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Details On Upcoming Ford And GM 10-Speed Transmission Reaches The Internets

The Truth About Cars recently published an inside look at where the Ford and General Motors collaborative effort stands on the upcoming 10-speed automatic transmission. The transmission is being co-developed by both companies to be used in next generation rear-wheel drive trucks and cars.

Patent sketches give us an idea on how the engineers at Ford are developing their newest generation of transmissions, being the most cogs we’ve seen in a vehicle ever. Educated guesses combined with patent information help paint a picture of how the new 10-speed should perform, and how it will work. The unit is estimated to weigh no more than GM’s 8L90 8-speed do to clever packaging similar to the current 8-speed designs on the market. To share a few technical details, we’ll quote TTAC directly:

-There are a total of 10 forward ratios (of course) and 1 reverse ratio

There are six forward under drive ratios (i.e. the input turns faster than the output
There is a direct drive ratio where the input and the output shafts spin at the same speed
There are three overdrive ratios (i.e. the output turns spins faster that the input)

-There are 4 simple planetary gear sets, just like the ZF 8HP and the GM 8L transmission families

-There are six shift elements (as compared to 5 for the ZF 8HP and the GM 8L)

2  brakes (A and B)  that are nested (one shift element is packaged inside the other)
4 clutches (B, C, D, and E), two of the clutches (D and F) are nested as well

-For any of the 10 gear ratios, 4 shift elements are closed and two are open. Consequently the frictional losses are likely to be no worse than the 8 speed transmission designs

-The nesting of shift elements means that the overall package size will be pretty similar to the 8 speed transmission designs

-All shifts up and down need one shift element to be opened, and another one to be closed simultaneously. This is identical to how the ZF 8HP and the GM 8L transmissions work. The shift performance should therefore be very good.

Some of you may recall a story of a 2015 Ford F-150 prototype leaving the General Motors Milford Proving Grounds earlier last year. This was more than likely to do with the development of the new 10-speed. Additionally, rumor has it the first prototypes of the 10-speed transmission were installed to vehicles last year, and controller development is ramping up as you read this. Late 2015 may be an estimate as to when we would see the new transmission, but 2016 is more likely. It will be interesting to see where CVTs end up in the competition, as the extra cogs found in this new 10-speed design are able to handle more torque than a CVT can in its current state. It’s also another necessary step to meet upcoming federal fuel economy standards as they near closer.

Former GM Authority staff writer.

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Comments

  1. So does this mean that the 8L90 transmission short lived? I am liking the sound of the 10 speed automatic (although don’t completely understand engineering speech) coming in the not too distant future.

    Good job for both Ford and GM working together and lets hope this transmission from the duel is a benchmark.

    Reply
  2. This will give the F150/Silverado what it needs to come close to the Eco Diesels fuel mileage. As for CVT’s I only took one CVT out for a ride, (Ford Freestyle) I absolutely hated the feel of it. It was like I was riding my old Skidoo running on 1 cylinder.

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  3. I had a CVT for a few years, and it was GREAT for towing and offroading. Imagine towing and keeping at peak torque RPMs?

    It was the offroad package, towed my boat and offroaded as well as any car I’ve owned before. couldn’t believe how it did for a little 4 cylinder. That CVT made me a believer.

    It was odd though and took a while to get used to it- once I got used to it though I liked it a lot.

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  4. GM should be building a lot more than transmissions in partnership. A strategic alliance with crosstown domestic rival makes sense in that they are both domestics. I could see good work being done with Honda or Nissan/Renault, too. This is especially true when it comes to the new modular architectures that will cost billions to develop.
    Cost savings could then be used for interiors (no plastic!) & more sophisticated body types (carbon fiber) that cost more money.
    GM needs scale cost savings to once again be global number one.

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  5. If competition breeds the best, then I am not sure that collaboration between Ford and GM is the best approach. In the end, it is the consumer who loses. We lose choice when companies merge and collude. Scoff if you must, but the American has already lost all practical choice in many industries and institutions.

    The only reason that prevents consolidation to a single choice is the Sherman Antitrust Act, which isn’t even well enforced. Think about it:
    – Want to watch sports on television? You must subscribe to cable or satellite, each a regional monopoly.
    – Want an uncorrupted government representative? Sorry, only A and B are on the ballot, and both are corporate lapdog hypocrites.
    – Want a new computer? Windows or Mac — both running Intel processors — are the only real choices.
    – Want a US-made appliance? Well, you’re practically down to one: Whirlpool and its brands.
    – Want an American-made car from a company headquartered in the US? Yup, only two choices, Ford and GM, both now increasingly using the same suppliers for all their subcomponents.

    Let’s not cheer for the continued collaboration and merging of independent companies under our noses. Diversity and competition are essential for all. I’d be far prouder of GM if it got its 7-speed manual transmissions in all its performance vehicles than having a transmission that I neither can control nor repair.

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  6. @Anon:

    I don’t agree with your logic completely. First of all, a ten-speed auto is a lot of money to develop. It allows the domestics to get a leg up (for once) on foreign transmission development. SO, yes, we can pick a Ford or a Chevy with the same 10-speed trans, or without the cost-sharing partnership, we could pick a Ford or Chevy with a 6-speed or an 8-speed. Therefore, its advantageous for the teamwork. Regarding the computers, yes, the Macs are running Intel processors, but with a Windows PC you can still get AMD processors if you want.

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    1. You guys both have some good points. You can see how it can be a little irritating with more gears; constantly up-shifting/down-shifting to find the sweet spot (at least in the 8 speed). However, maybe with this collaboration, they will get it right and the end result will benefit the consumer as intended. To offer less fuel consumption, but still provide optimal performance. Meanwhile, offer a top-of-the-line quality transmission that don’t need to be recalled a year later.

      Reply
  7. put a 10 speed transmission in the Caddilac CT8

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  8. As a owner of a 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 extended cab with the 6.2 and 8 spd. My new truck is rated to tow just under 12000lbs. I noticed towing 11000lbs through the Canadian Rockies my 8spd downshifts when the rpm drops about 750 rpm when climbing grades keeping the motor closer to it torque range. Now in my older 2013 Sierra with a 5.3 4spd it would lug down 1500 to 2000rpm before down shifting…Then the 5.3 would scream near redline. And that was pulling 8000lbs. So I can see the 10spd would only be better…Now if they would only make 8 or 10speeds for diesels.

    Reply

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