10-speed Transmission
According to industry sources, Hyundai Motor Company is planning to use its 10-speed rear wheel drive automatic transmission in Genesis models next year. The development of the transmission began in 2011.
At present, Hyundai Motor Company uses eight-speed transmissions in its most expensive sedans such as the EQ900. Its eight-speed rear wheel drive transmission in the Equus and Genesis sedans released in 2011 is the first one of its kind in the industry. Back in 2009, Hyundai became the third automaker in the world that succeeded in developing a six-speed automatic transmission. It came up with the eight-speed rear wheel drive transmission in 2010 and a double-clutch transmission the following year.
Multi-speed transmissions have been developed for decades. GM came up with the first two-speed automatic transmission in 1939, and now nine-speed front and rear wheel drive transmissions are in commercial use. The Land Rover Range Rover Evoque adopted a nine-speed front wheel drive transmission in 2013 and the Mercedes Benz E350 Bluetec became the first car equipped with a nine-speed rear wheel drive transmission.
Lexus unveiled the LC500 Coupe at the Detroit Motor Show in January this year with Aisin’s 10-speed transmission in it. This car is scheduled to hit the market next spring. Ford and GM are currently working on a 10-speed transmission in joint cooperation so that it can be used in the 2017 F-150 and the 2017 Camaro ZL1.