Infiniti G37 sedan with 7 speed automatic

[VK56VD]

The new '09 G is going to now have a 3.7 V6 from last year's coupe. They are also adding a 7 speed automatic transmission option versus the 5 speed automatic from last year.

The G has always been a top seller in this price range as it offered more power than the rivalry and the handling of RWD. The '09 should even be sweeter.

I can't wait for a comparison between the new and redesigned '09 Acura TL/TL-S vs. the G35/G35S/G35X.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Can someone explain this overall industry push for so many speeds? I've read some reviews of such transmissions from other manufacturers that generally did not see a whole lot of benefit. Instead, the transmission was just more busy hunting for the right gear.

If they're trying to lower the rpms in the top gear in order to improve MPG, I understand, but you don't necessarily need two extra speeds to accomplish this.

In any case, the new G is nice, but I'd take one with a manual gearbox.

 

[ctrcbob]

Ditto to what Quattro Pete said. All these gears are just not needed, plus it does not increas gas milage (and not sure if it increases acceleration).

My MKZ has a 6 speed transmission and my Continental has a 4 speed transmission. Top gear in each car is the same. 70MPH on both (in top gear) is 2100RPM. The difference is that the lower 5 gears on the MKZ are geard lower (more evenly spaced). The Continental goes into top gear much sooner than the MKZ under light throttle. The MKZ is always in the lower gears until it gets over 40 (or 45 or 50) mph. Gas milage in both cars as the same, even though the MKZ has a smaller engine. I expected better from the MKZ.

All these gears are a sales ploy and not really neaded.

 

[The Critic]

A well programmed six or seven-speed automatic can be quite beneficial, especially with the larger engines. It helps keep the engine in its powerband, which can give a noticeable improvement when it comes to passing and merging on the freeway.

For example, my Saturn has 4-speed automatic. I test drove a 2008 Accord EX-L 4-cylinder which had a 5-speed automatic. For 0-60 times, both cars are nearly identical, in fact, the Saturn might be 0.5 second faster.

When the Saturn is loaded with 4 people and when the A/C is running, it is a major struggle to merge onto the highway. Passing is nearly impossible unless you floor it and force it to stay in 3rd gear, even then, performance is dismal. With the Honda, the transmission quickly downshifts into 3rd (with only partial throttle) and allows the car to accelerate relatively quickly.

 

[mpvue]

emissions and smoothness. more gears, less RPM drop between gears. keep the engine where it likes to be. since VTI transmissions don't seem to be reliable yet, multi-geared ones are the next best thing.

 

[XS650]

I remember people saying the same thing about 4 speed automatics not all that long ago, some troglodytes still do.

My high school autoshop teacher in the 1950s said the same about 3 speed automatics compared to 2 speed automatics. You should have heard him rant about the complexity of 4-speed Hydromatics.

 

[exranger06]

I have more gears than you nah-nah-nah-na-na-nah!!

--That's why.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: XS650
I remember people saying the same thing about 4 speed automatics not all that long ago, some troglodytes still do.

Yeah, but when you consider the law of diminishing returns... Are we going to have 20-speed automatics in a few years? They need to figure out how to make a reliable CVT for higher HP applications.

 

[qship1996]

I remember as a kid drooling over a 10 speed bicycle....now they are like 21 speed or such!

 

[mpvue]

Originally Posted By: qship1996
I remember as a kid drooling over a 10 speed bicycle....now they are like 21 speed or such!

that's exactly where you need a lot of gears, where the 'engine' (you) is low output.
the 10 speed was a big deal for those raised on 1 speeds and 3 speeds. nowadays, we don't identify bikes by how many gears they have, but by how they are used. gear clusters of 8,9, or 10 are the standard now, and w/ 3 chainrings up front, you have possible combinations of 24, 27 or 30 ratios!
(btw, you don't actually 'use' all of them; on the big ring you use a few, the middle ring you might use most of them, and the small ring you use w/ a few. obviously, there is a lot of overlap).

 

[BearZDefect]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
A well programmed six or seven-speed automatic can be quite beneficial, especially with the larger engines. It helps keep the engine in its powerband, which can give a noticeable improvement when it comes to passing and merging on the freeway.

For example, my Saturn has 4-speed automatic. I test drove a 2008 Accord EX-L 4-cylinder which had a 5-speed automatic. For 0-60 times, both cars are nearly identical, in fact, the Saturn might be 0.5 second faster.

When the Saturn is loaded with 4 people and when the A/C is running, it is a major struggle to merge onto the highway. Passing is nearly impossible unless you floor it and force it to stay in 3rd gear, even then, performance is dismal. With the Honda, the transmission quickly downshifts into 3rd (with only partial throttle) and allows the car to accelerate relatively quickly.

Critic, this is Honda AT programming.
Not all makes downshift as willingly as Honda.

 

[The Critic]

Right, but a 5-speed auto in the Saturn would still do a better job of keeping the engine in its powerband compared to a 4-speed.

 

[eljefino]

I like the Jeep Cherokee idea of a 5 speed auto, that accellerates through 4 speeds, but has a "gear 2.5" for kickdown downshifts. Set it up so "gear 2.5" redlines at 70 MPH and you have a smooth option. I hate the perceived abuse of spending 1/2 second in 3rd on the way down to a jarring 2nd engagement. Obviously the firmware/valving matters as well as the driver's accellerator input, the surety that he would really like to get going, now, please.

There is something viscereal (sp?) about flooring it to redline and having the engine tone drop substantially... something you get with fewer speeds, and rarely with CVTs.

Maybe on these 7-speeds they could go through fewer gears on hard accelleration, and save the rest of them for when someone is operating under cruise control, and presumably less caring about the drive?

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: XS650
I remember people saying the same thing about 4 speed automatics not all that long ago, some troglodytes still do.

Yeah, but when you consider the law of diminishing returns... Are we going to have 20-speed automatics in a few years? They need to figure out how to make a reliable CVT for higher HP applications.



The also need to get CVT efficiency up if they are going to compete with many speed automatics. Their efficiency isn't as high as most people think it is. Google will lead you to some sources of info on that topic.

 

[rjundi]

I know manuals differ but more speeds does not mean better acceleration.

A good example is the revised 2009 WRX(design 2008) with 5 speed manual with recent 40HP boost and suspension tuning. The 2009 WRX/265HP(0-60 4.7 secs) is actually quicker than the 2008 STI(0-60 4.9 secs) with a 6 speed manual/300HP albeit 200lbs heavier. The main reason is the needed extra shift for the 6 speed manual. By #'s not sure how a STI requires a $10k premium over WRX.

The 1/4 miles they are essentially the same at [email protected].

 

[GMBoy]

My 2008 Cadillac CTS has a 6speed auto (with manual shift ability) and the Direct Injected 3.6. It's great, runs great and power is always there smoothly- always in the right gear. However, I Don't think I'd benefit much by another (7th) gear. I was not impressed by the Infinty brand BTW.

 

[VK56VD]

Originally Posted By: GMBoy
My 2008 Cadillac CTS has a 6speed auto (with manual shift ability) and the Direct Injected 3.6. It's great, runs great and power is always there smoothly- always in the right gear. However, I Don't think I'd benefit much by another (7th) gear. I was not impressed by the Infinty brand BTW.


What were you not impressed by in the Infiniti brand? What impresses you more in the GM vehicle you bought?

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: Spartuss
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
My 2008 Cadillac CTS has a 6speed auto (with manual shift ability) and the Direct Injected 3.6. It's great, runs great and power is always there smoothly- always in the right gear. However, I Don't think I'd benefit much by another (7th) gear. I was not impressed by the Infinty brand BTW.


What were you not impressed by in the Infiniti brand? What impresses you more in the GM vehicle you bought?


Well, gotta be honest - I've never been a Japanese car fan. I am admitting bias here. I do recognize the Infinity as well built, but I just have to say the CTS interior is very much nicer. All subjective, I know. That's all. Plus my GM discount sure helped!

 

[VK56VD]

I'm not a very big domestic fan but can tell you that Cadillac did an excellent job with this new CTS. I haven't driven it, but if it drives as good as it looks, it's a keeper!

Which engine do you have in yours?

The CTS-V is also an excellent value for the performance you get!

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: Spartuss
I'm not a very big domestic fan but can tell you that Cadillac did an excellent job with this new CTS. I haven't driven it, but if it drives as good as it looks, it's a keeper!

Which engine do you have in yours?

The CTS-V is also an excellent value for the performance you get!



I've got the optional Direct Injected (304hp) engine. I couldn't wait for the CTS-V, but sure wish I had. But I can't complain.
Take care, now.