Land Rover and transmission company ZF have partnered to bring the world's first nine-speed transmission to a production car.
The efficient nine-speed transmissions will replace the standard six-speed transmissions in Land Rover's smaller vehicles, according to Green Car Reports.
The Range Rover Evoque will be the first to receive the nine-speed treatment.
The extra gears in the transmission translate into a more efficient operating range, limiting time spent running at low revolutions in higher gears and lessening the opportunity to burn rubber at high revolutions in low gears, the report stated.
The extra gears also allow engineers to tailor the transmission to a car's needs.
Using the example of the Land Rover LR2, Green Car Reports suggests the transmission can be tuned to a lower ratio first gear than a standard six-speed transmission, which will enhance towing performance. At the other end of the gearbox, a higher top gear will reduce the engine's revolutions at higher speeds, improving fuel economy and reducing noise. A skip-shift function will allow the gearbox to downshift quickly for rapid acceleration, the report stated.
The new transmission also include a Fast-Off mode, which measures throttle release rates, then anticipates future requests by the driver for higher power, then holds the gear if necessary, a report by Paultan sated.
The nine-speed transmission is larger than the standard six-speed automatic in most Land Rovers, yet the unit is nearly 17 pounds lighter.
The new transmissions will be officially unveiled at Geneva Motor Show next week.
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