The new transmissions would be available from mid-late decade on front-wheel-drive cars and SUVs with mid to large displacement engines, such as Ford's recently announced Five Hundred and Freestyle, and GM's future Lambda architecture SUVs and crossovers. The announcement follows news released earlier this week by GM Powertrain that it would offer a new six-speed automatic transmission for rwd cars and trucks beginning in 2005 (initially expected for GMT 900 series full size SUVs). The new fwd transmission builds on development already begun at GM and detailed earlier this year. Size, weight and cost of both the fwd and rwd transmissions is reduced by the use of an existing internal clutch as a friction launch clutch, eliminating the torque converter. According to Tom Stephens, group vice president, GM Powertrain, "…this new 6-speed transmission will have a simple but elegant design that improves overall transmission operation at a cost competitive with today's automatics."
The design being pursued is a new architecture that will have optimal steps between gears and a wider gear ratio span to improve fuel economy. Featuring a compact design, the new 6-speed will be capable of higher torque capacity when compared to most existing front-wheel-drive transmissions. GM and Ford will jointly develop and test a basic transmission and work with suppliers to develop and purchase components. Each company will manufacture their own transmissions in their respective plants, with dynamics and calibration of specific transmissions matched to the unique requirements of individual engines and vehicle programs.