The adage of less being more doesn’t seem to apply to gearboxes these days, with most production cars having automatic gearboxes with between five to eight speeds. Honda seems to think that more is more though, with a design for an 11-speed ‘box being filed with the Japan Patent Office.
That isn’t the half of it, as this overachieving transmission will also carry not one, not two, but three clutches. The intent of this design is obviously better fuel economy and quicker, seamless shifts, but while we can figure Honda’s dual-clutch transmission (DCT) (pictured above), how would three shafts work?
According to the patent filing reported by Auto Guide, the three-clutch and 11-speed design reduces the torque reduction that occurs on vehicles with dual-clutch transmissions. It remains to be seen if this multi-speed gearbox ever makes it into production.
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My bicycle has 32 speeds. Beat that Honda. Hehe.
Anyways, the problem with so many gears and clutches is reliability. And you need to go really fast to reach 11th gear. Possibly breaking some speed limits. Not sure if you can be doing 90km/h in 11th gear. Revs might be too low.
Oh sohai… 11-speed triple clutch for 210Nm 1.5 Turbo vtec dinosaur…??? Mazda Skyactive 2.0 NA direct injection already 220Nm with only 6-speed conventional…
Are you Mazda sales man.? Wht is so great of your mazda?
he believe too much on the spec sheet,
lol
Some tuners dynoed the 1.5 engine & guess what?
its produce more power & torque compared to the spec sheet.
still, it can be tuned up to 225hp 275Nm
well how much can the Mazda produce after tuned/reflash ? +10Nm & 5hp ?
But that honda engine is stuck to a weak ass tranny that wouldnt be able to handle the power increase.
Don’t look at the number only, you have to look at the graph also, 220nm? At what rev the engine can achieve maximum output? Turbo engine can reach peak torque at as low as 1250rpm, whereas at least 4000rpm to achieve max torque for most N/A engine. Transmission that using clutch has less power reduction so that power on wheel is higher compare to conventional torque converter transmission. Go study before comment here, your comment makes you look like an idiot talking to the wall.
I thought its the Mazda with 210Nm and Civic with 220Nm. Get your figures right man.
Anyway Honda can use it for the Civic Type R with 400Nm or NSX and at that point people will be saying why Mazda still using dinosaur 6 speed gearbox.
Btw Mazda 2.0 is 210Nm & Honda 1.5T is 220Nm. But does transmission determine the torque figures?? I don’t think so…
Who said this is for car? Maybe its for airplane, who knows lolx
so even if the Mazda more torque ,
why Honda faster 0-100kmh ?
1 – faster shifting
2 – less power loss
even u have so much power & torque,
if the gear change too slow with lots of power loss around the drivetrain, its still slower & less economical.
Giving credit where it’s due, development of transmission is extremely high tech. But with the trend of CVT, wonder where this will slot into Honda line up?
Maybe on their performance models. For reference, the NSX has a 9-speed DCT which had 2 more ratios than norm. Anyways, a patent filing doesn’t mean it will definitely go into production. Just an preemptive move in case other carmakers are developing a same system. IMO, more moving parts equals to more chances for failure though.
Hopefully going into next Accord. Maybe not the 2017 CR-V as the next model is already put to pre-production.
That is why Bezza, Axia, Vios, Almera and Proton Ertiga with 4 speed auto is obsolete.
So this mean the lexus lc 500h with 4 speed auto are obsolete?…
So this mean the 4 speed auto lexus lc 500h is obsolete
Even the new civic not using the in house design DCT…use DCT first then talk about this new gear box
The DCT for more sporty driving I believe….civic probably trying to achieve better mileage with the cvt…
the owner will cry when the need to replace the clutch pack which should be a wear and tear item.
Speaking from experience, although more efficient, the wear and tear for dual clutch transmissions are significantly higher than single clutch trans. This 3 clutches trans is a recipe for disaster if it ever comes here.
I bet it is for a motorcycle! How about a new Honda Goldwing 1800 DCT with 11-speed DCT!
haha.. Now it make sense. Ya.. maybe it is for their bike.
You possibly right, but I’m quite sure it won’t appear in a Goldwing.
Gearboxes with many gears usually make sense in small displacement engines with a small usable rev range (or high power bikes that have a small usable rev range too).
As far as I know Aprilia already uses a dual clutch with optional “auto mode” in some of it’s bikes?
when want to change clutch plate for triple clutch will be expensive right?
Stop dreaming. this gearbox will not go into low-end mass production cars like Civic, Accord, or CR-V.
It may match to the next gen or improved NSX or Acura lineup.
I think it’s more into superbike application like their 6-speed DCT.