Do you think that we'll see the 10 speed auto with the 2017 model year?

 

Only in the Raptor to begin with. I don't think it will be across the board till 2018.

 

Does the F-150 really need one? I may be wrong but I think it's overkill.

 

I have to agree. Ten forward gear speeds seem way too complicated. However, I wasn't sure about the 6-speed transmission either, after driving it in my 2014, I'm really happy to have it. Coupled with the EcoBoost, it seems a perfect combination of gear ranges.

In my old 5.4L, the 4-speed was pretty sad. 3rd gear seemed just never right. Going up a moderately steep hill at 70-75 mph, the transmission would almost always shift all the way down to 2nd gear. And, when going downhill, 3rd gear was just not low enough to provide adequate engine braking. The new 6-speed hardly ever gets below 4th on uphills and 3rd gear is pretty good at engine braking on downhills.

But 10 speeds? I'm back to wondering why not just go to "Continuously Variable"?

- Jack

 

Fuel mileage. Plus Chevy and Dodge is running 8 speeds now so Ford has to up them to a 10 speed

 

The new 10 speed gearbox (and some of the 8 speeds) works like a continuously variable but without all of the suckiness of a CVT. Under normal acceleration it will act like a normal tranny but only use every other gear. However, when needed it can use the in-between gears to keep the engine in the heart of the powerband. The reason behind this is to let a smaller engine replace a larger one. In something like the EB it doesn't provide as much of an advantage since the powerband is so wide.

 

Actually the 4 speed in my '04 Lariat wasn't that bad. 3.73 rear and the 5.4 3V with the Edge Evolution had it shifting pretty good. The 6 speed in my current truck seems to have all the gears I need. I'm in flat as a pancake South Louisiana so the only downshifting is when I go across the Mississippi River bridges! The CVT tranny in my wife's Infiniti QX-60 SUV leaves a lot to be desired. Slow acceleration!!

 

I agree with the suckiness of a CVT!

 

In a HD Truck I was reading that's it's not easy to make a 8speed or higher trans that can take the abuse of HD work that a 3/4 or a 1 Ton can dish out. The six speed is tops right now for HD trucks. I'm sure in several years they will figure it out but just don't be the first Guinea pigs who test them . Lol

 

I may have said this before, but I'll say it again if I have. My DD car is a 2013 Honda Accord, 4 cyl, with the CVT powertrain. I like it. It has all the passing power I need, and I drive a lot on 2-lane highways. It's quiet and smooth. I also get about 32 mpg.

So, I imagine CVT quality might vary with car manufacturer.

- Jack

 

What that really means is the automakers don't have one one the shelf they can drop into a medium duty truck. There's plenty of auto boxes with more than 6 gears that can more than handle the requirements. The Volvo I-Shift, for example, has 12 gears and can be bolted to their biggest engine. Allison makes an entire lineup of automatic semi transmissions too as well as Mack and others. It's not that they can't do it, they just haven't yet.

 

Nissan has had problems with the CVT in the Pathfinder for the last few years. Finally looks like the problem is worked out. Wife's QX-60 is a fancy Pathfinder and no trouble so far with the CVT other then slow acceleration even in the sport mode. 3.5 engine and averaging over 23 mpg so far...it can get up to 28 mpg on a highway run at 65 mph loaded lightly.

 

Autoshift's have been used in semi's since the late 70's. Many truckers didn't like them and opted to stick with the Fuller Roadranger 13 and 18 speed manual transmissions. Nothing better then to have a gear for every situation that you can control yourself!