Mercedes 7 speed auto!?!

[hannibal]

I just read my new (August 03) Car and Driver. Rumor has it that Mercedes is putting a 7 speed transmission in the E500, S430, S500, CL500, and SL500 beginning this fall (2004 models). DaimlerChrysler was quick to point out the BMW 7 only has a six speed.Move over Formula 1!!!

[nlzmo400r]

there are quite a few cars with 7spd trannies now, most top end cars, but the new nissan murano has a 7spd auto box

[UncleBen]

Murano's gear box's are confusing. They are like that thing that doesn't really have "gears" or something? Like, it doesnt "shift" gears. Some kinda continual variable transmission thing or something?? I dunno

[Onizuka]

i just read that they are making a new Szhizamo Mobil that has a 17 gear transmission! 0-60 in just 9 shifts!!!

[Infamous]

the new 7 series has a 7spd auto....so whats the big deal?

[Dano]

7spd's rule:)

-Dan

[MasterMan]

dude i want a 16 speed.. thats right, IM GETTING A DUMP TRUCK! WOOO

[PalmerWMD]

I sometimes question the wisdom of making multi gear, more complex trannies, with todays flexible VVT engines.

Fred...

[nlzmo400r]

well i personally love 6spds, i couldnt imagine shifting a 17spd or some crap, my arm would be well into the passenger seat by then, something about 6spd just says cool, 6 is a good number, lets stick with it shall we?

[SHIFT_Z]

NISSANSHIFT_Shift.lol

[KoukiS14]

Murano has a CVT transmission, not gears.

[Thee 240sx Owner]

i personally like my 5spd.. it gets me going... eventually.... and anyways.. any more gears means more to fix downthe road...

[KoukiS14]

CVT would be fun. Have yet to drive one, but it just stays at redline at WOT and accelerates. . that would be a very weird sensation, IMO.

[CaptainHenreh]

IF it were a CVT wouldn't it stay at peak HP and accelerate? No reason to go to redline...

[hannibal]

Well I mentioned the Benz 7 speed cause its the first production 7 speed, I think. (The BMW 7 only has 6 speeds) And the Murano is a CVT so that doesnt count. I read that the Audi CVT in the A4 revs to the redline at WOT and just hangs there til you ease off. It seems like it would be quicker if it only revved to the torque or hp peak. Definitely a weird experience!But how much is too much? There has to be a point at which the shorter gearing is offset by the fact you have to shift more often. What's really scary is that it took a while to go from 4 to 5 speed autos, a little shorter to get 6 spd autos (BMW in 2002), and about 2 yrs to get a 7 speed. At that rate, we'll see an 8 speed Minis in a few years!!

Jay

[Meantime]

CVT is interesting. The old Justy was IIRC the first passenger car to have a CVT in North America. I am not well-versed enough in the nuts and bolts to explain how it works with any fine detail, but it is essentially an auto transmission with an infinite set of gear ratios, instead of gears it operates off of a belt that runs between two specially designed hubs.... so it can constantly vary its ratios "on the fly" without having to shift into a limited gear ratio. That's why the tachometer just rises, rises, rises...holds steady...holds steady...car keeps accelerating...it's wierd but neat.

[hannibal]

Yeah, I think we be seeing a lot more cars with CVT. Better performance and economy than an automatic.Imagine seeing a car with CVT running down the 1/4 mile with no shifts!! It would take some getting used to!IIRC, the Audi features a mode where it will pretend to be an auto, i.e. "shift" from one ratio to the next.

Jay

[KoukiS14]

IF it were a CVT wouldn't it stay at peak HP and accelerate? No reason to go to redline...

Probably. . you'd think so, anyway. . This wasn't in a Murano tho, it was an inferior german product. . the Audi A4. . haha j/k. .

But, you wouldn't have to hold it at redline. .don't floor it and it won't hit redline. . I think they want you to have SOME control over it. I REALLY wanna drive one to play around with it. . that and an SMG. But as some of you may know, I've shut myself off from test drives for awhile haha