transmission Archives

Nissan Pathfinder, Infiniti JX in transmission safety probe

Filed under: Budget, Recalls, Safety, Crossover, Infiniti, Nissan, Luxury

2013 Nissan Pathfinder

2013 Infiniti JX35 Nissan may be forced to recall 110,000 Pathfinder and Infiniti JX35 crossovers, due to a number of customer complaints. Consumers report suddenly losing power, with repair facilities blaming the issue on faulty transmission cooler line connections. Both the Pathfinder and JX35 use a continuously variable transmission. As of right now, the only vehicles being investigated are from model year 2013.

Nissan has been cooperating with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, according to a report from Reuters, and it has developed a fix for the affected vehicles. It’s not clear whether this will develop into a full-blown recall, as there have been no known cases of injuries or crashes. But with a potential 110,000 vehicles prone to sudden power loss, a recall seems to be a likely outcome.

Nissan Pathfinder, Infiniti JX in transmission safety probe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Sep 2013 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan Pathfinder, Infiniti JX in transmission safety probe

Filed under: Budget, Recalls, Safety, Crossover, Infiniti, Nissan, Luxury

2013 Nissan Pathfinder

Nissan Pathfinder, Infiniti JX in transmission safety probe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Sep 2013 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Next Lincoln MKS to get 2.9L EcoBoost, nine-speed transmission?

Filed under: Sedan, Lincoln, Rumormill, Luxury

2013 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost

Lincoln is in serious need of some relevant products, and it looks like help is on the way. In addition to the MKC crossover, which we are almost certain to see in production form this auto show season, Ford’s luxury arm is also working on the next-gen MKS sedan to go on sale in 2015 for the 2016 model year.

According to Car and Driver, the 2016 Lincoln MKS will go on sale in late 2015, and it will receive notable powertrain enhancements like a nine-speed automatic transmission (a product of the joint venture between Ford and General Motors) and a new 2.9-liter EcoBoost V6 to replace the current base engine, the 3.7-liter V6. Not much is known about this new engine other than it is codenamed “Nano” and it could put out around 300 horsepower; the optional 3.5-liter EcoBoost is said to be receiving a bump in power, too. When it comes to styling, we expect a major departure from the current MKS (shown above), and the Car and Driver article has some renderings of the 2016 MKS along with some recent spy shots of MKS test mules.

Next Lincoln MKS to get 2.9L EcoBoost, nine-speed transmission? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Aug 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exclusive: BMW M4 to debut in Detroit, lose manual transmission

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, BMW

BMW M4 Concept live at Monterey 2013 reveal

BMW took the wraps off its M4 Concept at Pebble Beach last weekend, and many speculated that the highly anticipated production version of the sleek new two-door sports coupe would debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show later this year. But a well-placed source tells Autoblog that the E92 M3’s successor won’t arrive in Southern California this November. Instead, the German automaker will wait until the Detroit Auto Show in January for its first official reveal.

An all-new 3.0-liter inline-six with twin turbochargers is expected under the hood, and it should provide about the same horsepower as the current 4.0-liter V8 (rated at 414 horsepower), but with much more torque that arrives lower on the tachometer. The lightweight engine is said to have an impressively high redline, which is unusual for a turbocharged engine.

Unfortunately, Save the Manuals members aren’t going to like this next bit of news. After four generations of three-pedal M3 models, our source says the upcoming F82 M4 will arrive with a dual-clutch transmission (DCT) as standard equipment – with no manual option – just like the latest iteration of the track-ready Porsche GT3 (few have complained about the automaker’s PDK after driving the latest sports car from Stuttgart). In exchange for some moans, groans and gripes from enthusiasts, BMW’s DCT mounted aft of the M4’s inline-six will provide quicker acceleration and improved fuel economy.

BMW M4 to debut in Detroit, lose manual transmission originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Aug 2013 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Next-gen Porsche 911 to get seven-speed manual transmission?

Filed under: Porsche, Rumormill

spy shots next generation porsche 911

Spy Shots: Next-generation Porsche 911 – Click above for high-res image gallery

If you were thinking about buying the next-generation Porsche 911, you’d better start working out your shifting arm. Car and Driver has managed to extract a bit of information about the upcoming German sports car, and it appears a seven-speed manual transmission will be offered. You will be able to row-row-row-row-row-row-row your own ~~boat~~ gears.

Why the additional cog? Porsche reportedly wanted to supply the next 911 with a taller final gear in order to improve fuel efficiency. Hopefully we’ll get to see the all-new shift pattern in the flesh when we head to Europe for the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Next-gen Porsche 911 to get seven-speed manual transmission? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 May 2011 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York 2011: Chrysler 300S first to get new eight-speed transmission

Filed under: Sedan, Chrysler, Luxury

2012 Chrysler 300S

2012 Chrysler 300S – Click above for high-res image gallery

Chrysler has officially announced that the company’s 2012 300S model will be the first of its products to carry a new eight-speed ZF transmission. We’ve been waiting to see the gearbox show up in a production vehicle since the smallest of the Big Three first made news about the transmission’s development last year, and it looks like the wait is finally over.

At first, the eight-speed will only be found in the new 300S with the company’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. Check the boxes for all-wheel drive or the more impressive 5.7-liter V8 and it’ll be all five-speed, all the time for you.

Chrysler is currently in the midst of retooling its transmission facility in Kokomo, Indiana to build the new gearbox here in the States. Until that happens, each of the new cog-swappers will be purchased directly from ZF in Germany. Hence the limited availability.

In addition to the new transmission, the 300S packs a Beats by Dr. Dre ten-speaker stereo system and unique piano-black interior accents along with the standard goodies found in the Luxury Package. That means Nappa leather, a rear-view camera, rain-sensing wipers and a power tilt and telescoping steering column are all part of the deal. Hit the jump for the full press blast.

Gallery: 2012 Chrysler 300S: New York 2011

Gallery: 2012 Chrysler 300S

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading New York 2011: Chrysler 300S first to get new eight-speed transmission

New York 2011: Chrysler 300S first to get new eight-speed transmission originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: “Sexual Transmission” is hilariously disturbing

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Humor

sexual transmissions

Cue up Marvin Gaye and watch Tony “fix” this car – Click above to watch video after the jump

How much do you love your car? Do you know what it takes to keep it happy? We thought we did, but it turns out we’re not doing everything we can to satisfy our cars needs. In the video shown here, Cory and Tony are two friends out for a drive when Cory’s vehicle starts acting up. Tony knows just what to do, and things get a little… blue.

Click past the jump to view the clip, but we have to warn you that its subject matter might be Not Safe For Work. The language on display is likely fine. Maybe. We’re really confused with our emotions at the moment, but we think we finally know how to fix Zach Bowman’s International.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: “Sexual Transmission” is hilariously disturbing

Video: “Sexual Transmission” is hilariously disturbing originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW developing adaptive 8-speed transmission that predicts curves, road conditions

Filed under: Technology, BMW

BMW Eight-Speed Adaptive Transmission

BMW Eight-Speed Adaptive Transmission – Click above for high-res image gallery

BMW just wrapped up its annual Innovation Days here in Munich, and in addition to detailing its new modular engines (turbocharged three-, four- and six-cylinder powerplants), showing off a range of lightweight components and discussing the possibility of equipping a future EV with a range-extending engine, BMW revealed plans for a new adaptive transmission based on its current eight-speed gearbox.

Utilizing GPS mapping, a wireless data connection, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), front and rear-mounted cameras and radar sensors, the transmission can adapt its shifting pattern and power delivery to suit road conditions.

So, let’s say you’re heading out on the road and it’s raining. The data connection pulls in the most recent weather information, the DSC takes in the coefficient of friction of the road and then restricts power to avoid wheel spin. With the integrated GPS, the system can detect the next curve, recognize you’re in Sport mode and downshift into a lower gear to perfectly suit the bend you’re about to bomb.

The range of applications is only limited by the amount of data the system can pull in and process, and while BMW wouldn’t divulge when this technology would hit production, there’s a good chance that the next iteration of the 7 Series could benefit from the system and then filter down throughout BMW’s range. Check out the gallery below for a series of illustrations showing the system in action and get more details in the press blast after the break.

Gallery: BMW Adaptive 8-Speed Transmission

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading BMW developing adaptive 8-speed transmission that predicts curves, road conditions

BMW developing adaptive 8-speed transmission that predicts curves, road conditions originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford details Powershift transmission for 2012 Focus

Filed under: Technology, Ford

PowerShift six-speed transmission

The 2012 Ford Focus is an exciting piece of machinery for a variety of reasons. It puts the Focus on equal footing across the globe, along with being a stylish and well-equipped compact that should be an entertaining steer. On that last bit, Ford is hyping some of the new driver-centric technologies under the Focus’ skin, beginning with the PowerShift dry-clutch six-speed automatic with its Torque Hole Filling Technology (THF). What’s that? Ford’s glad you asked…

When you’re driving along in a car equipped with a traditional automatic transmission, you get a momentary lag after an upshift. This is known as the torque hole. Ford wanted to find a way to fill this gap, so with some trick computer modeling and enough math to last a lifetime, the Blue Oval engineers created a system where the engine and transmission talk to each other and prepare for potential torque holes. Additional torque is supplied to fill the hole and the resulting shifts are more seamless to both driver and passengers.

If you want even more geeky details, click past the jump for Ford’s complete release.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford details Powershift transmission for 2012 Focus

Ford details Powershift transmission for 2012 Focus originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZF developed nine-speed transmission is coming

Filed under: Technology

ZF Nine-speed transmission

Did your favorite brand just move to six-speed automatics? Are you already cruising along happily in seventh gear or perhaps you’re enjoying the scenery with your transmission lazily churning in eighth. Well move over because ZF is getting ready to produce a nine-speed automatic gearbox.

Marking a first for front-wheel drive passenger vehicles, the ZF nine-speed will help automakers generate greater fuel-economy gains while also providing a smoother driving experience. The shift times are said to be quite short and the resulting gear changes are nearly imperceptible to passengers.

The nine-speed automatic will be produced in a brand-new manufacturing facility located near Greenville, South Carolina, and there’s talk that one of its first homes will be under the hood of something from Chrysler.

[Source: ZF]

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ZF developed nine-speed transmission is coming originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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