6 speed FWD tranny
Linky

 

Yup, Guion posted this a while back. I still can't believe it.

 

Wasn't this made public like a year or two ago?

If I'm not mistaken, the "shared" design is based on one GM developed. I've seen a few vehicles on the grounds running the 6 speed FWD; in related news, I drove a vehicle sporting the 6 speed RWD (could have driven the FWD, but ran out of time). That one had some other interesting powertrain hardware.

 

Old news. I think we were talking about 2 years back.

Iz28, believe it. Honda and GM had some sort of agreement (diesel engines and onstar for honda v6). In indy racing, GM and Cosworth racing (Ford owned) had an agreement (cosworth engines). Companies are working much closer together. Even the biggest of rivals. In the end, something like this tranny deal would be mutual and both companies would benifit.

 

This was quit a while back, but I remember hearing this also. Why would they do it, and how could GM benefit from this? Can anyone here answer this, cus I know I'm not the only one wondering? People ask me and I don't have an answer!

 

I guess my GF ( SBHONEY ) was on here before me, but it was me who posted. What I'm after is exactly what areas each co. would benefit? And I knew about these other ones Rice mentioned (honda, coswrth., etc.). Maybe its just the direct competition between these 2 particularly co. that makes either side cringe a little. We just need more specifics, maybe when its all done and the fruits of this "union" if you will, are out there we will see?

 

Old news. Big difference is that now there's pictures of them.

If you want to compare how close the 2 trannies look on the outside, here's a couple of pics. Ford on the top link, GM on the bottom:

http://wieck.com/public/*2PV_068598
http://wieck.com/public/*2PV_068592

Another angle:

http://wieck.com/public/*2PV_068597
http://wieck.com/public/*2PV_068594

 

I got this from the article. I guess they figured this would be the cheapest, quickest route to take or something...don't really know.

"Working together allows both companies to bring the transmission to market faster while cutting costs."

I guess losing market share and $$ to foriegn companies can make for some of the oddest bed mates.

 

Note the starter location on this particular version of the GM tranny.

 

lets pretend a new tranny cost $200 million to engineer and develop. ( I don't know the actual #)

If Ford and GM share the R&D cost they can put in more money (say $250 million) and get a better tranny and have it on the market faster. Each would pay $125 million.

So to recap, they each pay less money and get a better tranny faster by sharing the R&D versus if they each developed their own.

 

My bad, didnt realize it was old news. That article was released by GM today tho.

 

yea, its old news, but its going in new cars. as i posted a while back, ford owns jaguar, who has a 6-speed automatic. jaguar first developed it like 3-4 years ago i think, it was one of those really cool things since there are still 4 speed autos and maybe 3 speed autos in production cars. And just as the gap began to close on factory transmissions, auto vs. maunual (in terms of gears, gearing and how fast newer autos can shift.) bugatti said they would be producing a 7 speed. (though they haven't fixed all the bugs )

 

Mercedes Benz has a new 7 speed auto

http://www.popsci.com/popsci/bown/20...534656,00.html
http://www.techautos.com/modules.php...article&sid=21

 

Old news as in GM and Ford going in together, but new news on the new 720 Million boost.

 

I noticed that too.