Flexible for Added Fuel-Saving Technology

Ford 6-speed gear ratios also play a key role in the company’s new PowerShift dual-clutch transmission. Currently used in the new European Ford Focus and Ford C-Max, PowerShift combines the ease and permanent motion of a conventional 6-speed automatic transmission with the performance of a manual transmission. It also delivers a fast and sporty shift while maintaining excellent shift smoothness.

“These technologies are all about fuel economy,” said Craig Renneker, chief engineer for new automatic transmissions, Ford Powertrain Operations. “And our advanced 6-speed transmissions will mate perfectly with the new Ford EcoBoost engines that are on the way.”


Six-Speed Centers of Excellence

The Van Dyke plant will serve as the company’s global center of excellence for 6-speed front-wheel-drive transmissions, and the Livonia (Mich.) Transmission Plant will assume the same role for rear-wheel-drive versions.

Livonia’s new 6R80 transmission helped power 154,000 SUVs last year, including the Ford Explorer, Mercury Mountaineer, Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator.

The 6R80 continues to improve in quality, showing a 76 percent reduction in warranty claims from the 2007 to 2008 model years. This year, production of the 6R80 has been increased to accommodate the all-new 2009 Ford F-150 pickup.

The third center of excellence for Ford’s 6-speed manufacturing is its Sharonville (Ohio) Transmission Plant, which produces gears and other transmission parts for the Livonia and Van Dyke facilities.

A total investment of $658 million in the three plants was announced last year, primarily for new flexible equipment to produce advanced 6-speed transmissions.

Ford 6-speed automatic transmission Centers of Excellence:

6F35 Van Dyke (Mich.) Transmission
2009 Ford Escape
2009 Mercury Mariner
2009 Mazda Tribute

6F50 Van Dyke (Mich.) Transmission
2008 Ford Taurus
2008 Ford Taurus X
2008 Mercury Sable
2008 Ford Edge
2008 Lincoln MKX
2009 Lincoln MKS
2009 Ford Flex

6R80 Livonia (Mich.) Transmission
2008 Ford Expedition
2008 Lincoln Navigator
2008 Ford Explorer
2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
2008 Mercury Mountaineer
2009 Ford F-150

Sharonville (Ohio) Transmission
6R80 gears
6F35/50 gears

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 244,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo, Mazda, and until completion of their sale, Jaguar Land Rover. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit: www.ford.com.

Source: Ford