Yes, and they have engines that make maximum torque at 1300RPM and are governed to a maximum of 2100RPM:

http://www.cummins.com/na/pages/en/p...trucks/ism.cfm

They have that many gears because you need that many gears to get up to speed with such a narrow RPM range. They are also a pain to shift.

The Eaton Autoshift 18-speed is a pretty cool piece of hardware, though. 18 speeds forward, four speeds reverse, all automated except that a clutch has to be used to start and stop.

For a car with a much better power-weight ratio, any more than 5 speeds is either for smoothness if in an automatic or as manhood extension if manual.

 

I agree all those gears just arent needed in a car. They just become too close together and its pointless to use them all. You can only go so low for 1st gear to where its useless and too high for the top gear where you cant make enough power to use it at a normal speed. The tC could use a 6 speed since 3.5k on the highway isnt the best for mileage after that its just a waste though.

 

CVT has been used for a while in Japan and are in hybrids today. Along with the Nissan Murano. I must say that CVT is the Murano is very soft. Even though the CVT is infinite "gears" because its kind of like a pulley system there seems to be a downside. I think that this is only isolated to murano's because when you turn the handle at certain speeds not sure if its accelerating or decelerating, there is a great power lose to the steering and it because very hard work to turn the steering wheel. I think that there is a small difference in feel between a automatic 5sp and a CVT. I have never driven or been in a car with auto 6sp but I would safely assume that 6 or 7 gears made properly would give the feel of a CVT transmission. Just my thoughts.

 

It could just as easily be a 5-speed with wider ratio spacing.

The reason that Toyota doesn't do that is because there is a driver expectation that if they hit the gas, even in top gear, that they will feel some acceleration. If they don't feel enough response the driver perception is that the car lacks power.

George

 

True. If I could choose I would just add a 6th gear and use 5th to pass but I know most people would agree with you and not feel like the extra work. Anything more than 6 gears is pointless on a car though.

 

man i don't think there is enough road to go thru 8 speeds i hardly use fitht gear

 

Two words for everyone that seems to think you cannot use 8 gears in a passenger car...GEAR RATIOS...I could say more, but I would just get more people to argue with me lol

 

German cars have more gears because they have the roads to use them. When I lived in Hamburg it was not uncommon for me to cruise at 160 mph (200km an hour) I found that I used the tiptronic feature often on the autobahn, giving the vehicle a sportier and precise control over the vehicle. I do not believe that 8 speed transmissions are necessary in America, but in Germany where cars are able to stretch their feet and show their true engineering they would, and do, have more of a market and practical use. You also do not find many Asian vehicles on the autobahn as they tend to be much more economical/reliable and lack the minute attention to detail and structural integrity it takes to drive over 150mph on a daily commute day in and day out.

 

More gears allow you to increase acceleration without reducing top speed and vice versa.... what? you think it'd be all about "oh i have more gears than you".....please
In in all probability, this would be a smg or sportshift transmission, not a regular automatic

 

speaking of 8 Speeds... there is an 8speed corvette at SEMA ... in the proving grounds. It was a mystery car as no one knew anything about it.

I can see an SMG transmission with 8speeds and that would be one monsterous beast.

 

I respectfully disagree. Many people will continue to want the control and direct connection to the driveline (as opposed to a loosey-goosey unresponsive torque converter.

I could see SMG style transmissions and CVT's becoming the standard in the future, but the traditional automatic is just as doomed as you seem to think the manual is. The manual transmission offers some definite advantages over all the others to driving enthusiasts, whereas the traditional automatic, no matter how refined they've become, is an overly complex, power robbing system fraught with compromises. I would be less surprised to see manual transmissions, SMG and CVTs remain and the old-fashioned slushbox to be relegated to city busses and big trucks where it belongs.

 

Manuals make up less than 10% of new cars and it goes down every year. They will be gone off of everything but sports cars in a few years because Amercans are lazy. I wish it wasnt true because I bought the tC because I could get a manual. Many cars that do come with them are in such a low volume that its almost impossible to find without a long wait while you or a dealer looks at many dealers to find one.

 

Thats in the U.S.

I know they are declining in popularity though, but I don't think they are going to disappear for at least another 25-30 years. SMG is an acceptable substitute. Something with a solid connection to the powertrain. A slushbox is NOT an acceptable alternative, even if it has 19 speeds. If it has a torque converter then there will always be lag and lack of precision. 'Autosticks' are a joke, only SMG type transmissions can realistically replace the manual and they have a long way to come down in price before they will be available enough.