GM, Ford agree to jointly develop fuel-saving transmissions - April 15, 2013

[Kolesar]

DETROIT – General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co., the two largest U.S. automakers, have agreed to jointly develop a new line of nine- and ten-speed automatic transmissions to boost the fuel economy and performance of their lineup, the companies said on Monday.
...
GM and Ford will build both front- and rear-wheel drive transmissions as part of this effort. Engineering teams for both companies have already started initial design work.

The U.S. auto industry is scrambling to find ways to boost fuel economy by 2025, when U.S. government standards mandate that automakers show a corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) of 54.5 miles per gallon (23.2 km per liter). That translates to about 39 mpg in real world driving, or nearly two thirds higher than the average fuel economy for the 2012 model year vehicles.

http://business-news.thestreet.com/the-news-herald/story/gm-ford-agree-jointly-develop-fuel-saving-transmissions-0/1

[Indyfan53]

1. This seems a little sac religious to me.

Being a car buff, and more of a GM guy, it's odd that they're doing this.

However, if it leads to more efficient cars, and possibly bringing more jobs back to the motor city, I'll let it go.

[madokie]

2. If I remember correctly they jointly developed the 6 speeds trannys they both use today

In fact if my memory is correct they jointly built the factory where these 6 and I'm sure the new 9 and 10 speeds will be built. I think its a good thing.
Remember the old granny gear 4 speeds you could get in a Ford, Chevrolet or Dodge of years past. They all used the very same transmission with splines on the input shaft being different necessitating going for whichever your truck was for the clutch plate. they'd all bolt up and work with the correct clutch plate. For years almost all vehicles that were built in the '50s, '60s and '70s had a dana rear differential. Dana being a subsidiary of Chrysler.
I worked in a auto parts store for a while in the late '70s and early '80s. This is not new
I put a granny four speed from an early '50 GMC school bus in my '68 chevy pickup once that my brother later put in his ford pickup. Neither of us used it long as it wasn't synchronized in first and second and had straight cut gears in those first and second gears which made for a very noisy but super tough transmission but the noise was too much.

eta: since you mention you are a chevy guy I'd like to say this. Today I'd rather have a picture of a ford as the keys to a chevrolet.

[happyslug]

3. Lets be honest, the auto six speed was developed for the Military

The US Army wanted something that had the fuel economy of a Five Speed Manual transmission, that was NOT a Manual transmission. The Army had wanted this since WWII, US Tanks have been automatic since WWII, APCs have been Automatics, the problem was with TRUCKS. While the Army could accept the fuel economy of Automatics when it came to tracked vehicles, it could not accept the lack of fuel economy of the early two speed automatics (the M135 series of 2 1/2 ton trucks) and the later three Speed automatics. Private industry could not either, thus preferred standard transmissions.

At the same time the Army was tied of having to TRAIN people to drive Standards (and giving special privileges to enlistees who new how to operate Standard Transmission). The Humvee was the first generally accepted Army Automatic truck, and it failed in its function to replace the older M35 series of 2 1/2 ton trucks, due to restrictions imposed by its transmission (and the fact it was a one ton truck, and it takes 2 1/2 ton truck to haul a 105mm howitzer).

Thus from the introduction of the Humvee in the late 1970s till the development of six speed automatics in the 1990s, the ARMY was pushing for such development. Civilian users were encouraged to join on, but it was the ARMY driving the movement. When the makers of trucks and cars said it was impossible for any of them to develop such an automatic, given the lack of demand in the Civilian Market, the Army provided the demand and the incentives to work together to develop such an automatic. Thus by the 1990s you finally had six speed automatics, that was adopted by the Army then by Civilian operators of Medium delivery trucks (such as the Post Office and UPS).

My point the six speed transmission was an ARMY project in all but name and from the Army is spread to other uses.

[madokie]

4. You are way off

right at the moment I don't have time to get a link but later this evening I will. What I said is true. The army may have wanted and developed a 6 speed but it is not the one that are in our fords and chevys. Thats what I'm talking about. GM and Fords joint endeavor to develop the trannys I'm talking about as well as the new 9 and 10 speeds of the future is what I'm talking about.
Because the army might have done as you say does not the truth you say make
GM and Ford spent a few billion developing the tranny I'm talking about as well as the manufacturing plant to build them in. Pretty recently, like in the last decade.

[Kolesar]

6. Our school bus driver gave us a scare when she had to climb a hill with one of those transmissions

When I was seven years old, I had no idea what was happening. She drove several blocks past the school to for some reason and had to climb hill with dozens of grade schoolers on board. She was jamming those gears and making a hell of a racket. It wasn't until years later that I learned you needed a "synchro" to get into a gear while the drive train is turning.

Here is what my dedication to domestic brands got me:
Ford Windstar in 90,000 miles: Two brake cylinders failed, transmission seal, whistling intake manifold, failed A/C blower fan and a busted coil spring. A coil spring?
Chevy Cobalt in 40,000 miles: electric steering motor recall, under warranty.

[madokie]

7. two fords in the drive way one has 145000 miles, f150, the other 162000 miles, explorer

replaced the dryer in the air conditioner in the one with 162000 miles. Both good solid vehicles that are ready to take us any where we'd chose to go. both 1998 models.
Interiors still look like new in both even after all these years and miles.

[Kolesar]

8. I felt like I paid for "two Fords"

The first one in cash and the second one in periodic payments at the cashier's window.

A coil spring?

[coldmountain]

5. Chrysler already has 8 speeds and will have 9 speeds in months

The new Ram truck with V6 and 8 speed gets the best gas mileage of any full size truck and even beats Japanese compacts trucks.

The fun begins when the all new 2014 Cherokee debuts with a 9 speed automatic.

It's like science fiction when Chrysler is the technological leader of the world car business.

[madokie]

9. If you'll do some research you'll find that Chrysler has been a leader

from the get go. Hydraulic brakes, Air conditioner is the two I can think of right off. I'm talking about vehicles that were sold to the general public, you know us 99%'s. The unibody is another Chrysler innovation. the Chrysler Air stream was way ahead of its time back in the thirties.
My first new car was a Plymouth belvedere2, 2 door hard top back in '67. First and only Chrysler product I've owned. I was drafted so I sold it before I went into the service. Sold it for what I paid for it which was $2267,00. Family friend owned a Chrysler dealership so I got it for 25 bucks above dealer cost. Which was about 500 bucks less than they listed for. It was a beautiful car, burgundy with black interior and it would run a hole in the wind. Got 22 mph driving it like I stole it. I was working 6 ten to twelve hour days and staying out with my girlfriend until after midnight each night. Got up a few minutes before 6 am. Fall out of bed and make the mile and a half to work by 6. Those were the days