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Forecast: Six-Speed Automatics To Dominate U.S. Market

NFS4

NFS4

No Lifer
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. ? General Motors and Ford are leading the shift to more fuel-efficient six-speed gearboxes, while three-quarters of new GM models will be equipped with the newer automatics by 2012, according to research firm CSM Worldwide.

Ford has previously said it plans to convert half its fleet to six-speed systems by 2015.

The latest powertrain forecast from CSM Worldwide predicts an aggressive ramp-up for the six-speeds, a revision of its forecast last year, when it anticipated a 40-percent penetration for six-speed gearboxes by 2010.

Chrysler Group, Toyota and Hyundai are also planning new six-speed automatics. CSM points out that virtually all four-speed manuals have been phased out.

North American output of continuously variable transmissions is expected to rise from about 1 percent of the market now to 5 percent by 2012.

Automakers, of course, are starting to offer seven- and eight-speed automatics, but these systems are typically produced in Europe and Japan. The first eight-speed is being introduced on the 2007 Lexus LS 460 sedan.

What this means to you: A move from a four- to a six-speed automatic can provide a big boost in fuel efficiency ? generally between 4 and 8 percent.
Click to expand...
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=116622
 
Originally posted by: Fmr12B
Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Originally posted by: sniperruff
pfft. i don't buy anything with less than 8 gears.
Click to expand...

So all your vehicles are commercial trucks?
Click to expand...


New 2007 Lexus LS has a 8spd automatic!
Click to expand...

... It's mid 2006. There's NO ******' WAY the '07's are actually AVAILABLE by now.

And the LS fails at life, my Focus is better.
 
Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Originally posted by: Fmr12B
Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Originally posted by: sniperruff
pfft. i don't buy anything with less than 8 gears.
Click to expand...

So all your vehicles are commercial trucks?
Click to expand...


New 2007 Lexus LS has a 8spd automatic!
Click to expand...

... It's mid 2006. There's NO ******' WAY the '07's are actually AVAILABLE by now.

And the LS fails at life, my Focus is better.
Click to expand...

Did you mean you failed at life ? Is that why you drive a focus not a lexus?

j/k 😀
 
Originally posted by: jagec
Originally posted by: andylawcc
urrr.. isn't CVT far more efficient?
Click to expand...

They haven't yet developed a really good CVT.
Click to expand...

well, should they spend more resource into developing CVT than cramping more gears into traditional transmission?

If car makers never put CVT into mainstream, they will never make better ones.
 
Originally posted by: andylawcc
Originally posted by: EyeMWing
And the LS fails at life, my Focus is better.
Click to expand...

hahahahahahahah..... you really know a lot about cars do you.
Click to expand...
Funny thing, Lexus won't let you configure an LS without an options package for an additional $7000 above MSRP.

For $54000 more, the Lexus gets you:
Twice the cylinders
A sequential gearbox
Some run of the mill psuedo-luxury suspension (this is WITHOUT the expensive air-suspension option)
Move the drive wheels to the back
Some fancy-ass computer in between the steering wheel and the actual steering
Significantly worse gas mileage
Some fancy interior trim bits
Leather (Cloth is INFINITELY superior)
An extra CD changer slot
Bluetooth (why?)
A power trunk closer (wow, you're ****** lazy if you need that)
A universal garage door opener
Some lights underneath the rocker panel that lights up the ground when you open the door
A COMPASS
A tire pressure monitoring system
An engine immobilizer
LED lights
SatNav
A backup camera
Heated seats (you don't need this with cloth seats)
Alloy wheels 1 inch bigger
Marginal extra rear legroom
ONE VERY SHINY LEXUS BADGE.

If you're going to sell me a $70,000 car, you need a lot more than THAT to make it worth the extra $60k over a $10,000 used economy car - especially since I could add damn near all of those things to the Focus for less than $5000.

A $70,000 car that gets me relatively little compared to a better looking $10,000 car is VERY low on my spending priorities list. If I'm going to be spending $70k on a car, it had damn well better be more than some Japanese economy car they put on the photocopier and enlarged it to 120%, and then stole some bits and pieces out of Germany's reject bin and installed a hashed up 1st gen V8 engine. For just pocket change more than an LS, you can have a damned BMW M5 - and the BMW is a far better driver's car.
 
Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Originally posted by: andylawcc
Originally posted by: EyeMWing
And the LS fails at life, my Focus is better.
Click to expand...

hahahahahahahah..... you really know a lot about cars do you.
Click to expand...
Funny thing, Lexus won't let you configure an LS without an options package for an additional $7000 above MSRP.

For $54000 more, the Lexus gets you:
Twice the cylinders
A sequential gearbox
Some run of the mill psuedo-luxury suspension (this is WITHOUT the expensive air-suspension option)
Move the drive wheels to the back
Some fancy-ass computer in between the steering wheel and the actual steering
Significantly worse gas mileage
Some fancy interior trim bits
Leather (Cloth is INFINITELY superior)
An extra CD changer slot
Bluetooth (why?)
A power trunk closer (wow, you're ****** lazy if you need that)
A universal garage door opener
Some lights underneath the rocker panel that lights up the ground when you open the door
A COMPASS
A tire pressure monitoring system
An engine immobilizer
LED lights
SatNav
A backup camera
Heated seats (you don't need this with cloth seats)
Alloy wheels 1 inch bigger
Marginal extra rear legroom
ONE VERY SHINY LEXUS BADGE.

If you're going to sell me a $70,000 car, you need a lot more than THAT to make it worth the extra $60k over a $10,000 used economy car - especially since I could add damn near all of those things to the Focus for less than $5000.
Click to expand...

the only thing i think you can add onto your focus for under $5k is that lexus badge
 
Originally posted by: andylawcc
Originally posted by: jagec
Originally posted by: andylawcc
urrr.. isn't CVT far more efficient?
Click to expand...

They haven't yet developed a really good CVT.
Click to expand...

well, should they spend more resource into developing CVT than cramping more gears into traditional transmission?

If car makers never put CVT into mainstream, they will never make better ones.
Click to expand...

Hey, I agree, they should. But it's a lot easier for them to just tack on another gear ratio, and once you get enough ratios, the difference between it and a CVT is practically nill.
 
omg! my civic hb is SOOOO FAR superior to the Ferrari F430...

for 150k more, I get 2 times the cylinders, 6 times the horsepower,
TWO LESS SEATS! LESS STORAGE SPACE! single digital MPG, uncomfortable ride and some Seats made with Italian Cow Skin grazed on non-genetically modified grass.
AND the CO2 emission, don't get me started on that!
 
Aren't these 6 speed automatic transmissions going to add about $1,500 to the total price of the car over the price of a four speed? You're going to need to put a LOT of miles on your car for that 4% mileage improvement to pay for itself. Not to mention that these newer transmissions will be more expensive to replace when they break, and they probably will break down more often thanks to all of the extra parts.
 
Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Originally posted by: andylawcc
Originally posted by: EyeMWing
And the LS fails at life, my Focus is better.
Click to expand...

hahahahahahahah..... you really know a lot about cars do you.
Click to expand...
Funny thing, Lexus won't let you configure an LS without an options package for an additional $7000 above MSRP.

For $54000 more, the Lexus gets you:
Twice the cylinders
A sequential gearbox
Some run of the mill psuedo-luxury suspension (this is WITHOUT the expensive air-suspension option)
Move the drive wheels to the back
Some fancy-ass computer in between the steering wheel and the actual steering
Significantly worse gas mileage
Some fancy interior trim bits
Leather (Cloth is INFINITELY superior)
An extra CD changer slot
Bluetooth (why?)
A power trunk closer (wow, you're ****** lazy if you need that)
A universal garage door opener
Some lights underneath the rocker panel that lights up the ground when you open the door
A COMPASS
A tire pressure monitoring system
An engine immobilizer
LED lights
SatNav
A backup camera
Heated seats (you don't need this with cloth seats)
Alloy wheels 1 inch bigger
Marginal extra rear legroom
ONE VERY SHINY LEXUS BADGE.

If you're going to sell me a $70,000 car, you need a lot more than THAT to make it worth the extra $60k over a $10,000 used economy car - especially since I could add damn near all of those things to the Focus for less than $5000.
Click to expand...


it being a quality japanese car is worth 10k over the focus alone, but id agree its not worth 54k more. in any case, a toyota or acura would be a better choice than a focus... imo of course.
 
Originally posted by: TheGizmo
Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Originally posted by: andylawcc
Originally posted by: EyeMWing
And the LS fails at life, my Focus is better.
Click to expand...

hahahahahahahah..... you really know a lot about cars do you.
Click to expand...
Funny thing, Lexus won't let you configure an LS without an options package for an additional $7000 above MSRP.

For $54000 more, the Lexus gets you:
Twice the cylinders
A sequential gearbox
Some run of the mill psuedo-luxury suspension (this is WITHOUT the expensive air-suspension option)
Move the drive wheels to the back
Some fancy-ass computer in between the steering wheel and the actual steering
Significantly worse gas mileage
Some fancy interior trim bits
Leather (Cloth is INFINITELY superior)
An extra CD changer slot
Bluetooth (why?)
A power trunk closer (wow, you're ****** lazy if you need that)
A universal garage door opener
Some lights underneath the rocker panel that lights up the ground when you open the door
A COMPASS
A tire pressure monitoring system
An engine immobilizer
LED lights
SatNav
A backup camera
Heated seats (you don't need this with cloth seats)
Alloy wheels 1 inch bigger
Marginal extra rear legroom
ONE VERY SHINY LEXUS BADGE.

If you're going to sell me a $70,000 car, you need a lot more than THAT to make it worth the extra $60k over a $10,000 used economy car - especially since I could add damn near all of those things to the Focus for less than $5000.
Click to expand...


it being a quality japanese car is worth 10k over the focus alone, but id agree its not worth 54k more. in any case, a toyota or acura would be a better choice than a focus... imo of course.
Click to expand...
I'm not aware of any Toyota or Acura drivers in this area with cars of the same vintage as mine who have only spent $44 on non-maintainence items in the same amount of driving. (8 months, 50k miles, only balanced all 4 tires, and that's not a Ford problem, that was a problem from the third party dealer, who didn't balance them properly)

A car is only as reliable as you let it be. Most people buying Focus sedans or wagons are young moms, who don't give a ****** about the car. Most people buying Focus coupes are ignorant teenagers, who put it directly into the first available telephone pole. Most people buying Toyotas and Acuras are middle of the road types, who actually believe in maintainence.
 
Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Leather (Cloth is INFINITELY superior)
Click to expand...
Wrong. Leather wears better (wooo, 20 minutes to condition once a year, that's so inconvenient :roll: ) and is infinitely easier to clean. Not only that, but real leather is not cold in the winter like Vinyl is, nor is is unbearable in the summer (my daily has a black leather interior and the seats never have heat problems in the summer).

ZV
 
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