Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
Carmakers compete for high speed transmission
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Hyundai Motor’s new i40
By Park Jin-hai
By Park Jin-hai
Hyundai Motor in its new i40 launch promoted the fact that the sedan has a seven-speed dual clutch transmission.
Mercedes-Benz stressed in its E220 Bluetec launch that it has rolled out the first E class with a nine-speed auto transmission, while Chrysler touted that their 200 is a segment-first mid-size sedan with a nine-speed gearbox.
For local carmakers, Hyundai’s Genesis and Equus luxury sedans and Kia K9 have the highest gear counts with an eight-speed gearbox.
On the back of increasing demand for a higher fuel economy, the local car market is racing to offer more gears on a wider spectrum of cars as well.
Transmission is the part that creates the power along with the engine. When the vehicle has a higher gear count it is like having more steps for climbing a building. It enables driving at lower revolutions per minute, thus consuming three to eight percent less fuel.
But automakers cannot blindly chase for more gear counts, because it will make the gearbox heavy, thus compromising fuel efficiency.
Fiat Chrysler Automotive is one of the first movers to enter the nine-speed transmission. The automaker already launched Grand Cherokee with a nine-speed transmission last year, and with launching the Chrysler 200 mid-size sedan, it has been expanding its applications.
Land Rover too has been adopting a nine-speed with the Range Rover Evoque launched last year; the Discovery Sport SUV to be launched in the first half of this year will also have nine-speed gearbox.
Volkswagen’s new Passat with an ultimate ten-speed transmission will hit the local market by the end of this year.
Hyundai Motor, the nation’s top automaker, has been in the last stages of developing a ten-speed engine, according to the company.
“More gear counts is directly related to fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions. Coupled with toughened environmental regulations in many countries and increased demand for improved mileage from customers, the current trend for more gear counts will likely stay for the time being,” said a Hyundai Motor official.
“The group already signaled last year that it will invest 11.3 trillion won in the environmentally friendly car segment, including lightening vehicles and upgrading transmission by 2018,” said a company official.
Hyundai has succeeded in developing eight-speed transmission in 2011, improving acceleration by nine to ten percent, while raising fuel economy by six percent.
The carmaker recently launched its first i40 mid-size diesel sedan with a seven-speed double clutch transmission.