The transmission war begins: Honda prepares a triple-clutch gearbox with 11 speeds

The various elements that make up the mechanical equipment of cars are also undergoing many changes in recent years. We are seeing cars fitted with gearboxes that bear little resemblance to those of just a short time ago. The standard has changed, and technology has led to increasingly complex and efficient transmissions.

Honda has taken one step further in this respect with the publication of a patent it filed earlier this year, which shows a gearbox operating with three clutches and featuring 11 positions. This automatic gearbox is designed to improve the efficiency of current dual-clutch gearboxes, improving their operation and reducing both fuel consumption and emissions.

According to the disclosed documentation, it not only reduces these two issues but also prevents a loss of torque when changing gear. This is not a large loss, but it will make the gear change more comfortable and smoother. In this way, the shift will be even smoother and free of the jolts that can be felt with current gearboxes, even dual-clutch ones.

The other point is the presence of 11 positions. With these, the gearbox can select a more suitable gear for each driving situation, which will make better use of the engine and also help reduce consumption and, consequently, emissions. This is not excessive, since Honda already offers a nine-speed automatic gearbox in the Honda CR-V, but there are ten-speed gearboxes in models from GM and Ford intended for the US market within a few months. This latter brand has also announced an application for a similar patent, but there is no news about it.

That said, you should not expect to see this new triple-clutch, 11-speed gearbox fitted to Honda models in the coming months. The technology is ready and the engineers are prepared to use it, but there is still no fixed destination for it.

Via | Autoexpress