Audi and BMW to utilize 8-speed gearboxes to take on Lexus

[PanterroR]

45.

 

[Merc1]

Now I know why the LS came out with 19 speakers, the S-Class only has 14!

LS has 10 airbags! It has both driver and front passenger knee airbags, something our beloved German cars don't have for both the driver and front seat passenger. Gulp.

M

 

[SDNR]

Lol

 

[PanterroR]

Lol

I'm just in a good mood today...

 

[Monster]

Re: Audi to follow BMW’s lead and adopt ZF 8-speed auto

Those poor engineers must be going mental trying to design an 8 speed or more gearbox, gears and gear-train design is possibly one of the most painful subject I have ever done, hope they can get a long holiday after they are done with it cause they will need it.

 

[coolraoul]

Daimler is apparently extremely angry because the competition will have 8 gears and the 7G-Tronic only seven.

But this night Dr. Z made a strange dream involving an Actros who had merged with a MB car.

After calling his psychanalist (who was clueless) Dr. Z suddenly discovered the meaning of this dream! It's brilliant!

It's components sharing pushed to the extreme...

Instead of developping a new transmission, or adding one or two gears to the current gearbox of his cars, MB just has to fit the 16 gears box of the MB Actros to the S-Class.

It's already tested and used in a million of Actros, so this new box will start as early as in the FL of thr W221 S-Class.

With 16 gears the competition will be painfully remembered who's the boss.

 

[Centurion]

Daimler is apparently extremely angry because the competition will have 8 gears and the 7G-Tronic only seven.

Yeah, especially since MB were so proud of that 7-gear that S and CL buyers can opt for a 7G-Tronic badge on the boot lid. Now they have been totally PWND by Lexus.

 

[SDNR]

^ wasn't that Lexus' point?

 

[coolraoul]

I honestly don't think Daimler is bothered by this. They have 7 speeds in order to start in 2nd (the first only if throttling hard) and still have enough gears, that's all. I don't think they are that childish. The sign on the boot-lid was a ridiculous marketing-trick, but the 7 speeds is dictated by the engineers, I hope.

But Lexus' point was to piss them off, clearly.

 

[Monster]

I really don't see the extra benefit of having 8 speed over 7 speed, right now when we are driving in the city with moderate traffic at 60-70km/h, the engine rev at 1800 to 2000rpm, that to me is pretty good already, how much more noticable improvement can a 8 speed box provide?

 

[Mr Robert]

I can clearly see the benefit of more gears for the manufacturers who have very thirsty engines in their range, notably Lexus, since this is a great way to reduce the consumption.

 

[Tarek]

Now I know why the LS came out with 19 speakers, the S-Class only has 14!

LS has 10 airbags! It has both driver and front passenger knee airbags, something our beloved German cars don't have for both the driver and front seat passenger. Gulp.

M

SLR has knee bags

 

[Merc1]

Forgot about the SLR. It is the only Benz I can think of that has both a knee bag for the driver and passenger. The SLK has one for the driver.

M

 

[coolraoul]

*FANBOY mode ON*
Lexus surely needs knee bags because it has hard plastic in the bottom of the dash, or a poorly engineered safety concept. MB doesn't need that, only in the SLR because of a lack of space...
*FANBOY mode OFF*

(The W204 can have knee bags on some markets I think.)

I remeber some Japanese car, maybe the Toyota Century, with Airbags in the back of the front seats for the rear passengers. PWND Lexus!

 

[warot]

I see a benefit to these gearboxes. It's not like you are constantly manually shifting so to the driver it's definitely not as obvious.

So it is smoother and consumes less? This is perfect for the 7er and A8. How much it benefits, doesn't really matter... how many features on these top end models seem totally useless to you? But because it's the best of the best, it gets it. Plus it'll probably trickle down to lower models too

 

[coolraoul]

Not sure if it's really lowering the consumption. Furthermore it's heavier, more expensive to repair if problem...

Thing is: is it a childish piss contest or a real technical improvement?

 

[warot]

Not sure if it's really lowering the consumption. Furthermore it's heavier, more expensive to repair if problem...

Thing is: is it a childish piss contest or a real technical improvement?

It will be just because the engine should run at a lower RPM.
I understand heavier (although who knows) and more expensive is an issue, but if it's a flagship model, then it's not as big of a problem if you ask me. I dont see it anyway being a pissing contest

 

[bum-man]

Having 8 cogs is nothing more than a marketing gimmick. I remember an article came out when the 7G was first introduced stating that they went with 7 gears instead of 8 or 9 because it was the best balance between efficiency and performance.

 

[Tarek]

Forgot about the SLR. It is the only Benz I can think of that has both a knee bag for the driver and passenger. The SLK has one for the driver.

M

U see our beloved MB introduced knee bags since production started in 03,Alfa Romeo offers knee bags as standard in 159 which is good

 

[Sunny]

Having 8 cogs is nothing more than a marketing gimmick. I remember an article came out when the 7G was first introduced stating that they went with 7 gears instead of 8 or 9 because it was the best balance between efficiency and performance.

I am sure something similar was uttered when the first 4, 5 and 6 speed gearboxes came about and I am sure something similar will be said when the first 9, 10, 11... speed gearboxes happen.