The likelihood that your high-end vehicle has a ZF gearbox is high if you recently purchased it.
Numerous sports cars and premium sedans with automatic transmissions have been known to use the ZF. Aston Martin, Chevrolet, Alfa Romeo, Dodge, Ford, and BMW are just a few of the manufacturers who depend on ZF transmissions.
A Ford F-150 and a Rolls Royce might not seem to have much in common, but both frequently have ZF gearboxes.
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Transmission ZF 8HP
For their eight-speed automatic transmission variants (8-speed transmission with Hydraulic converter and Planetary gearsets) for longitudinal engine applications, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, based in Saarbrucken, uses the trademark 8HP. Since then, every new BMW model in all Series down to the 1 Series in rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions has had the option to be outfitted with it. It made its début in the BMW 7 Series (F01) 760Li saloon fitted with the V12 engine.
It can save 11% compared to the ZF 6-speed transmission and 14% compared to contemporary 5-speed transmissions, which is one of its key goals. Shift durations have decreased to 200 milliseconds as a result of internal design adjustments, and the unit now has the capacity to shift nonsequentially, shifting from gear 8 to gear 2 in emergency scenarios. It weighs 87 kilograms and has a maximum torque handling limit of 700 newton-meters (516 lbfft) (192 lb).
Two four-wheel drive variations will be made available in the future, one of which will include a Torsen center differential for Volkswagen Group purposes. It will be usable in middle-class cars as well as huge luxury sport utility vehicles, with a torque range of 300 newton-meters (221 lbfft) to 1,000 newton-meters (738 lbfft).
The ZF facility in Saarbrucken, Germany initially supplied the 8HP 8-speed automatic transmissions to Chrysler Group LLC. By 2013, ZF has opened a new transmission manufacturing facility in Gray Court, South Carolina, concurrently with Chrysler Group. A supply and license agreement for the 8HP has been concluded between Chrysler Group and ZF Friedrichshafen. Production of the 8HP at the Kokomo Transmission Plant and the Kokomo Casting Plant, both owned by Chrysler Group, began in 2013. The Torqueflite 8 is the name Chrysler uses to promote this transmission.
Products of the 8HP second generation first became available in 2014. Increased usage of the coasting and start-stop systems, a wider ratio spread of 7.8:1, lower drag torque from the shift elements, and reduced necessary oil pump pressure are all examples of efficiency gains over the original design. ZF anticipated a 3% increase in fuel efficiency over first generation 8HP kits. Additionally, improvements were made in terms of vibration.
Beginning in 2018, third-generation 8HP items were made available. Compared to the second generation, there have been significant increases in total spread of 8.6 and fuel economy of 2.5 percent. Maximum torque options range from 15 kW and 200 NM, which supports boosting and recuperation in conjunction with 48 Volt technology, to 90 kW and 250 NM, which is used with greater voltage. The gearbox is also available with mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid options.
The Benefits of ZF’s Eight-Speed Transmission
Shift quality, in two words. The 8HP transmission from German manufacturer ZF combines the qualities of speed and smoothness whether it is placed in an Aston Martin, a Rolls-Royce, or a Jeep. It is swift enough to service racing vehicles and graceful enough for huge luxury sedans.
According to Albert Dick, vice president of automotive powertrain technology at ZF, the quality of the solenoids, manufacturing processes, and control software all play a role in the 8HP’s highly pleasant shifts. They are also a result of a fundamental design that dictates the division of each 8HP gearbox’s four planetary gearsets, three clutches, and two brakes into eight forward ratios. There are only two shifting components used in both one-gear and two-gear shifts: one opens and the other shuts. Similarly, the 8HP performs several multigear changes; see the transitions from sixth to third and even from eighth to second.
We much like the 8HP transmission to ZF’s nine-speed transverse version even though it is only available in longitudinal form for vehicles with rear- or all-wheel drive. For a long range of producers, including Aston Martin, BMW, Fiat Chrysler, Jaguar Land Rover, and the Volkswagen Group, about 3.5 million 8HP transmissions were produced in 2017. The attractiveness of the eight-speed lies in its adaptable modular design more so than its performance. It can handle a maximum torque output ranging from 162 to 770 pound-feet. Various all-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive systems, like those with an integrated center differential or a two-speed transfer case, are compatible with it. Automobile manufacturers can create hybrid versions with few modifications to the drivetrain thanks to the flexibility to replace the torque converter with an electric motor, as BMW has done. Additionally, because to the shared characteristics of all 8HP gearboxes, firms can reduce development costs by using core components in cars as diverse as the Dodge Demon and the Ram 1500. According to Eric Burnett, head engineer for eight-speed, rear-wheel-drive transmissions at Fiat Chrysler, “we keep the same power flow through all of those applications, so we can carry over the calibrations, the software, and all of those tools that keep that transmission shifting smoothly.”
Then, has the dual-clutch transmission encountered its match? Given the recent departures of the Audi RS5 and the BMW M5, which shifted from dual-clutch transmissions to ZF’s 8HP torque-converter automatics, one may assume that’s the case. Andy Palmer, CEO of Aston Martin, agrees, asserting that ZF’s 8HP is more lightweight, less expensive, and quicker than a dual-clutch transmission. “The dual-clutch transmission still seemed futuristic ten years ago. It is now beginning to resemble the broadcast from the past “He informs us. However, the DCT seeks safety in supercars. In a mid-engine architecture, the additional length of a torque converter may be prohibitive, while accurate launch-control programs offer an advantage in acceleration. A decent dual-clutch transmission does, according to engineers, shift gears more quickly. “For our type of product, it’s all about a really quick shift, which the dual-clutch gearbox’s pre-engagement feature aids in. That still has a respectable speed advantage, in our opinion “says McLaren Senna principal engineer Marcus Waite.
But it’s difficult to argue that anything can perform the task better than the ZF eight-speed for just about every other car.
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In a new agreement, the Laurens ZF facility will provide transmissions to the BMW plant in Spartanburg.
BMW Manufacturing in Spartanburg has led the country in automotive exports by value for the fifth year in a row, despite a fall in production in 2018.
Two significant German automakers have agreed to conduct business with one another through their South Carolina-based U.S. subsidiaries.
ZF and BMW both announced in separate statements on Friday that they will begin delivering transmissions to the BMW facility in Spartanburg County at an undisclosed future date from ZF’s Laurens County plant, the German automotive supplier’s sole U.S. location for the production of gearboxes.
For BMW, who up until now has only purchased its drive trains from Europe, it represents a significant stride.
Sky Foster, who oversees corporate relations at BMW’s Spartanburg plant, emailed the announcement as “great news for South Carolina.”
BMW was reportedly examining a U.S. gearbox supplier seriously, according to Automotive News’ original report from last month. At the Geneva Auto Show, BMW’s board chairman, Harald Kruger, had told reporters that his company was in discussions with “one supplier” for a transmission for the United States.
Since ZF has a sizable plant about 22 miles from BMW’s location near the Spartanburg-Greenville County line, it looked like an obvious choice. The firm, which has its headquarters in Friedrichshafen, Germany, already provides BMW with transmissions from its German factories.
According to Van Horn, ZF would profit “double digit” billions from the deal that was revealed on Friday.
In a statement, ZF CEO Wolf-Henning Scheider noted that this order was the company’s biggest ever.
ZF’s most recent 8-speed automatic transmission, which was created to function for both conventional fuel-burning vehicles and electric and hybrid ones, has received an order from BMW.
In a statement released by the firm, Michael Hankel, a member of the ZF management board responsible for transmission technology and e-mobility, claimed that the transmission’s “modular structure” offers for flexibility, particularly as BMW works to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Additionally, the ability to quickly switch from one transmission version to another gives our customer the adaptability to respond to market demands, according to Hankel.
ZF will produce the transmissions for BMW factories in China, Europe, and the United States. The plant in question is the biggest in the world for BMW, employing 11,000 people.
When the American ZF plant would begin supplying BMW was not known by Van Horn and Foster. However, the supplier’s answer did imply that it might take some time. The ZF plant in Saarbrucken will begin producing the new gearboxes in series in 2022, according to a statement from the firm.
Although ZF can produce up to 1.2 million transmissions annually in Laurens County, the factory, which started in 2013 and has subsequently been extended, presently solely caters to non-BMW customers. Up to 450,000 vehicles can be produced annually at the Spartanburg BMW facility, which produced roughly 357,000 X models in 2017.
Although Nicolas Peter, the head of finance at BMW, stated on an earnings call last month that tariffs between the U.S. and Europe are probably not going to be a problem in 2019, the German automaker’s decision to further localize its supply chain suggests that it is hedging its bets long-term against tariffs.
What benefits may an automatic 8-speed transmission offer?
The new 8-speed automatic transmission developed by ZF puts less emphasis on the number of speeds and more emphasis on reducing fuel consumption. The new 8HP 8-speed automatic transmission, which was created to be lighter, raises the bar for adaptability, effectiveness, and affordability. It is a great illustration of how innovation may spawn a brand-new classic style.
ZF enables the new BMW 3 series to shift more quickly than a professional.
The 2017 BMW 3 series’ eight-speed automatic transmission, which is provided by ZF Friedrichshafen AG, makes BMW the first carmaker in Europe to offer an automatic transmission with so many gears in the compact-premium market. The eight-speed transmission, an available option on both gasoline and diesel engines in the 3-series lineup, shifts gears in 200 milliseconds, which is quicker than a professional driver.
The BMW also receives its torque converter, many electronic and chassis parts, continuous damping control, and six-speed manual transmission from ZF. In order to reduce vehicle pitch, roll, and vertical motion, increase vehicle safety and passenger comfort, and shorten stopping distances, this system analyses data from sensors and other vehicle systems like ABS and delivers the information to the dampers.
The best-selling model of the automaker is now in its sixth iteration with the new BMW 3 series. In March 2012, the vehicle had its public premiere at the Geneva motor show. Production started in November 2011 at BMW’s factory in Munich, Germany. According to IHS Automotive, peak 3-series production will be 245,000 units in 2014. The 3 series is also produced at the BMW plant in Regensburg, Germany, and is assembled from kits in the Kaliningrad, Russia, facility of contract manufacturer Avtotor.