Are you serious....

[car_fiend]

well, just readin winding road's sept issue, and found the new 2007 Lexus LS460 to have an 8 Speed Transmission . Where are they going with soooo many gears, i mean this might help fuel economy, but there off, its adding weight to the car. Also, how much more are they goona do when soon we'll be seeing 9 or ten gear transmissions.

[baddabang]

Are you sure they are not counting an overdrive gear?

[henk4]

no, the Lexus has full blown 8-speed gearbox....

[car_fiend]

not sure about that, but still 8 Speed Transmission none-the-less is what it says. if anyone can clear it up that its like baddabang said, overdrive gear, that would be greatly appreciated.

[Jakg]

nope, its 8 "proper" gears, i read a magazine (autocar?) which had driven one and it had 8 gears for a smoother ride

[brandisher]

I read about it too in "Motor Trend" and I think "Automobile" mention about it. They say that the gears shift is suppose to be as smooth or at least extremely close to a CVT transmission shifting.

[car_fiend]

that makes sense, but isnt all that extra weight, altho the transmission is probably geared for fuel economy, going to reduce fuel economy.

[Quiggs]

Gears don't weight that much. And automatic trans clutch packs weigh even less.

[RobPorsche]

That would be entertaining if it came in standard.

[h00t_h00t]

Why not just use a CVT?

[coolieman1220]

maybe it is a CVT just wit 8 speed. or something based like that. i dun see why they can't use 8 speeds but it would shift an awfull lot and not make good use of the powertrain. kinda like a truck

[deffenbaugh03]

I'm pretty sure they're serious. I don't see the need for it though. I agree with hoot, why not just use a CVT?

And coolieman you can't have a CVT with 8 speeds. CVT's are Continuosly Variable, so in a sense they have infinite speeds.

[Egg Nog]

Originally Posted by h00t_h00t

Why not just use a CVT?

Originally Posted by deffenbaugh03

I'm pretty sure they're serious. I don't see the need for it though. I agree with hoot, why not just use a CVT?

I'm sure it must have to do with the "367lbs-ft" aspect of it

CVT technology has come a long way in the past 5 years, but we're not at the point yet where they can handle the torque of many larger engines. Audi offers some cars with CVTs, but not all - works well with the 1.8T, but an RS4 engine would be far too much. It's probably the same thing here with Toyota/Lexus.

[taz_rocks_miami]

Originally Posted by Egg Nog

CVT technology has come a long way in the past 5 years, but we're not at the point yet where they can handle the torque of many larger engines. Audi offers some cars with CVTs, but not all - works well with the 1.8T, but an RS4 engine would be far too much.

That sucks, say you have an Audi 1.8T and you want to modify the engine. With the a CVT in place, you wouldn't be able to usless you want to distroy the gear box.

[Egg Nog]

Originally Posted by taz_rocks_miami

That sucks, say you have an Audi 1.8T and you want to modify the engine. With the a CVT in place, you wouldn't be able to usless you want to distroy the gear box.

Yeah, I guess so - but I mean, they're making due with the best that they can do right? If you ask me, it's better to see the technology on a lower-end model than not at all. It just means more support for CVTs, and thus, more (and better) versions in the future