Carsales Staff•27 Jul 2013
NEWS
Nine-speed automatic for Mercedes-Benz
E 350 BlueTEC introduces new 9G-TRONIC, rated up to 1000NmMercedes-Benz is claiming bragging rights for its new nine-speed automatic, developed in-house and introduced in the E 350 BlueTEC sold in foreign markets.
It's not the first nine-speed torque-converter auto to reach the market, with ZF getting the jump on Benz with its own nine-speeder, which is used in east/west applications like the Range Rover Evoque and the new Jeep Cherokee. But the Benz unit is a first for a rear-wheel drive large sedan. The 185kW diesel V6-powered E 350 with the new transmission is rated at 5.3L/100km (5.5 for the wagon), according to the NEDC combined-cycle test – a reflection of the new transmission's enhanced efficiency.
In addition to the efficiency gains from the 9G-TRONIC, Mercedes-Benz is claiming NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) has been reduced by up to 4dB(A). At 120km/h in 9th gear, the engine is ticking over at just 1350rpm. As the manufacturer tells it, the shift and response times are also shorter, but with no detriment to smoothness.
Despite its lightweight design and construction, the new transmission is as compact as the 7G-TRONIC automatic offered throughout the Mercedes-Benz range, and can handle a maximum torque loading of 1000Nm, which strongly suggests it won't be limited to the E 350 BlueTEC for very much longer. In the development of the transmission, Mercedes-Benz engineers settled on four planetary gear sets and six shift elements. With three speed sensors linked to the transmission control system, the 9G-TRONIC can jump several gears during kick-down or when accelerating.
Mercedes-Benz has developed the new transmission for specific application in rear-wheel drive vehicles, but all-wheel drives, hybrids and plug-ins will follow.
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E-Class
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Written byCarsales Staff
Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalists
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