C6 six speed transmission news! Radical!

[JBsC5]

Motor Trend reports that there is a joint venture btwn ford and GM to build the worlds "best" 6 speed automatic transaxle for fwd and 4wd cars in the works..

Even more interesting and a C6 possibility is mention in the same article that GM is planning for the 2005 model year a six speed with shift by wire and clutch to clutch activation.

Could be for the new upcoming rear drive midsize cars or better yet the new C6? Is this transmission being discussed TRUE Sequential shift technology in the same vein as Ferrari/BMW/ Aston Martin/Alfa Romeo/Bugatti/Maserati/Audi/Porsche

Could be just what many of us have been looking for..I would bet GM is discussing/designing the cutting edge dual clutch units that are about to break into the market place that offer the smoothness of a torque convertor Automatic and the efficiency of a Manual with the capabilities to use as either or..

2005 model year cutting edge technology..

What rear wheel drive GM car is coming out in 2005 or 2006?

[6 Shooter]

It does sound high tech/cool, but give me a regular old clutch & 6 speed and I'm happy ! :upthumbs

[nuke_honda]

What if chevrolet did like the japanese supercar manufacturers did and license from getrag of germany who already supposedly makes the best 6-speeds to date? There's always room for improvement though :) just thought i'd point that out

[BigRed]

ZF-6 is a German transmission. And I think Getrag rings a bell some where.

[Pinstripe]

Here is a post lifted from another forum on this subject.

Beginning in the 2005 calendar year, GM adds a Hydra-Matic automatic transmission to the portfolio. "This will be our first production six-speed automatic transmission for GM," said Dennis Provenzano, Program Manager for the six-speed transmission family. Four transmission variants are planned with three of the units designed to handle passenger car and truck duty cycles.

The new transmission provides enhanced performance algorithm shift, clutch-to-clutch shifting, automatic grade braking, tap up/down operation (Driver Shift Control), an integrated center differential for full-time all-wheel capability, and an internal control module using micro-hybrid technology. "By having an internal transmission controller, you're able to reduce the number of wire connections within the transmission and external to the transmission by approximately 50%," said Veronica Mirabitur-Spitza, Chief Engineer for the six-speed transmission family.

[JBsC5]

Torque convertor six speeds with manumatic capability are cool..but and its a big but..seqential dual clutch units have both a performance, emission and fuel economy advantage and GM should move in that direction one year after torque convertor six speed..IMO

[jak112460]

Yeah yeah blah blah on the sequential shift. I owned a BMW M3 with the SMG option. The option everyone claims is the fastest shifting most sophisticated setup ever. Well dont get too excited. It shifts like a turd. Plus the SMG version of the M3 is slower than the 6spd manual shift cars. In the automated mode which is the closest thing to an automatic mode the thing felt like grandmas Cadillac with a slipping transmission. Many of you will not be able to get over the shifts during light accelleration. Believe me. A person used to inputting the clutch and lifting on the gas before shifting will find themselves getting seasick between shifts in cruising mode. I like the idea of a sequential shift clutch pedalless transmission but they better get the cruising mode shifts much tighter and faster. Plus if they are going to do a SMG transmission it better have shift paddles on the steering wheel. My opinion asside, if they do a sequential transmission we all know it takes a few years of real world, you and me driving everyday, to get the bugs out and I wont be a test subject. I would much rather see them put the money into a 6spd automatic instead.

[JBsC5]

The new M5 SMG III will have dual clutch sequential shift technology like audi is pioneering right now in the Audi V6 TT..

50 milliseconds and its automatic mode is seamless in its operation.

Porsche has this on line for its revamp of the next 911..

This technology is so far advanced in its operation..a similiar analogy would be Ferraris 150 millisecond old school SMG technology..to the BMW M3 SMG II..at 80 milliseconds..

The updated dual clutch units are above reproach..

A clutch for 1,3 , 5 and another for 2, 4, 6..

Each clutch is pre engaged for activation simply based off of vehicle speed. As one clutch disengages..the other engages..

I dig driving stick shifts..but this...is just way too cool.

When they sell at no higher than list..and its available on the C6 Z06..my wallet opens! ;)

JMO by the way..

To each his own!

[jak112460]

Those shift figures you mention are at full throttle excelleration. The M3 SMG did it in 80 milliseconds like you said. That's very fast in and of itself. Where the problem is is in cruising or light accelleration. You get that drop off in car movement between shifts and it feels like the trans is slipping because the clutch is engaging and the car drops down befor the shift is made. They need to get the shifts in cruising speeds to shift as fast as in full throttle mode. I would tell you to drive a car with the SMG trans at cruising and full throttle.

[JBsC5]

Jak,

I've read your post about the viper and the vette. I want you to know that I respect your opinion especially since you have owned the M3.

I believe you will see a six speed automatic thats a joint venture with ford prior to a six speed sequential shifter in the corvette.

That said..the dual clutch units that Porsche/audi and BMW is even moving towards will take care of that concern you have mentioned.

Its really that good.

In fact..much of the talk about VW possibly buying Maserati/ferrari group has more to do with sharing or selling its new dual clutch Sequential shifter than anything else.

Time will tell as the new Lamboghini V10 will be offered with sequential shifters as well as the standard shift. If its dual clutch then I'll bet on the high tech version.

It will be fun to watch and I hope we can all have a good time discussing the evolution of this segment of performance.

[jak112460]

I wish I knew how to get my car stats to post at the bottom like you guys. That said I believe that GM will be ironing out bugs for a while after they release any kind of sequential gear box. I would rather see more go towards better interior components and a 6sp automatic. I prefer an auto over a manual since the computer can virtually calculate millions of moves for an automatic. There could be a fully electronically controlled torque convertor that could be reprogrammed for looser operation when a cam and gears are installed. It would be quieter and smoother too. Since the programming is getting better on each generation I believe that you will have many more cars with variable torque convertors. Jut think of the possibilities. Go to the drag strip and program the convertor to be looser then reprogram it after you leave the track.

[TODD L GRIFFITH]

Sounds like that would take the wear and tear out of the clutch. Hopefully it would make a replacement cheaper too, but I doubt it.