Under development since 2012, Kia Motors’ all-new eight-speed automatic gearbox, engineered for use in front-wheel drive vehicles, has been detailed.
Created in-house by the South Korean automaker, which took advantage of its experience during the creation of the 8-speed auto for RWD models, the transmission is said to be similar in size to a conventional six-speed automatic, but with 3.5 kg (7.7 lbs) trimmed from its total weight.
On the technical side, it features a compact oil pump, which is the smallest of its kind in any production gearboxes in its class, an incorporated direct control valve body that allows solenoid control of the clutch directly, reduced number of control valves from 20 to 12, and has an additional clutch and gear over the current six-speed auto. These changes improve the fuel efficiency and lead to quicker gearshifts, faster acceleration, and climbing performance in low gears.
The manufacturer’s first-ever front-wheel drive model to put the new eight-speed auto to the test will be the 2017 Kia Cadenza, which will go on sale in selected global markets this year. The transmission will come at no extra cost on versions powered by the 3.3-liter V6 GDI engine and will also be applied to a number of other FWD vehicles in the future.
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