I know that the Zeta cars will have 5 and 6 speed autos (6speed is cheaper), but will the FWD cars get upgraded? The 4T65E is holding the GP back, and 4 speeds is arcahic. With the 5.3L coming to mid-lux will GM just upgrade the current 4 speed trans or go with a 5 or 6 speed unit?

Is the G6 gonna have a 4 speed?

GM used to be in the forfront of transmission tech, but seems like lateley they have been lagging.

 

Nice GTP Brandon.

I was really begining to worry about you after trading the Camaro for the Trailblazer.

As for the tranny question, with GM's mid size cars going RWD by decade's end, I'd doubt they would just now decide to design a new autotranny after passing up the chance for at least the past 15 years.

Just a opinion here, but if there isn't a new tranny behind the upcoming 5.3, it's probally safe to say it won't happen at all.

G6 will have a 6 speed manual according to Pontiac's website. The G6 does indeed also have a 4 speed automatic.

http://wardsauto.com/ar/auto_key_pon...ival/index.htm
(about 2/3 the way down).

 

My info is...believe it or not.... that the 4T65E will remain, even with the 5.3. The ECM will torque manage the 5.3 to let the glass transaxle live.

I'm very curious to see how it all works out.

 

Most of the other companies offer a five speed auto............and some a six speed auto......

It's time for GM to enter the game - late as they would be......

 

As usual. You'd think the biggest company would try and be a leader instead of always waiting and waiting.

 

GM has the 6 speed FWD auto that they are working on with Ford. When is that coming out?

 

RE-DAMN-DICULOUS

 

Personally I think its time we get out of the Hydramatics business altogether...too bad no other automatics are as affordable yet... Hydramatics have been around since what? The 30s?!

 

indeed. CVT is still in its infancy and SMG is usually too jarring in automatic mode.

still, if there's nothing better on the new tech front, at least keep up with the times on old tech. c'mon GM!

I have a question though. with all the delay drama going around recently, doesn't anyone at GM actually see that they need to overhaul the way they do business to stay competative? oh wait, let me guess... they need to do studies and reports on whether an overhaul of the beurocracy is "viable" or "feasible" or whatever word they use for "we're too lazy to do any actual work so we push paper instead" first. DOH!

 

Geez, GM has already publicly announced the FWD six speed (and I've seen a few vehicles running them, though I didn't get a chance to drive it).

And do you really think they will let the Corvette languish for long with only 4 speeds? The 5 speed auto (5L40/5L50) has been around for years (BMW put it in almost all of their cars at one point; now they buy a six speed from ZF for most). It got beefed up to the 5L50 to deal with the intro of the XLR and SRX Caddys. But it can't handle the 400 lb-ft of the LS2, so the Vette will have to wait. I don't think it will be waiting too long.

As for getting rid of "Hydramatics", I don't even know what that means. Do you mean getting rid of torque converter equipped, planetary automatics (like almost everyone uses, at least in RWD)?

GM's trannies may be down a gear or two currently, but they still offer some of the best shifting refinement and fuel efficiency from their powertrains. But I too am longing for the six speed autos. I am a manual person myself, but the general public isn't. And although most people don't really need six speeds, they do offer a fuel economy improvement (making CVTs nearly moot, from what I've seen, since there is almost no torque limitation for a conventional auto), and they are needed from a marketing standpoint...

Later

 

In most GM vehicles, the number of forward gears remains adequate.

However, clearly they're not handling enough power to let the engine guys really show what they're capable of (so much for that 280 HP GTP), and I don't feel that the durability is where it needs to be.

From the publically-available information that's available, expect to see the new six-speed FWD and RWD transmissions around '06-'07.

I fail to understand the appeal of the 5.3 L in a FWD car where the engine and chassis dynamics will be the limiting factors in power delivery. I'd rather just have the Series III 3800 in that application. Of course, the same thing is already being done in truck applications that put the 8100 Vortec in front of the 4L85E, and very few customers seem to understand or care that their big V8 is getting neutered in 1st and 2nd gear.

 

And yet another jab at GM is that the Mustang WILL have a 6-speed in the not-so-distant future. And I believe it is safe to say that all its "platform-mates" will have it as well.

 

What is "not so distant"? Because it won't have it in '05 when the new Stang debuts, and even if it comes in '06, it will likely come at the same time as some of the GM 6 speeds. And since GM is doing the lead work on the FWD six speed that Ford will also use, does that count as a "jab" at Ford? A plus for GM?

 

Heres your answer right here
6 speed DSG
Its basically two manuals, one with 1,3,5, the other with 2,4,6. Each has its own clutch so the shift from 1st to 2nd is just one clutch letting go while the other is grabbing.
Benifts
1. allows you to switch between auto and manual like SMG
2. smooth as an auto
3. efficient as a manual
4. better real world performance numbers than both
5. same size as current automatics
6. holds torque much better than a CVT

 

I certainly hope not. After all I was appalled to find out that the 2005 Mustang will offer a 5 speed auto while the C6 still uses the same-ol' 4.....