Transmission

June 2008 -- The new dual clutch transmission is presented for the first time to approximately 900 engineers and press representatives at the VDI 'Transmissions in Vehicles' Event in Friedrichshafen. The 7DT sports transmission is particularly suited for applications with high engine speed requirements. Gear changes without traction interruption allow for very good acceleration and vehicle handling with low fuel consumption. The transmission was developed in Kressbronn, Brandenburg, and Schweinfurt; it is produced at the Brandenburg site of ZF's Car Driveline Technology division.

June 2008 -- Transmission technology specialist Xtrac says the flywheel kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) currently being developed for Formula One could be applied to road vehicles in a number of ways.

By providing an additional boost of power, the F1 technology is particularly relevant to the trend to fit cars with smaller engines in pursuit of better fuel efficiency and lower CO2 output. The technical challenge with engine downsizing is compensating for the loss of engine torque and driveability, which could be restored by applying flywheel technology. It is also possible that a mechanical KERS system could be used as a range extender in a battery electric hybrid vehicle or even to power vehicle auxiliaries.

Ford to export more than 30,000 North American-built vehicles to China

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 16, 2008 – Ford Motor Company will begin exporting additional automotive products and transmission parts to China, thanks to agreements signed in Washington, D.C., today. The total value of the pact is estimated to be more than $800 million.

Highlights:
* Ford Motor Company enters into export agreement today valued at more than $800 million
* Sale to include Michigan-built transmissions
* Production for China to benefit various Ford operations in the United States and Canada

General Motors Powertrain Europe opens its doors for Tech Show

Turin, Italy 2008-05-15 -- GM Powertrain Europe’s comprehensive Tech Show provides answers about how cars will be propelled in the future. As part of the global GM Powertrain organization, GM Powertrain Europe has global responsibility for small diesel engines, diesel control systems, small gasoline engines and manual transmissions. Its footprint encompasses 15 facilities in 7 European countries, employing 9,000 people and producing on average more than 17,000 engines and transmissions per day.

HydroGen4

Highlights:
• A variety of concepts for upcoming propulsion needs

Ford’s New 6-Speed Automatic Transmission Offers 4-6 Percent Fuel Economy Improvement

DEARBORN, May 7, 2008 – The big shift is on at Ford Motor Company, as the automaker plans to more than double the number – to 1.4 million – of fuel-efficient, 6-speed automatic transmissions in its North American cars and trucks by the end of 2009.

2009 Ford Escape

Highlights:
* Ford will more than double the number of North American vehicles equipped with fuel-efficient, 6-speed automatic transmissions by the end of next year.
* By the end of 2012, 98 percent of Ford’s North American transmissions will be advanced 6-speed gearboxes.

Target set under Nissan Green Program 2010 accomplished

TOKYO, Apr. 22, 2008 -- Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., announced today that global sales of its CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) equipped vehicles topped one million with sales of 1,088,000*¹ in fiscal year 2007*², accomplishing the target set under the Nissan Green Program 2010 mid-term environmental plan.

Nissan's XTRONIC CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission)

Fuel economy improvement and CO2 emissions reduction of 6 percent

Auburn Hills, Mich., Apr 14, 2008 - Chrysler’s new dual-clutch transmission — developed in partnership with Getrag — makes its debut this spring. The new technology—available in international markets on the all-new 2009 Dodge Journey, the 2009 Dodge Avenger and the 2009 Chrysler Sebring — will provide consumers a fuel economy improvement and CO2 emissions reduction of 6 percent.

2009 Dodge Journey

01/17/2008 -- BMW M GmbH is proud to be the world's first car maker now offering a seven-speed Double Clutch Gearbox specially conceived and designed for a high-speed power unit. Compared with all conventional systems available so far, this new gearbox ensures an optimum gearshift and even more dynamic acceleration, and at the same time reduces fuel consumption by a significant margin.

The world's first Double Clutch Gearbox conceived and developed for a high-speed power unit; gearshift without interruption of power and traction; gearshift management with M-specific configuration; seven gears for optimum gear increments ensuring particularly dynamic acceleration; simultaneous debut in the BMW M3 oupé, BMW M3 Saloon, and BMW M3 Convertible.

Jan. 12, 2008 -- Two-litre turbodiesel versions of the Volvo C30, S40 and V50 are now also available with a fully-automatic transmission. This new Powershift transmission is a six-speed unit. It features twin wet clutches that provide gearchanging comfort on a par with that of a fully-automatic transmission, yet with the performance one expects of a manual gearbox. What is more, it significantly cuts fuel consumption compared with a conventional automatic transmission.

Highlights:
* Fully-automatic and sequential six-speed transmission
* Twin wet clutches give extremely fast and smooth changes
* About eight percent lower fuel consumption
* Optimised for powerful diesel engines

January 10, 2008 -- Transmission technology specialists Torotrak and Xtrac have joined eminent motorsport personalities participating today in the 2nd International Cleaner Racing Conference, which precedes the opening of the Autosport International Show at the Birmingham NEC.

Organised by the Motorsport Industry Association the conference will explore with experts, not only the technical issues of energy efficient motorsport, but also the possibilities for transferring new and advanced motorsport technology to the automotive mainstream.