Photo: Mercedes Benz
While Ford, General Motors and Volkswagen Group are implementing ten-speed automatic gearboxes, Mercedes-Benz is not planning to offer more than nine gears on its upcoming models.
According to Marcus Sommer, Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel-drive system engineer, after the German carmaker ran no less than 81 billion different computer simulations for transmission scenarios, it has been decided that nine-speeds are better for Mercedes-Benz cars.
The new 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic gearbox is being introduced across the Mercedes-Benz range. The new GLS, or "S-class among SUV’s," as Mercedes recently described it, will feature this configuration over its entire engine lineup. The GLS63’s seven-speed MCT will be replaced by a new version of the 9G-Tronic, one whose torque converter is going to be substituted by clutches, according to Autocar.
The 9G-Tronic was the first rear-wheel-drive 9-speed automatic gearbox with a torque converter, and it made its debut in 2014.
In manual mode and S mode in particular, the gearbox responds more spontaneously because of its shortened shift and improved reaction times compared to the old 7-speed.
Its novel direct control system, which enables short and barely comprehensive gear changes, the twin-turbine torsional damper and the centrifugal pendulum technology that are incorporated in the torque converter, which offers improved comfort, are just some of the improvements this seventh generation of Mercedes-Benz automatic gearboxes come with.
The 9G-Tronic can support almost every powertrain configuration available, from rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive to hybrid and plug-in hybrid. The engines that are currently suitable for this automatic gearbox are both in-line and V-shaped.
Despite two additional gears and a maximum supported torque of up to 1000Nm (738 lb-ft), the 9-speed gearbox is lighter and easier to install than the previous 7-speed. This was possible because of the lightweight materials used to develop the 9G-Tronic, such as aluminum and a magnesium alloy.
With the help of computer-based analysis, a new gearing concept has been born after using only four simple planetary gear sets and six shift elements to implement the nine gears. Mercedes-Benz patented this configuration, and it seems that its engineers consider it to be the best possible.
The new 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic gearbox is being introduced across the Mercedes-Benz range. The new GLS, or "S-class among SUV’s," as Mercedes recently described it, will feature this configuration over its entire engine lineup. The GLS63’s seven-speed MCT will be replaced by a new version of the 9G-Tronic, one whose torque converter is going to be substituted by clutches, according to Autocar.
The 9G-Tronic was the first rear-wheel-drive 9-speed automatic gearbox with a torque converter, and it made its debut in 2014.
In manual mode and S mode in particular, the gearbox responds more spontaneously because of its shortened shift and improved reaction times compared to the old 7-speed.
Its novel direct control system, which enables short and barely comprehensive gear changes, the twin-turbine torsional damper and the centrifugal pendulum technology that are incorporated in the torque converter, which offers improved comfort, are just some of the improvements this seventh generation of Mercedes-Benz automatic gearboxes come with.
The 9G-Tronic can support almost every powertrain configuration available, from rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive to hybrid and plug-in hybrid. The engines that are currently suitable for this automatic gearbox are both in-line and V-shaped.
Despite two additional gears and a maximum supported torque of up to 1000Nm (738 lb-ft), the 9-speed gearbox is lighter and easier to install than the previous 7-speed. This was possible because of the lightweight materials used to develop the 9G-Tronic, such as aluminum and a magnesium alloy.
With the help of computer-based analysis, a new gearing concept has been born after using only four simple planetary gear sets and six shift elements to implement the nine gears. Mercedes-Benz patented this configuration, and it seems that its engineers consider it to be the best possible.
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