Transmissions

With the new 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 that was introduced this past week at the Detroit Auto Show, GM raises the threat level to the bragging rights of virtually every other supercar in the world. And while performance numbers are still months away, there were plenty of interesting details...

The latest C7 Corvette is one of the most capable sports cars on the planet, but in the tech department it's letdown slightly by its available six-speed auto. That may not be the case for long, however, as a paper published by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) claims an eight-speed...

Honda announced three new direct-injected and turbocharged engines, plus an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with the interesting addition of a torque converter, during a two-day media event before the Tokyo Motor Show that opens Wednesday. Each of the engines, along with the new transmission...

The 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid replaces a conventional transmission with two electric motors and an electronic clutch pack.

A group of Dutch inventors has developed a gearbox they say could revolutionize the automotive and bike industries. Developed by Parts Services Holland and called the Controlled Rotation System (CRS), it does away with one of the main components of a gearbox--the gears themselves. However, the team...

Not so long ago, a five-speed automatic transmission was pretty advanced--but we're in a new age now. Six speeds is the norm now even in smaller cars--when they're not fitted with continuously variable transmissions (CVTs), anyhow--and even the eight-speed automatic pioneered by Lexus a decade ago...

This week, Mercedes-Benz revealed details on a new nine-speed automatic transmission it’s just introduced in its E-Class sedan and wagon overseas. Called the 9G-TRONIC, the new transmission has been developed in-house and is said to boost fuel economy while also improving drivetrain...

Following the recent news that the E-Class, at least in Europe, is now available with a nine-speed automatic transmission, Mercedes-Benz has released the full details on its latest cog-swapper and confirmed that it will be available in most of its models in the coming years. Currently, the new...

Mercedes-Benz has quietly added a new nine-speed automatic to its E-Class range, though the option is not yet available in the U.S. The transmission, labeled a 9G-TRONIC, is selectable on the configurator of the automaker’s German website and so far is only available with E350 BlueTEC trim...

Given the proliferation of announcements for eight-, nine- and even 10-speed automatic gearboxes of late, it would appear the world’s major automakers were giving up on dual-clutch technology, which remains stuck at seven forward gears. Nothing could be further from the truth, however, as...

Ford and General Motors will jointly develop new nine- and ten-speed automatic transmissions, marking the third time this decade that the two auto giants have collaborated on such a project. Previous developments included six- and eight-speed automatics used across dozens of vehicles from Ford...

Land Rover’s stylish Range Rover Evoque will be one of the first models available with ZF’s new nine-speed automatic transmission designed for transverse applications, i.e. cars based on front-wheel-drive architectures. The nine-speed-equipped Range Rover Evoque will be on display next...

Bugatti has extended the order for its Veyron supercar’s unique seven-speed dual-clutch transmission through to the end of 2014. This adds another year of production for the transmission, which previously was ordered by Bugatti only until the end of 2013. This also raises the important...

Just when you think you have every automotive acronym figured out, General Motors goes and invents a new one. In this case it’s “PAL,” which stands for “Performance Algorithm Liftfoot,” and we think you’re going to like what PAL can do for you. If you’ve...

Xtrac, a British engineering firm that specializes in vehicle transmission and driveline technology, and is supplier to a number of Formula One teams as well as performance brands such as Pagani, has come out with a new transmission it says will help revolutionize supercar design. Xtrac calls its...

For decades, automatic transmissions had three or four speeds, which were deemed sufficient to provide reasonable acceleration and fuel economy. Then came the five speed automatic, which was standard issue on most cars until just a few years back. Then, the race for more gears in the transmission...

The 2013 Dodge Dart is one of the most eagerly anticipated models of the new model year—not just because it’s the first model to be developed under pooled Fiat and Chrysler engineering resources, but because it represents a return to form for Dodge compact cars. That said, the Dart is...

Chevy's Sonic Turbo, introduced last year with a six-speed manual gearbox, now offers a six-speed automatic transmission option, too.

The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1's unique pre-staged automatic shifting system gets explained on video.

As the quest for greater fuel efficiency continues, continuously variable transmissions or 'CVTs' are becoming more popular. Nissan has been touting their benefits for several years now on much of its range, allowing drivers to enjoy smooth, stepless progress, fuel efficiency and efficient power...