Elias Member 109 Member For: 16y 4m 23d Gender: Male Location: Melbourne Posted 18/05/08 05:53 AM Share Posted 18/05/08 05:53 AM I found this article on the new 8 speed ZF Transmission: http://www.themotorreport.com.au/411/zf-8-speed-automatic/This article is about a year old, so I'm surprised I didn't find anything in here on it.has anyone heard anything about this? any idea of Ford will be putting this into upcoming Falcons in the near or forseeable future? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantom ute Member 105 Member For: 17y 8m Gender: Male Location: Sydney Posted 18/05/08 08:07 AM Share Posted 18/05/08 08:07 AM ZF 8-Speed automaticMay 8th, 2007 • Related • Filed Under Related PostNo Related PostFiled Under: Latest News The ‘gear-heads’ at ZF Friedrichshafen AG or ‘ZF’ for short have just released details of their new 8-speed automatic transmission co-incidentally following the debut of an 8-speed automatic in the new Lexus LS460.The brand new 8-speed automatic was presented to 1000 engineers at last weeks annual International Vienna Motor Symposium. It is hard to fathom exactly why we need 8-speed gear boxes but they will be common-place in our motoring future and it should help to keep the tree-huggers happy. It seems incremental increases in fuel efficiency can be achieved with talk of 6% reductions in fuel consumption being possible when compared the current ZF 6-speed as currently used by BMW, Audi, Jaguar, Land Rover, Volvo and Ford.The new ZF 8-speed box in respect to gear ratios is said to better the 6-speed it will replace as well as the Mercedes-Benz 7-speed 7G-Tronic auto. Not only does it improve fuel consumption but its design is said to reduce power loss and takes up no more space than the current 6-speed unit.“Our main development target was to find a transmission concept which allows for significant additional fuel consumption reduction and thus offers tangible added value to our customers and drivers without making any compromises in terms of performance,” said ZF’s executive vice-president, technology and group executive of the car driveline technology division, Dr Michael Paul.ZF claims that the new 8-speed will offer fuel consumption savings of up to 14% over the average 5-speed auto which all helps to justify the need for our future cars using more gears than some trucks.The new ZF8 can handle more torque input than the current ZF6 which means keep an eye out for it in some serious performance applications. Shift quality, response and overall feel at least match the current ZF6 which is widely regarded as the best there is.The new transmission has been designed to be utilized in a variety of configurations with an eye on the future including all currently known hybrid layouts, as well as all-wheel-drive. A date for production is not known at this stage but when it is available you can expect to see it being used by the manufacturers currently using the ZF6 which includes Ford with their Falcon and Territory. So will the 2008 Ford Falcon ‘Orion’ come with 8 speeds? Unlikely at this stage but I’d certainly be keeping an eye out for it in the performance variants and FPV models.I think the fuel savings will only happen when crusing at 100-110 ks when in the city and stop start traffic you would use the same in a 8 spd as a 4 spd, It would shift at the same rev's as a 4 spd but at a lower speed, I'm a truckie I've driven 8 & 10 speed trucks the only time the 10 spd was better than the 8 spd on fuel consumption was when crusing on the highway with more gears you go through the rev range more, I had a 4 spd auto and now have a 5 spd manual and the 4 spd was better on fuel driving around sydney than the 5 spd is and that is driving for the best fuel consumption. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iconic Bionic My engine bay is Bionic Donating Members 3,726 Member For: 18y 30d Gender: Male Location: Freeways Posted 18/05/08 08:49 AM Share Posted 18/05/08 08:49 AM Getting a bit ridiculous now. We arnt driving trucks.I.B. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny G Team Grandpa Qualified Donating Members 809 Member For: 19y 2m 4d Gender: Male Location: Brisbane North. Posted 18/05/08 08:59 AM Share Posted 18/05/08 08:59 AM Oh - go on I.B. - you drive it like a truck sometimes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCRIBR Yaris member Member 4,486 Member For: 17y 9m 28d Gender: Male Posted 18/05/08 10:18 AM Share Posted 18/05/08 10:18 AM the more gears the better! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DORKO Member 340 Member For: 17y 1m 6d Gender: Male Location: Perth Posted 18/05/08 10:32 AM Share Posted 18/05/08 10:32 AM 8 Gears. Wow, what speed do you need to do to get to 8?Dorko Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eXoR6sT Member 18 Member For: 16y 3d Gender: Male Location: perth WA Posted 18/05/08 11:12 AM Share Posted 18/05/08 11:12 AM I passengered in a nissan a few months back that had a 8spd autonewer 4 door skylinesmooth as silk, not sure I see the need, I thought the 6speed auto was silly enough Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
senna_T Forged Member Lifetime Members 15,818 Member For: 17y 2m 11d Gender: Male Location: SW Sydney Posted 18/05/08 11:29 AM Share Posted 18/05/08 11:29 AM the newer skyline you were a passenger in was most likely a CVT (constantly variable transmission) equipped vehicle. They don't necessarily have specific gears, rather set positions for discernable ratios Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eXoR6sT Member 18 Member For: 16y 3d Gender: Male Location: perth WA Posted 18/05/08 11:46 AM Share Posted 18/05/08 11:46 AM ah, that's the one, the owner said "not 8 gears blah blah blah" I got bored of the yakkity about the car, smooth car, still a fat "maxima" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Member 109 Member For: 16y 4m 23d Gender: Male Location: Melbourne Posted 18/05/08 11:53 AM Author Share Posted 18/05/08 11:53 AM more gears would mean better acceleration and better fuel economy. I can only see it as a good thing. Would hate to see the bill if you blow one though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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