It’s anything but a secret: more gears mean better gas mileage. Mercedes-Benz packs a seven-speed automatic into many of its cars, Lexus uses an eight-speed transmission in its LS sedans, but these amply geared boxes are generally the things of luxury cars— until now.

We were the first to report that Hyundai had a 10-speed transmission in the works, having announced it at a tech briefing in Michigan. Hyundai has now confirmed that the transmission is under development, and will be in production as soon as possible, though details are still murky about which vehicles will get the technology. Given how aggressively automakers are pushing for better mileage year over year, it might make sense that the new gearbox would fall into Elantras or Accents rather than or alongside the luxurious Genesis and Equus. No doubt the transmission is being designed with the CAFE fuel economy regulations in mind that will come into effect fully in 2025 and expect a 54.4 mpg average rating.

We’ll keep you up to date as more emerges.

Back in August, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation regarding the Getrag MT82 6-speed manual transmissions found in 2011+ Ford Mustangs.

At the time, Ford was already carefully monitoring customer feedback as well as online forums as well to better understand the issues concerning the transmission.

While only 3 percent of all transmissions were effected, Ford has found that most of the issues were related to cold shifting, a clutch plate bolt defect, clutch stay out, and 5th gear synchronization. Ford assures that none of the issues found will cause a safety risk.

Of the issues reported, 44 percent were related to higher than expected shift efforts in cold ambient temperatures when the car first starts. Initially, the MT-82 transmission was given a thicker, higher viscosity transmission fluid to address gear noise. However, customers are allowed to request a lower viscosity fluid to minimize shift efforts.

Next a clutch plate bolt issue reportedly caused gear selection to become more challenging over time. Complaints indicated notchiness and grinding noises as a primary concern. Ford found that this attributed to clutch fasteners that got loose over the duration of the vehicle’s operation. A revised fastener was designed and put to production in October 19, 2010 to fix the issue and a special service message number was issued to aid technicians in identifying this concern.

Clutch stayout attributed to 24 percent of all transmission complaints. Clutch stayout is used to describe a situation where rotating inertia of the clutch components are higher than the spring force provided by the clutch pedal. Most often present when engine speeds are greater than 4,000 rpm, the clutch will reengage once the rpm returns to a lower speed. Replacement clutch pedal parts are available and Ford’s revised spring design has been implemented.

Finally a new grinding and notchy sensation is experienced when the vehicle engages fifth gear. This problem is not in relation to any of the previous concerns. Ford has investigated and identified component quality issues regarding synchronizers and corrective action has been taken.

According to Ford, diligent monitoring of many customer feedback sources allowed the automaker to quickly respond and address issues concerning their vehicles. Ford is committed to continually follow up on these complaints and provide the highest level of customer satisfaction possible.

[Source: Mustangs Daily]

As we first reported back in December, Hyundai is developing a 10-speed automatic transmission. Now details of when that new unit will be available have come to light, with the project expected to be completed by 2014. Hyundai president Park Seong Hyon says the new gearbox will likely be installed in the Genesis sedan and Equus.

Earlier this year, Hyundai had already introduced their new, in-house developed, 8-speed transmission. Mated to the 2012 Hyundai Genesis sedan’s 333-hp and 291 lb-ft of torque 3.8 liter V-6, the transmission helps the car achieve 19/29 city/highway mpg. With the addition of two more cogs, it allows the engine to sit in its optimal rev range more often, improving fuel economy even further.

We are anxious to see what other automakers will do to answer Hyundai’s momentum. Will a cog war be the new horsepower war?

GALLERY: Hyundai Equus

[Source: Bloomberg]

Click here to read AutoGuide’s 2012 Hyundai Genesis review

As Ram sales continue to increase, efforts made to keep the ball rolling result in the new for Ram “65RFE” six-speed automatic transmission that will replace the old outgoing five.

The five-speed transmission, “545RFE,” features an interesting split dual cog 2nd gear. Engagement on one cog or the other depend on whether the transmission is performing an upshift or a downshift. The 1.67 and 1.50 ratio cog are used for the upshift and downshift respectively. An electric range select is also featured in the 545RFE, allowing driver to manually limit the highest available gear, a handy device during hilly terrain or tow situations.

Now, not only will the new 2012 six-speed transmission retain all these characteristics from the outgoing five-speed, but will also possess a new torque converter said to improve the Ram’s fuel economy, although EPA ratings will stay the same.

Nonetheless, these incremental improvements are expected to increase its sales numbers still, there’s no stopping Ram! Find the new six speed standard with the 4.7 liter V-8 and 5.7 liter Hemi V-8 engines.

GALLERY: Ram 5.7 Hemi

Owners of Nissan’s 2005-2010 Pathfinders, Frontiers and Xteras are experiencing failures to their automatic transmissions because radiator coolant is leaking into the system. The radiator cooler tanks are rupturing, which forces the coolant into the transmission through the transmission cooler lines. Nissan has offered an extended warranty for the radiators, but the coverage only applies to vehicles with fewer than 80,000 miles.

Owners are upset that Nissan didn’t notify them about the radiator problem. “The issue here is that Nissan knew that they had a faulty radiator and instead of recalling the radiator they extended the warranty knowing that the majority of the cars would surpass 80,000 miles before they started having problems with the transmission,” wrote Eva Saldivar of Porterville, California, in her complaint to the Center for Auto Safety. Her 2005 Pathfinder had 115,000 miles when she had to pay about $6,000 for repairs. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has at least 200 complaints regarding this transmission issue and the Center for Auto Safety has around 50 complaints.

In October, Nissan extended the warranty on the radiators of 2005-2010 Frontiers, Pathfinders and Xterras from three years or 36,000 miles to eight years or 80,000 miles. Nissan said only “a small percentage” of vehicles might experience the coolant-leak problem, which it blames on “an internal crack on the oil cooler tube”.

Clarence Ditlow, the executive director of the Center for Auto Safety said an investigation is warranted because owners are reporting safety-related problems, like rapid slowing or the inability to safely cross an intersection.

No official investigation or recall has been announced.

[Source: New York Times]

There have been many amazing Lego creations over the last few decades including life size people and skyscrapers several stories high, but this latest creation might just take the cake.

Documented in this video is a mechanical masterpiece, a Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet PDK made of Lego. Everything on the 911 works, from the retractable hard top roof to the flat-six engine. The Porsche even has the same steering ratio as the actual car. In total, there are over 3,500 parts, including eight electic motors, three remote controls and around 21 feet of wiring. Even’s Porsche’s high-tech PDK dual-clutch transmission is fully functional, coupled to an operational all-wheel drive system.

This will blow you away. Check out the video after the jump!

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Chrysler announced an $843 million investment in its Indiana transmission plant as it prepares to build a 9-speed automatic transmission front front-drive vehicles.

The announcement comes on the heels of General Motors announcement of a $2 billion infusion into a number of plants, including $200 million for upgrades to its Toledo, Ohio plant to build 8-speed transmissions. Chrysler will begin selling 8-speed equipped Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 sedans during the summer.

Chrysler expects the 9-speed transmissions, developed in partnership with ZF, to be on sale in 2013.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Hyundai is recalling 6,169 Santa Fe’s because the transmission has been found to be defective. According to the National Highway Safety Administration, the transmission may cause “loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a crash,”. The right- side output gear and intermediate shaft on affected 2010 Santa Fe’s will be replaced by Hyundai dealers.

This issue has been linked to an earlier recall of 12,690 Kia Sorento’s experiencing the same issue. Driving the Santa Fe in this condition will lead to a whining noise and eventually excessive wear due to misalignment will damage the automatic transmission.

[Source: Insideline.com]

The ongoing crisis in Japan is continuing to impact automakers and the entire industry, even American companies. Japanese suppliers of the Chevrolet Volt’s transmission have been disrupted by the nuclear situation, which has a chance to delay production of the hot-selling electric car.

The Japanese plant that builds the high-tech transmission has been shut down in the wake of the earthquake and nuclear crisis. GM is not sure how long they’ll be able to receive the transmissions from Japan, and isn’t willing to count on an uninterrupted supply as they had enjoyed from before.

But as of now, Volt production has not witnessed any hiccups. “Volt production is currently not impacted by the crisis in Japan,” said Rob Peterson, GM spokesman. “We continue to monitor the situation closely as we do for all GM products.”

[Source: Inside Line]