Mercedes 7-speed automatic transmission

[NFS4]

:Q:Q

One and a half year ago, ZF introduced the world's first 6-speed automatic in BMW 7-series. Soon, Jaguar S-Type, XJ and Audi A8 also adopted the ZF transmission. Not Mercedes, because Mercedes is the only car maker in the world building its own automatic transmission (GM and Ford builds via their subsidiary, while other European car makers simply out-source from transmission makers). Mercedes used to be proud of its smooth 5-speed automatic, which is fitted to almost all its models from C-class to SL-class. However, being short of 1 gear, it is bettered by the ZF unit in acceleration, smoothness as well as fuel consumption.
This will be changed from this Autumn, when Mercedes start producing a new generation 7-speed automatic transmission, called 7G-Tronic, to replace the old 5-speeder. Initially, it will be used by the V8 models only, such as E500, S430 / 500, CL500 and SL500.

With 7 ratios, expect it will take the lead again in the competition with ZF. More ratios means two benefits: 1) smoother shifting and acceleration because the ratios are closer from each other; 2) better fuel economy because of larger ratio spread between the lowest and highest gear. In the best cases, fuel consumption can be reduced by 0.6 litre / 100km while 0-60mph time is cut by 0.3 seconds.

The 7-speeder is barely any longer and heavier than the old 5-speeder, thanks to clever packaging and magnesium casing.

http://autozine.kyul.net/0_News/Latest/Current/News_frame.htm

 

[MercenaryForHire]

"No matter how many gears it's got, you're still a pansy for not changing them yourself."

- M4H

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

holy crap!

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
"No matter how many gears it's got, you're still a pansy for not changing them yourself."

- M4H

Who the hell wants to shift gears for themselves in a 4,200 lbs luxo barge like an S-Class or a 5,000 lbs ML class SUV?

 

[ElFenix]

i guess if it doesn't weigh any more... i wonder how much power you can put through it vis-a-vis the 5 speed though? and of course reliability with all the extra parts (not that automatic transmissions aren't already the most complicated piece of machinery ever)

 

[Koing]

manual for life.

Never driven an auto.........

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
i guess if it doesn't weigh any more... i wonder how much power you can put through it vis-a-vis the 5 speed though? and of course reliability with all the extra parts (not that automatic transmissions aren't already the most complicated piece of machinery ever)

In practice, most new 6-speed autos are lighter and have fewer parts than their 5-speed counterpart. I'd figure the same would hold true for the 7-speed units.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
"No matter how many gears it's got, you're still a pansy for not changing them yourself."

- M4H

Who the hell wants to shift gears for themselves in a 4,200 lbs luxo barge like an S-Class or a 5,000 lbs ML class SUV?

Touché.

Wasn't aware of the 4000+ curbweight. Don't you need a ship captain's license to buy one of those?

- M4H

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Do they really need a 7-speed auto though? With the massive torque and broad powerband those engines make, you'd think a 5-spd auto would suffice. I'd say, instead of going for 7-spd, just go CVT. Infinite gears!

I guess Mercedes-Benz is just developing for marketing, they need to show they are one-up on the competition. It's a nice thing to brag about your 7-spd auto at the country club I guess.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN
Do they really need a 7-speed auto though? With the massive torque and broad powerband those engines make, you'd think a 5-spd auto would suffice. I'd say, instead of going for 7-spd, just go CVT. Infinite gears!

I guess Mercedes-Benz is just developing for marketing, they need to show they are one-up on the competition. It's a nice thing to brag about your 7-spd auto at the country club I guess.

I'd think that it'd be easier to develop a 7-speed auto to handle 450+ lb-ft of torque instead of a brand new clean slate CVT transmission.

 

[m2kewl]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
"No matter how many gears it's got, you're still a pansy for not changing them yourself." - M4H

amen

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: m2kewl

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
"No matter how many gears it's got, you're still a pansy for not changing them yourself." - M4H

amen

I'd like to hear you say that to the face of a guy pulling a horse trailer in a Ford F-350 Crew Cab Duallie

 

[m2kewl]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: m2kewl

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
"No matter how many gears it's got, you're still a pansy for not changing them yourself." - M4H

amen

I'd like to hear you say that to the face of a guy pulling a horse trailer in a Ford F-350 Crew Cab Duallie

sh!t i'll say it, bring him to my face

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN
Do they really need a 7-speed auto though? With the massive torque and broad powerband those engines make, you'd think a 5-spd auto would suffice. I'd say, instead of going for 7-spd, just go CVT. Infinite gears!

I guess Mercedes-Benz is just developing for marketing, they need to show they are one-up on the competition. It's a nice thing to brag about your 7-spd auto at the country club I guess.

I'd think that it'd be easier to develop a 7-speed auto to handle 450+ lb-ft of torque instead of a brand new clean slate CVT transmission.

True, but this is Mercedes, the innovator. These are the people who are giving us steering-by-wire and brake-by-wire! I'm sure Mercedes can do it, and I am pretty sure they are working on it at this very moment, its just not complete where-as the 7-spd is.

Right now Hans is telling Gunther that "ze CVT tranny is exploding when the turbo is produzing 1.2bar of preszzure on ze V12 motor.".

Ok so that was pretty lame...dammit!

 

[zCypher]

Straights are for fast cars,
Turns are for fast drivers.

lol
so i guess fast drivers can't drive fast cars

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: zCypher

Straights are for fast cars,
Turns are for fast drivers.

lol
so i guess fast drivers can't drive fast cars

You have bastardized my quote dammit! What it means is even a bad driver can drive a fast car fast in a straight line, but he may not be able to drive a fast car fast thru a turn.

Another good quote: "Its easy to drive a slow car fast, but hard to drive a fast car slow."

 

[zCypher]

Yeah I know what your sig meant, I was just joking..

That second quote is better. Less easily bastardized. Well maybe not ... it's not THAT easy to drive a slow car fast.. after all, it IS slow

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: zCypher
Yeah I know what your sig meant, I was just joking..

That second quote is better. Less easily bastardized. Well maybe not ... it's not THAT easy to drive a slow car fast.. after all, it IS slow

Exactly, so it feels fast at speeds that would normally be slow for another fast car. Like a Geo Metro at 80mph feels like a Lamborghini at 200mph!

 

[JYDog]

Nice. A 7-spd would be very useful for a big heavy car like the E/S-Class.

 

[Syringer]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: m2kewl

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
"No matter how many gears it's got, you're still a pansy for not changing them yourself." - M4H

amen

I'd like to hear you say that to the face of a guy pulling a horse trailer in a Ford F-350 Crew Cab Duallie

Don't you realize the bigger the car the more a guy's compensating for somethign.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN
Do they really need a 7-speed auto though? With the massive torque and broad powerband those engines make, you'd think a 5-spd auto would suffice. I'd say, instead of going for 7-spd, just go CVT. Infinite gears!

I guess Mercedes-Benz is just developing for marketing, they need to show they are one-up on the competition. It's a nice thing to brag about your 7-spd auto at the country club I guess.

No contemporary CVT will be able to handle that much torque.

 

[AthlonXP]

another ugly car.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: AthlonXP
another ugly car.

What does a 7-speed transmission have to do with a car's exterior?

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN
Do they really need a 7-speed auto though? With the massive torque and broad powerband those engines make, you'd think a 5-spd auto would suffice. I'd say, instead of going for 7-spd, just go CVT. Infinite gears!

I guess Mercedes-Benz is just developing for marketing, they need to show they are one-up on the competition. It's a nice thing to brag about your 7-spd auto at the country club I guess.

No contemporary CVT will be able to handle that much torque.

Well that's why they should be working at making one. this is Mercedes Benz after all! I'm sure they can do it. Nissan tamed the CVT to work with 246 lb/ft of torque, so I'm sure Benz can make it handle 500lb/ft after time. I know Nissan uses chains rather than belts, however there is a problem with them in extreme temperatures.

I'll try to find the link that had the info.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: Syringer

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: m2kewl

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
"No matter how many gears it's got, you're still a pansy for not changing them yourself." - M4H

amen

I'd like to hear you say that to the face of a guy pulling a horse trailer in a Ford F-350 Crew Cab Duallie

Don't you realize the bigger the car the more a guy's compensating for somethign.

haha, my uncle has one of those. they call it "zippy" because it needs its own zip code. they use it for a big camper, but the rest of the time it's just this monstrosity prowling around town. gotta admit though, it's neat to watch a tachometer that never needs to go above 2K.