The saying is even truer in case of gearbox. The more gears you have, the better efficiency and performance you get. Taking this thought and science forward, Ford has officially unveiled the first car that features 10 speed automatic transmissions.
Ford Continues to Impress
That is amazing. Is there any barrier Ford is not willing to cross? Ford is just breaking down the doors in so many different directions. What is Ford is doing is just shocking. The innovation this company continues to display is just mind blowing. Just think what they would be doing if the US economy was not in a recession or stagnant? If the US government was this innovative, America would be in a much better position that is for sure.
Ford has rewritten history one more time. This unique feature will be available in the all new F-150, the truck that has been gaining both critical and commercial success for some time now. The new F-150 with an EcoBoost 3.5 liter V6 engine will offer the new state of the art 10 speed automatic transmission.
According to Ford, this is the first commercially available vehicle to offer 10 speed transmissions. The only other option is the low volume Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 but that is no competition to the F-150. The F-150 is already aluminum. This truck is just a driving technological marvel!
Ford and GM work Together
Both the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and the Ford F-150 share the same developmental program. This is because Ford and GM (Chevrolet is owned by GM) have worked together on the new 10 speed gearbox.
Advantages
The all-new 10 speed auto transmission from Ford based on the torque converter is going to provide better economy as well as improved performance when compared with the previous 6 speed transmissions found in the older versions. Performance and efficiency will also be improved due to the three overdrive ratios and reduced weight. In order to achieve this feat, the company claims that for the first time, they have not used cast iron but instead, they have decided to use advanced alloys and materials for the build. Incredible!
‘The Ford truck team lives to serve our hardworking truck customers,’ said Raj Nair, Ford executive VP of product development and CTO. ‘The powertrain is the heart of every F-150, and together our all-new 3.5-liter EcoBoost and 10-speed transmission will give our customers better power, efficiency, and confidence.’
The extra number of gears has several advantages. You can use the lower gears for more power and performance giving you quick acceleration. The higher gears can be used for cruising along at uniform speeds delivering better economy at lower RPMs, for example on the highway going across the city or just a couple of exits down. Because there are a number of gears that you can switch in between, you are able to enjoy higher ratios in a progressive way.
This also results into lower emission levels. Because the gears are able to shift quickly, this will enhance the performance, provide better and smoother shifting and the change in speed throughout the transmission is reduced. Not only does this save money in terms of fuel costs, your driving experience is enlightened.
Marketing and Sales
This new and improved technology will help Ford redo their marketing campaigns helping them generate more sales. This new drivetrain will look extremely powerful when compared with the old 6 or 7 speed transmission. Ford expects that there sales are going to see a rise in the coming months. There is something magical about the number 10 as well.
Ford is although not taking things for granted. They have already filed patents for 11 speed automatic transmissions. This is a smart move, one that will help Ford move ahead of its competition. Though Ford is not the only automobile company that has been working on a project like this, it is certainly the only company to have successfully developed and deliver a product like this for mass production and consumption.
Ford is leading the way, again!