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- How many gears can the super transmission still handle?
- Ninth gear from 100 km / h
- Porsche closes the gap in naturally aspirated engines
- Even more courses unprofitable
- The aesthetic appeal of the AMG GT
- Development reached the limit
- A beautiful dream in matt gray
How many gears can the super transmission still handle?
Complex control center: the ninth gear of the 9G-Tronic transmission from Mercedes is active from around 100 km / h
Source: dpa-tmn
Cars used to have four or five gears, today at least six are standard. Now VW has even developed a ten-speed gearshift. But what are the benefits of so many different switching stages??
W.As the new VW Development Board Member Heinz-Jakob Neuber announced this year at the Vienna Motor Symposium with dry words and a simple PowerPoint slide, it is a small sensation: Volkswagen will be offering cars with a ten-speed gearshift in the near future.
That would be the current peak of a development that has accelerated rapidly since 2007. At that time, the German supplier ZF had developed the first eight-speed automatic transmission, which has now almost become standard in the luxury class.
Five-speed transmissions in a car were still very sporty a few years ago. Small and compact cars with less power got by with four gear stages. Six gears are now standard, the dual clutch transmission (DSG) from Wolfsburg, for example, already offers seven gears in the compact class. Mercedes and ZF currently have torque converter automatic transmissions with nine gears in their range. So now the DSG from Volkswagen with ten gears.
In two to three years it should be available for vehicles with front-engined and all-wheel drive. According to VW board member Neusser, it is designed for high torques of more than 500 Newton meters, as well as for four- and six-cylinder engines, usable with front-wheel and all-wheel drive alike. With the DSG, the switching times are extremely short, and the driver practically does not notice any jerking.
Ninth gear from 100 km / h
But what are the benefits of so many different switching stages? Basically, the transmission adapts the speed of the drive wheels to the speed of the internal combustion engine. "With a larger selection of possible gear ratios, this adjustment can be made finer, so that, depending on the driver’s wishes, optimum operating points in terms of efficiency or performance are available," says Karsten Stahl from the Research Center for Gears and Gear Construction (FZG) at the Technical University of Munich.
Porsche closes the gap in naturally aspirated engines
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Porsche is now launching the Carrera GTS version of the 911 sports car for fans of naturally aspirated engine with special demands on performance and everyday practicality. The GTS-Vers can be recognized…ion, among other things, with the widened rear end known from the 911 all-wheel-drive models, 20-inch wheels with central locking, a modified front fairing and black chrome-plated tailpipes.
Source: Porsche
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With 430 hp, the new derivative is 30 hp more powerful than the Carrera S, but has more comfort than the race track-optimized GT3 version with 475 hp.
Source: Porsche
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From November there will be a choice of coupe and convertible bodies, each with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. The price list starts at 117,549 euros.
Source: Porsche
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Compared to the 3.8-liter boxer in the Carrera S, the upgraded six-cylinder improves acceleration and top speed slightly. For the sprint to 100 km / h, you need about the C…oupe in connection with the optional seven-speed dual clutch transmission (PDK) only 4.0 instead of 4.3 seconds.
Source: Porsche
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The highest top speed, however, is achieved by the rear-wheel drive variant with a manual seven-speed gearbox, which is up to 306 km / h (Carrera S: maximum 304 km / h).
Source: Porsche
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The consumption figures should not change due to the increase in performance, the most economical model is the Coupe with rear-wheel drive and PDK, which needs 8.7 liters per 100 kilometers.
Source: Porsche
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As in the GTS models of the other series, there are leather-Alcantara sports seats on the inside. Further equipment includes bi-xenon headlights, active dampers and a Sp…local exhaust system. The scope of delivery also includes the Sport Chrono Package, which is otherwise subject to a surcharge, with a stopwatch, launch control function and dynamic engine mounts.
Source: Porsche
The advantage of transmissions with many gears lies in the improved operating possibilities of the engine. "With more gears, a very large spread of the gear ratios can be achieved and the vehicle can be moved at a low speed even at high speeds," says Stephan Rinderknecht from the Institute for Mechatronic Systems in Mechanical Engineering at the TU Darmstadt. "This reduces consumption."
The wider spread of the gear steps means that there are more options for operating the engine in the optimal speed range. In the current cars, nine gears are almost the best, says Christoph Dorr, head of development of the 9G-Tronic transmission at Mercedes. The ninth gear is engaged at speeds around 100 km / h and reduces the engine speed. This means less fuel consumption for the engine and less noise and vibrations for the passengers.
According to Mercedes, even more gears and spreads do not make sense, although the manufacturer does not categorically rule this out. Additional aisles would mean more installation space and a higher weight, the consumption advantage would be small. "The number of gears has probably reached the upper limit by now," says Prof. Rinderknecht. Because the technical complexity of a transmission with even more gears is out of proportion to the potential further advantages.
Even more courses unprofitable
With eight to nine gears, the optimum in terms of maximum efficiency and dynamics seems to have been achieved at the moment. “In addition, a further gear step can of course be useful for a reduced speed in terms of more comfortable acoustic behavior or marketing aspects,” says Professor Stahl.
Incidentally, VW did not completely redevelop the ten-speed DSG, the group uses a trick with the new transmission: An additional gear and two shift elements divert the power so that more shiftable gears are possible. The housing remains identical to the seven-speed DSG – and therefore almost the weight as well.
The aesthetic appeal of the AMG GT
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It’s all a question of profile: the 4.55-meter-long Mercedes-AMG GT is a classic beauty with its extremely long bonnet. The pleasant ones …
Source: Daimler
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… Proportions stem from the basic technical concept: the V8 biturbo engine sits at the front, but as far behind the front axle as possible, and the transmission moved towards the rear axle.
Source: Daimler
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In the interior, the very wide center console testifies to the engine that is set far back and which simply needs a bit of space – and the center console is noticeable when driving …warms up.
Source: Daimler
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The most interesting rotary switch is located on the front left of the center console. You can use it to select the driving modes: Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus and Race are available, and if you can …
Source: Daimler
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… If you choose “Individual” from the menu, you can then choose how you want the steering, throttle response, shift times or damper settings to behave.
Source: Daimler
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The various functions are then also displayed on the central monitor above the four ventilation nozzles. It’s all well thought out and nicely done, but the …
Source: Daimler
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… actual music is playing up front, under the hood. The four-liter V8 develops 462 hp in the AMG GT and 510 hp in the GT S tested, with maximum torque being 600 and respectively …650 Newton meters, and the sound is simply unbelievable. Above all …
Source: Daimler
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… In the GT S with its switchable performance exhaust system, a first-class V8 rumble is generated. In the sportier speed levels it is also almost obtrusively loud, and …when switching gears it pops and scoffs from the exhaust pipes that there is some sort of thing.
Source: Daimler
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The hatchback is unusual for a sports car with a star, but refers to the historic SL models, especially the legendary Uhlenhaut Coupe, of which only two are… were built. Under the …
Source: Daimler
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… large tailgate there is 350 liters of storage space. The loading sill is high, but otherwise everything is easily accessible. In return, the AMG GT saved the two emergency seats for …Co-drivers number two and three (which are still there on the Porsche 911), yes …
Source: Daimler
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… We just want to forgive this wonderful driving machine for that. The car will be available from March 2015, with the more powerful GT S initially coming on the market for 134,351 euros, later…ter the GT for 115,430 euros.
Source: Daimler
Compact transmissions with many gears are the trend, regardless of the vehicle class. However, according to expert Stephan Rinderknecht, this pays off because of the higher costs for very few manufacturers. That is why most small cars still have five-speed transmissions.
“A high number of gears is actually not directly tied to a vehicle class,” says Professor Stahl. “Motorsport benefits from the optimal adaptation to the engine characteristics with the maximum performance and the best responsiveness. Vehicles with a high level of efficiency, on the other hand, benefit from optimal adaptation to the characteristic curve with minimal consumption. "
Development reached the limit
The German transmission manufacturer ZF currently has a nine-speed transmission for compact and small cars in its range. "While gearboxes with wide spreads are already on the market for lengthways installation, this development had not yet taken place in vehicles with a transversely installed front engine until the introduction of our nine-speed automatic transmission," says Jurgen Greiner, Head of Development for Passenger Car Transmission Systems at ZF. “However, the development has already reached the limit. With both the eight-speed and the nine-speed automatic transmission, we are very close to the ideal state, the loss-free transmission. "
A beautiful dream in matt gray
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At night when it rains on a dirt road: LED street lights illuminate the F12 Berlinetta, which is painted in matt gray, and of course …
Source: Stefan Anker
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… the Cavallino Rampante, the jumping horse on the trademark. The letters SF stand for Scuderia Ferrari.
Source: Stefan Anker
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Night or day, the subtle lines of the super sports car are always recognizable, even if it …
Source: Stefan Anker
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… does a few extravagances like moving into the fender and door. By the way, there is really a hole between the upper fender section and the bonnet – the whole thing is for better airflow…t flow.
Source: Stefan Anker
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Inside, the F12 welcomes its driver with a digital cockpit and the typical, flattened steering wheel with a display on top. When you accelerate, red dots appear there, d…Indicate that the maximum speed will soon be reached. The red switch at the bottom right is called Manettino. This sets the mode of operation of the control systems.
Source: Stefan Anker
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Wherever you look in the cockpit of the F12, you will find carbon, leather and aluminum. The ventilation nozzles milled from solid are a particular eye-catcher.
Source: Stefan Anker
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In addition to the Manettino, there is another red dot on the steering wheel: the start button is located at the bottom left. Before you press it, you have to turn the ignition key in the lock…hen, and you also need the key to turn off the engine.
Source: Stefan Anker
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There are only three buttons in the center console: R for reverse gear, Auto for automatically changing gears (normally you do this with the large shift paddles lin…ks and to the right of the steering wheel) and Launch for using the launch control. It helps the driver to start suddenly at an increased speed.
Source: Stefan Anker
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The 6.3 liter twelve-cylinder is installed behind the front axle, so that only 46 percent of the car’s weight of just 1630 kilograms rests on the front axle.
Source: Stefan Anker
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Typically the V12 has red cylinder heads, even if the car today …
Source: Stefan Anker
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… no longer bears the appropriate name Testarossa.
Source: Stefan Anker
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In profile, the entire elegance of the 4.62-meter-long Ferrari is shown once again – as well as its aerodynamic efficiency. Spoilers are frowned upon in Maranello, the rear …
Source: Stefan Anker
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… receives the necessary downforce through a diffuser and a ground effect designed underbody. The air is guided in such a way that the car moves more and more a…nsucks.
Source: Stefan Anker
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The front of the F12 Berlinetta is also rather unspectacular and does not require a large spoiler.
Source: Stefan Anker
The manufacturers do not go into the translation effort entirely voluntarily: By 2020, 95 percent of new vehicles will have to comply with the limit of 95 grams of carbon dioxide (CO2) per kilometer. From 2021 the value will apply to the entire fleet. Petrol engines are only allowed to consume 4.1 liters and diesel engines 3.6 liters per 100 kilometers – this applies to the entire vehicle fleet in Europe. Manufacturers can offset higher CO2 emissions from powerful vehicles by building smaller vehicles. But this can only be achieved with more economical engines and the most efficient gearboxes possible.
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