The GM Hydra-Matic 9T50 9-speed automatic transmission is a variant of GM’s 9TXX 9-speed automatic transmission family. Officially announced in December 2016 in conjunction with the 2017 Chevy Malibu Turbo, the 9T50 was the first member of the 9TXX family to have been announced by General Motors.
Based on the planetary design of GM’s 6TXX transmission it replaces, the 9T50 offers improved fuel efficiency, performance and refinement.
“In addition to improved fuel efficiency, the 9T50 offers a strong overall balance of performance and refinement that customers will feel at all driving speeds,” said Dan Nicholson, vice president, Global Propulsion Systems. “By the end of 2017, Chevrolet will offer four models with the new nine-speed.”
The 9T50 makes its debut in the 2017 Malibu and will be available in the 2017 Cruze Diesel and 2018 Equinox, advancing a legacy of multispeed transmissions designed to optimize efficiency, performance and refinement.
The new, General Motors-developed Hydra-Matic 9T50 nine-speed is paired with the available 2.0L Turbo engine in the Malibu, contributing to an EPA-estimated 33 mpg highway — a 3 percent increase over the 2016 model with the eight-speed automatic.
The new nine-speed has a wider 7.6:1 overall ratio — the difference between the first gear ratio and the top gear ratio — compared to the eight-speed transmission, with a “deep” 4.69 first gear that supports excellent off-the-line acceleration and a “tall” 0.62 top gear for low-rpm highway cruising. That balance optimizes acceleration and fuel economy and reduces engine noise during cruising.
“The smaller steps between the gears, compared to the eight-speed, enable smooth, almost imperceptible upshifts, for excellent refinement,” said Nicholson. “No matter the engine torque or vehicle speed, the 9T50 is always in the perfect gear.”
The new transmission also supports stop/start technology that can help save fuel by allowing the engine to shut down in certain stop-and-go driving conditions.
“Everything about the new nine-speed is designed to maximize benefits for the customer,” said Steve Majoros, director of Chevrolet Marketing. “It helps offer greater fuel efficiency in the city and on the highway, all with the world-class refinement that makes the drive quiet and smooth.”
GM will rapidly deploy the new Hydra-Matic nine-speed automatic transmission as an option on 10 vehicle models by the end of 2017.
The 9T50Â transmission features several notable new technologies.
On-Axis Design
The 9T50 has an on-axis design, where all the gears are in line with the crankshaft.
For precise and smooth shifts, GM utilizes a specific strategy in the selection of the gearsets, clutches and torque converter. Five planetary gearsets are used with four stationary clutches and three rotating clutches, saving space compared to freewheeling designs. Gears change from second- to ninth-gear ratios with precise clutch-to-clutch shifting, where the clutch is engaged in one gear at exactly the same time it is released from another.
The first-to-second upshift is a freewheeling shift. The second-gear clutch engages while the first-gear one-way clutch spins freely, contributing to greater refinement at lower vehicle speeds.
Selectable One-Way Clutch
In addition, the 9T50 features GM’s first application of a Selectable One-Way clutch. Both features help reduce the package size, making it roughly the same size as a six-speed transmission.
The selectable one-way clutch, which can hold torque or freewheel, depending on the desired operating mode, contributes to a smaller overall size by eliminating the need for an additional clutch pack. The feature controls the engagement of first- and reverse-gear, enabling smooth coasting in first and improves the shift feel from first- to second-gear, all while reducing mass and packaging space compared to the plate clutch pack and sprang clutch it replaces.
“The selectable one-way clutch is one of the biggest enablers of the 9T50’s balance of efficiency and refinement,” said Steve Saia, chief engineer. “It also symbolizes GM’s acumen when it comes to designing advanced, compact multispeed transmissions.”
Oil Management System
An Active Oil Management takes up excess fluid volume in the transmission case as the oil heats and expands.
The 9T50’s hydraulic system is controlled electronically to deliver the pressure and volume required for various operating temperatures for optimal efficiency. The valve body side cover acts as an internal expansion tank, holding the excess oil until it is required and then returning it to the sump when needed.
The 9T50 is filled with DEXRON-VI fluid that does not require changing under normal driving conditions. It was developed for a more consistent viscosity profile, consistent shift performance in extreme conditions and less degradation over time.
New Torque Converter
The 9T50 planetary-type automatic transmission employs new torque converter technology to help it deliver smooth take-off performance and additional refinement. The converter features a hyper-elliptical oval cross-section that reduces the thickness of the torque converter, keeping the overall width of the engine and transmission as narrow as possible for packaging advantages.
The single-plate lock-up clutch uses GM’s electronically controlled capacity clutch (ECCC) technology to dampen engine vibrations and ensure smooth operation.
Shift Controls
Shift controls include automatic grade braking that selects a lower gear to help maintain desired vehicle speed when coasting or braking on a downgrade. This takes advantage of engine braking to help prevent unwanted acceleration and can help reduce the need to brake during a descent. The control module receives input that monitors brake pedal usage, vehicle acceleration, throttle position, grade and whether a trailer is connected to the vehicle.
Seamless Stop/Start Performance
A unique accumulator within the new 9T50 nine-speed transmission enables virtually seamless stop/start transitions for greater refinement. The accumulator stores energy for almost imperceptible engine restarts, while GM-designed transmission software calibrated for those restarts further contributes to smooth takeoffs.
Transmission Control Module
GM-developed transmission control logic resides in a 32-bit transmission control module (TCM) that commands all shifting events to provide smooth and precise ratio changes. The TCM also monitors transmission performance and compensates for normal wear in components such as clutch plates so that performance remains consistent. Located outside the transmission to reduce overall packaging size, the module reduces manufacturing complexity and requires only vehicle-specific calibration to be added to the core program. The TCM also enables manual shift control and grade logic.
The new GM Hydra-Matic 9-speed 9T50 automatic transmission made its debut on the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Turbo. It will then make its way to the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze (with 1.6L turbo diesel) and 2018 Chevrolet Equinox (with 2.0T engine).
The Hydra-Matic 9T50 transmission will be produced at GM’s powertrain production plants around the world. Specifically, the 9T50 will be produced at GM’s San Luis Potosi plant in Mexico.
First: | 4.69 |
---|---|
Second: | 3.31 |
Third:Â | 3.01 |
Fourth: | 2.45 |
Fifth: | 1.92 |
Sixth: | 1.45 |
Seventh: | 1.00 |
Eighth: | 0.75 |
Ninth: | 0.62 |
Reverse: | 2.96 |