Chrysler & Honda move to 9-speed transmissions

I have a 2009 Chrysler minivan (VW but its a Caravan in disguise) apparently with the 7-speed.
I use it 5th gear to keep my speeding tickets away.
The car has fairly huge MPG difference city/HW getting up to 25 on highway, but I only average 17 MPG vs. label said 20 MPG. I think it's probably mislabeled EPA MPG for the same reasons the CMAX was mislabled, carried over from other car version.

 

I guess CVTs were just a fad. Is there any new developments in CVTs?

 

That's actually refreshing.

As opposed to an auto journalist, a sensible driver might get the 9th gear to engage before 80mph. Sixth on the Sonic automatic is between 6th and 7th of this transmission, and it can engage as early as 43mph. The final drive ratio is even close the Cherokee mentioned in the TTAC article (3.23 to 3.25).
Chevrolet News - United States - Sonic
ZF 9HP transmission - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

The current best 8 speed transmission in the world is made by Zahnrad Frabrik Acktien Gesselschaft von Friedrichshafen am Bodensee in Germany.

ZF Friedrichshafen AG | 8-speed-automatic transmission


They are currently used in Bentley's, Rolls Royces and Mercedes and many other cars as well as Chrysler.

A US plant, here in Fountain Inn, South Carolina is under construction to supply the BMW plant, here.

 

The company was founded in 1915 by Dr. Hugo Ekener of the Zeppelin to provide gears and transmissions for Zeppelin Airships.

 

E-cvt is the winner. End of story

We recently bought a 2012 Honda Fit, and my only gripe is the transmission action from a stop:

1. Noisy racket, then lurch
2. Noisy racket, then lurch
3. Noisy racket, then lurch

I go out of my way to help the auto shift quietly and gently, but I end up driving much slower than my Prius LOL. Irony.

 

I like it when my Prius gets to spin only 992 rpm at highway speed (when 0 rpm is not an available choice). Certainly road sections, not flat, don't need any engine torque at all. But my old gas hog had to turn 3000+ rpm (unless I popped it into neutral), burning up about 6 horsepower in wasteful engine compression drag. Having a gear ratio that allows the engine to drop to nearly idle speed allows the hypermiling equivalent of N-ICE-ON gliding without the illegality of coasting downhill in neutral.

 

It depends on the engine and final drive ratio of the specific vehicle model. The turbo 1.4L in the Sonic hits peak torque at 1500rpm. The base 1.8L, non-turbo, takes longer for the torque to climb. It has a higher final drive and tweaks to its transmission ratio. The manual even has one less gear than the 1.4's, the second overdrive is missing.

Since these are overdrive gears, they are meant for steady cruising. A time when little is needed from the engine in terms of power and torque. I still think it is possible to get the 9th gear to engage before 80mph, but I'm sure it will swiftly downshift with any increase in engine demand.

 

I don't think Chrysler/VW vans ever had a 7-speed auto. Check your specs.