apply is well within the realm of computer control, but only the DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) solution offers smooth operation during low momentum scenarios because it employs two clutches. But yes, there is talk that DSG will ultimately replace BOTH traditional manuals and automatics.

When I purchased my Audi A3, the salesguy kept calling DSG "automatic" as though he didn't want to complicate the conversation. It's a mechatronic dual clutch manual transmission", I said. He said: "Uhh....."