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GM Developing an 8 Speed Gearbox?

Gearbox Could Put GM Back In Lead In Gearbox Development

Although it has yet to be confirmed, there is evidence that the worlds largest automaker, General Motors, is working on developing a new, eight-speed automatic gearbox. Short of seeing cutaway diagrams or images of the transmission, its existence is all but confirmed, with GM having filed a trademark for the name 8 Speed early last week. This can mean only one thing - an 8-speed gearbox is being developed. The company also submitted a trademark logo, for the name, which,

This may be the trademark logo for GMs new 8 Speed gearbox.

on first appearance seems to say "SPEED", but if you look carefully, the S has a shadow outline of an 8. Clever.

The news of this gearbox is actually very good for General Motors. Although GM has just started installing six-speed automatic gearboxes in its domestic and international vehicles, six forward cogs

If the gearbox is produced, it would be a sign of GM stepping ahead of the crowd. (Photo: GM)

is merely keeping up with the times, rather than forging ahead. Competing automakers have been upping the gearbox ante for quite some time, with a number of rivals selling five- and six-speed automatics when GM was turning out four-speeders. And more recently, companies such as Mercedes-Benz have been including a seven-speed automatic (7G-Tronic) with most of their new vehicles, while Lexus debuted a brand new eight-speed automatic in the 2007 LS 460. This is GMs 6-spd automatic for use in RWD cars. (Photo: GM) />
The new GM eight-speed transmission would most likely first be adapted to a Cadillac model, which just seems right being that the luxury brand that first introduced the world to the automatic gearbox was Cadillac. After all, shouldnt its creator be at the top of the pack with new innovation once again?

As modern gearboxes have shown, having more ratios is better than less. When the Mercedes-Benzs 7G-Tronic was launched, the German automaker was able to show that its implementation could shed 0.3 seconds when accelerating from 0 to 60 mph reduce fuel consumption significantly, depending on engine and vehicle.

An 8-Speed would help put cars like the Lucerne ahead in performance and fuel efficiency. (Photo: GM)

Having eight gears to work with, engineers can optimized the first few gears for brisk acceleration while leaving the final gears to cater to fuel consumption-optimizing cruising. Shorter intervals also help smoothen out each shift, making a gear change seem almost seamless.

Launching an eight-speed automatic would help to re-establish the sales of GM gearboxes. GM, like ZF, BorgWarner and Aisin, supplies a number of automakers with automatic transmissions. The most famous unit they sell is the Hydramatic line, which is known for its strength and high-torque capabilities. Though a number of important clients have moved away from the Hydramatic gearbox line (including, most recently, Bentley), an innovative gearbox such as GMs eight-speed could win buyers back.

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