People have been crying out for cars with better fuel economy. Witness, for example, the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. Currently it achieves 32 mpg on the highway. Technological enhancements of the engine have been given credit for the better mileage figures. Turbocharging; smaller engines; diesel engines that are cleaner; and direct injection has made current engines more efficient. But wait, there’s something else that accompanies the engine in the powertrain. That is the transmission.
It is said that six-speed automatic transmissions offer a 4 percent improvement in fuel economy compared to four-speed automatics. The previous mentioned Equinox features a six-speed automatic transmission. In fact, six speed automatic transmissions appear on a wide range of General Motors cars and trucks. Nine new six-speed automatic transmissions have appeared in more than 40 vehicles in the automaker’s lineup over the past six years.
Transmissions do more than offer more mpg. Some of these transmissions have special features. Take the Equinox again. It has a four cylinder engine and a six speed automatic transmission. There is a mode which the driver can choose called ECO which is a fuel efficiency mode that drivers can activate by simply pushing a button on the console. It is said that driving in ECO mode can improve gas mileage by up to 3 percent or 1 mpg.
Our take? Next time you hear about a car that has tremendous EPA fuel efficiency ratings, don’t just credit the engine. Consider the transmission, too.
via Fastlane
matt.kay, i honestly don’t see it changing. Americans like big cars and space. (partially because we’re not exactly small folks).
Six-speed transmissions sound like a high-tech solution, but 4% gained efficiency is not going to be enough when gas shoots back up to $4/gallon. If anything, these transmission options are pathetic appeasements to the real problem: namely how addicted both the manufacturers and consumers are to SUVs like the Equinox…still!