Photo: Honda
Big news, ladies and gents! It seems that Honda has filed a patent with the Japanese Patent Office for a new type of transmission with 11 ratios and three clutches. The problem is, it’s virtually impossible to confirm if this actually happened or not.
First reported by AutoGuide, the cited automotive publication had the following to share: “In a series of drawings, which you can view here, Honda lays out the transmission, describing an 11-speed unit.” But the external link to the Japanese Patent Office is no longer available. After quite a lot of searching on Google and on JPO, I’ve failed to find the patent myself.
And this raises a few questions. Why couldn’t the said publication lay out the patent application number or the technical disclosure journal? Oh well, guess only time will tell if the Japanese automaker is really planning to bring an 11-speed transmission with three clutches to market. If this turns to fruition, it’ll be a bit of an overkill. Even Ford filed a patent for an 11-speed tranny, yet FMoCo went forward with a 10-speed unit co-developed with General Motors.
The big question is, what’s the advantage of three clutches? As per AutoGuide, the Japanese company is adamant that the third clutch will be able to decrease torque removal that occurs with dual-clutch transmissions.
Other than that, the 11-speed, three-clutch auto from Honda will allow “speed change to be more effectively restricted and a speed change response to be increased,” whatever that means. In plain English, this tranny will shift quicker and smoother than a dual-clutch automatic. In theory, at least.
According to the cited publication, the complex transmission could find its way into a “small fuel economy-minded car” based on the supposition “that it sounds like it is being designed to improve efficiency.” If I’m to be brutally honest, this is half right. The higher overall gear ratio spread will reduce engine speed at high speeds, thus contributing to greater fuel efficiency.
But in city driving, 11 gears will see the transmission shift from ratio to ratio without ever settling down. By not making up its mind, city driving in real-life conditions will be a bit of a faff with an 11-speed unit with three clutches.
And this raises a few questions. Why couldn’t the said publication lay out the patent application number or the technical disclosure journal? Oh well, guess only time will tell if the Japanese automaker is really planning to bring an 11-speed transmission with three clutches to market. If this turns to fruition, it’ll be a bit of an overkill. Even Ford filed a patent for an 11-speed tranny, yet FMoCo went forward with a 10-speed unit co-developed with General Motors.
The big question is, what’s the advantage of three clutches? As per AutoGuide, the Japanese company is adamant that the third clutch will be able to decrease torque removal that occurs with dual-clutch transmissions.
Other than that, the 11-speed, three-clutch auto from Honda will allow “speed change to be more effectively restricted and a speed change response to be increased,” whatever that means. In plain English, this tranny will shift quicker and smoother than a dual-clutch automatic. In theory, at least.
According to the cited publication, the complex transmission could find its way into a “small fuel economy-minded car” based on the supposition “that it sounds like it is being designed to improve efficiency.” If I’m to be brutally honest, this is half right. The higher overall gear ratio spread will reduce engine speed at high speeds, thus contributing to greater fuel efficiency.
But in city driving, 11 gears will see the transmission shift from ratio to ratio without ever settling down. By not making up its mind, city driving in real-life conditions will be a bit of a faff with an 11-speed unit with three clutches.
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