The BMW 5-Series goes greener with the installation of the new 8HP 8-Speed Automatic Transmission from ZF. The first generation 8HP 8-speed automatic transmission had high savings potential in terms of consumption and CO2 combined with increased ride comfort and dynamics. All of the advantages are now even more pronounced in the second generation that initially is in volume production since July 2014 in the BMW 520d.
The new 8HP offers lower drag torques and higher spread through to an improved torsional vibration absorption. Gradually, the new 8-speed automatic transmissions from ZF are being deployed in further models and with many automotive manufacturers worldwide.
Speaking about the new automatic transmission system, Dr. Jürgen Greiner, head of Passenger Car Transmission Development at ZF Friedrichshafen AG said, “Our longstanding customer BMW is impressively demonstrating how to successfully make vehicles more efficient yet more dynamic at the same time. Therefore, we are particularly delighted that the premium manufacturer is the first OEM to rely on the second generation of our 8-speed automatic transmission that, when it comes to these criteria, is also groundbreaking. Through many further developments, we have made the 8HP significantly even more efficient compared to the predecessor transmission – up to three percent in total.”
The new 8HP entered volume production at the start of July in the BMW 520d as the 8HP50 version that is designed for torques of up to 500 Nm. In the future, the 8HP75 will be part of the ZF portfolio for drives with even higher torque of up to 750 Nm.
The new 8-speed automatic transmission combines many technological advances: Above all, ZF has further optimized the new transmission generation for the requirements of modern engine technology. This is due to the fact that, in order to meet the forthcoming CO2 emission specifications without losses in terms of torque and performance, there are two central trends when it comes to combustion units: Downsizing, which means turbocharged engines with fewer cylinders and less engine displacement and downspeeding, which is the reduction of the engine speeds combined with a maximum torque that is applied at a very early stage.
The tailored, fuel-efficient uncoupling of the transmission in connection with a temporary engine stop, the so-called coasting function, is now possible at speeds up to 160 km/h. At the other end of the speed scale, ZF has further optimized the optional start/stop function of the 8HP: After the vehicle has come to a stop, it stops the engine without any discernible delay – instead of after 1.5 seconds as was previously the case. However, dynamics is not neglected despite the great fuel-saving potential. Amongst other things, the new transmission control unit enables nested multiple downshifts which permits the 8HP to respond in an even more spontaneous and dynamic manner where necessary.
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