But GM still gets to use the 10-speed Ford developed
Several years ago, we reported that Ford and General Motors had agreed to work together on a pair of next-generation transmissions. GM was tasked with developing a nine-speed automatic for front-wheel-drive vehicles while Ford worked on a 10-speed for rear-drive applications. In theory, they’d be able to use the other’s transmission and each save money. In reality, things went a little differently.
Automotive News reports that while GM has been happy to use Ford’s 10-speed in several vehicles such as the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and Cadillac Escalade, Ford has yet to use GM’s nine-speed. Instead, Ford developed a modified eight-speed version that will appear in the 2019 Focus, as well as several other 2019 models. It began work on two additional eight-speed automatics—one for performance use and one for smaller engines. The reason? GM’s nine-speed didn’t provide enough of a boost in fuel economy.
“The small efficiency benefit did not justify the added weight and cost of an extra clutch and gear,” a Ford spokesperson told Automotive News in a statement.
But GM says the transmission’s refinement makes up for the fact that it doesn’t significantly improve gas mileage. The nine-speed Chevrolet Malibu only beats the eight-speed version by 1 mpg on the highway, and the nine-speed Buick Envision’s highway mileage dropped slightly, but GM believes the better driving experience is worth the trade-off.
“We’ve engineered our nine-speeds for even more refined shifts,” a GM spokesperson told Automotive News in a statement. “Smaller steps between gears in a nine vs. an eight-speed enable smoother shifts for customers.”
Source: Automotive News (Subscription required)