10 Speed Automatics Coming To Hyundai, Kia Vehicles

William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com

September 29, 2011

Currently, the highest amount of gears you can get in a vehicle is eight speeds. But Hyundai and Kia are looking to change that.

Sources tell Bloomberg that Hyundai and Kia are working together on developing a new ten speed automatic, which could come out by 2014. Bloomberg also reports that Hyundai's president Park Seong Hyon said the new gearbox will likely be used in the Genesis and Equus.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

I figured this was inevitable. Cadillac needs to leap forward with a 12- or 15- speed. I bet BMW, Lexus and M-B will have 10 or more by 2015..

Edited September 29, 201114 yr by Cubical-aka-Moltar

When innovation lacks in an industry unnecessary "developments" are offsprings of the desire to innovate.

More gears will probably result in more efficiency and smoothness..

More gears will probably result in more efficiency and smoothness..

More gears is the direct opposite of "more smooth".

The smoothest transmissions out there are the ones with no gears at all.

Eventually, someone is just going to have to come out with a CVT that can handle the torque of a powerful V8 and still be reliable. A 10-speed is really just a 5-speed with another 5-speed backup in case the first one fails... the gear ratio spread doesn't seem to be changing with these newer transmissions, so they are really just additional notches on the same length ruler.

With VVT, engines have a broader rpm range of "most efficient engine speed". Thus, the need to shift often is diminished. We've reached and passed the point of diminishing returns on adding gear ratios.

That's weak, I want a million speeds!

Although I wonder what this would do to the acceleration and fuel economy numbers of an Accent or Elantra that have a little engine without a broad power band.

Edited September 30, 201114 yr by smk4565

Wonderful.....

really the CVT is the better idea, but it needs lots more development and refinement and programming. and yes, cvt's need work in handling hp.

this is likely just penis waving by korea........

if i were a carmaker i would be trying to figure out which tranny works most seamlessly with the likes of BAS

really the CVT is the better idea, but it needs lots more development and refinement and programming. and yes, cvt's need work in handling torque.

fixed.

if i were a carmaker i would be trying to figure out which tranny works most seamlessly with the likes of BAS

Any of them. The transmission doesn't care where the rotational force comes from. BAS is just assisting the gasoline engine.

So Hyundai finally caught up to a 1975 Schwinn Varsity. Good for them.

Seriously, as in the biking world, having more gears in a transmission is reaching the point of diminishing returns. They're now pumping out 11 speed rear cassettes on new bikes, where the difference between each gear is exactly one tooth. Honestty, if you need that sort of granularity, it's not the transmission that's the problem.

Transmissions are the megapixels of the auto industry. Diminishing returns have kicked in and general consumers won't notice any real gain in economy or performance with these units.