The Detroit Three rivalry between General Motors and Ford is something we’re very used to. Just look at Chevy Camaro versus the Ford Mustang, and again with the Silverado and F-Series. There was once a bitter rivalry between the Chevrolet Venture and Ford Freestar minivans, but that’s a story for another time.
What we’re not entirely used to seeing just yet is when the two automakers pair up for sweet joint-venture project, which according to Automotive News, is happening. And it’s just what the doctor ordered, as it will hopefully bring the automakers up to speed in the transmission department. And it will avoid the dreaded CVT.
According to AN’s sources, GM is forwarding the design of a nine-speed gearbox for use in front-wheel-drive vehicles. Meanwhile, Ford will be fronting the development of a 10-speed transmission for rear-wheel-drive vehicles such as pickups, SUVs and possibly performance cars. Hot.
According to GM spokespeople, the companies “are in discussions” and have signed a memorandum of understanding “to jointly develop a variety of all-new, fuel-efficient transmissions.” But a “definitive agreement” has yet to be reached, or announced.
The benefits of the venture are significant R&D savings between the two automakers, and the companies would be able to combine the gearboxes with their own engines through their software and hardware.
Meanwhile, we await GM’s seven-speed manual, and dual-clutch transmission.
Comments
I remember taking a 400 level engineering class we had to learn about gears trains and transmissions… ppl always talk trash about how a tranny sucks but ill tell u they r some of the most complicated complex detail oreinted part of a drivetrain… atleast in my eyes.
2020 Cadillac cts…..356 up, with an 18 speed transmission….56 mpg :/ow high will these speeds climb, before it will be no good
Of course GM makes the 9 speed and Ford makes the 10 speed, didn’t even have to read the story to know that.
I dont think it has anything to do with what your reffering to, maybe Ford was farther along in the 10 spd or vice versa, maybe it would be better for both to do it the way their doing it and not worry about “pride” issues like who can sell the most cars or who can build the transmission with the most gears. In the end, how well a transmission operates matters much more than its number of gears.
The average drum brake today beats the best disc brakes of yesterday, just saying.
This is like the development of the six speed automatic for front-wheel-drive. GM and Ford developed these transmissions together but build them separately.
I thought GM and ford developed 6spd for current Silverado half ton and F150?
This is getting ridiculous. I’d rather have a lazy CVT than a 9 or 10 speed auto, that’ll be shifting every 2 seconds. How long can u expect a transmission to last when it’s working 50% more than the already busy 6 speeds we now have.
Anything but a CVT.
9 and 10 speeds are for different aplication 9 for front wheel drives, and 10 speeds for rear wheel drives like picups, suvs and high performence vehicle. will probably save time and definetly save r&d nmoney. i hope this goes forward sound lik a good idea lets go american we can do it.
I’d rather have a small battery driven CVT. Then get rid of the EPA and pair it with a particle spittin’ diesel. Spend the R&D on motor winders instead of small Chinese made mechanical parts.
This one goes to 11…I hate the 6 speed in my 12 Silverado. The 4 speed in my 07 worked much better. Let’s go back to motors with torque so we don’t need the tranny from a duece and a half to get rolling
I only can see the 10 speed on the HD trucks but not the halftons….. and Ford of course would go 1 up than GM and thinks they’re badass
@ ECO TURBO get rid of the EPA. No if we’re going to start deleting government agencies let’s start with the IRS.
GM, get rid of transmissions already! Just develop a high range and high torque electric motor and get everyone on EVs and EREVs! We want to rid ourselves of oil and gasoline!
Nine and Ten transmissions, that use to be just for over the road semi trucks. What next eighteen speeds with a high / low splitter
This is a real waste of time and money! My first automatic had 2 Speeds, (Chevy Power glide). It worked, but it was nice when the three speed came out. When the four speed came into production with its overdrive gear (4th) all was well and they should have stopped with that. Sure, it might be advantageous to have more if you are driving on the Autobahn and go 140+ MPH. With the common six speed in everything now and 55 MPH speed limits who needs a gear for every 9 MPH! Overdrive is overdrive, no matter how many gears you have. Engine rpm is the same for 4th or 6th gear. There is no real economy difference and having more gears causes more shifting and an inherent proclivity to failure.
Under normal driving, I doubt that all gears will be used or that normal acceleration from a stop will involve shifting through each gear sequentially. Under light loads, the car/truck could take off in 2nd or 3rd, saving 2nd or 1st for higher demand and also skip an upshift as needed. With a steeper 1st gear, such as a 4.70, a smaller engine could power a heavier vehicle to get better fuel mileage and/or a numerically smaller final drive ratio could be used to lower cruising RPM’s.
From a performance view, the lower first gears would provide the torque multiplication to slam you in the back of the seat, and the quick automatic shifts with closer gear spacing would keep the engine in the sweet spot of its torque band. And a double overdrive would be good on the top end MPH.
another important collaboration of two technology giants
http://www.bestinnovativesource.com/2013/04/15/ford-and-gm-to-manufacture-9-and-10-speed-automatic-transmission-in-joint-venture/