Remember how a few years ago people we’re talking about a “horsepower war” between Germany’s luxury car manufacturers? It looks like the situation has now turned into a “gear war”, as premium carmakers (not only from Germany) are adding more and more gears to their automatic transmissions.
Mercedes-Benz is the latest automaker to attack in this long-term confrontation with its new 9G-Tronic gearbox, the first nine-speed automatic transmission with torque converter that will debut on the restyled E-Class, more specifically on the 2014MY E 350 BlueTEC model.
The new transmission allows the six-cylinder diesel model to average an impressive 5.3 liters/100 km (44.3 US mpg) in the case of the sedan (5.5 l/100 km for the wagon). CO2 emissions are also lower than before, at 138 g/km for the sedan and 144 g/km for the estate.
Powered by a 248HP (252PS) 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine, the E 350 BlueTEC will be offered as standard with the new nine-speed gearbox and is available for order with immediate effect.
Mercedes-Benz says the higher number of gears and the broader gear ratio spread help increase the drive comfort and “enable a significant enhancement to be achieved in terms of converting engine power into traction.” For example, the E 350 BlueTEC is able to drive at 120 km/h (74.5 mph) in 9th gear with an engine speed of around only 1,350 rpm.
More gears also equal less noise as the engine revs lower, reducing external sounds by up to 4 dB(A). Mercedes says the new gearbox is lighter than its predecessor (the 7G-Tronic), despite having two additional gears and a maximum transferable torque of up to 1,000 Nm (737.5 lb-ft). The 9G-Tronic is also capable of skipping “several gears” when accelerating or decelerating, according to driving conditions.
The transmission is suitable for both RWD and AWD models as well as hybrid and plug-in hybrid drive systems, with Mercedes saying it will be used in almost all model series and engines in the near future.
Deliveries for the E 350 BlueTEC will begin in September 2013, with prices in Germany starting from €54,710 ($72,415) for the Saloon and €57,923 ($76,670) for the Estate.
By Dan Mihalascu
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