Not only is this transmission supposed to be new, it is also supposed to be smaller and lighter, more efficient, require less maintenance, and promises a performance edge over any other transmission on the market. While the transmission boasts over 300 new patents, it contains 62 fewer parts, which increases durability and lowers cost. Fuel economy is improved by 12.2 percent, it’s 12kg lighter, and perhaps most significantly for some people, it shaves 0.2 seconds off the 0-60 time.
Many will welcome the news that despite being more compact, an additional sixth gear has been added to the gearsets, enabling closer spacing between gear ratios providing strong acceleration while maintaining better balance of performance and fuel economy.
Another one of the crowning attributes of this transmission system is its ability to deliver fast, smooth and precise shifts throughout the rpm range. This is accomplished by an ingenious system of eight adjustment screws integrated in the transaxle. The adjustment screws compensate for the slight manufacturing deviations from one solenoid valve to the next, which can affect shift precision and quality.
The Hyundai Azera will be the first model to see the fruits of four years labor, and the redesigned Santa Fe arriving in 2009 or 2010 as well. Eventually, a total of sixteen Hyundai models will be fitted with a total of five variants of this six-speed transmission. A wide range of gasoline and diesel engines will be accommodated.
via Automobile Magazine