Wonder how long it will be before we get it

http://newsroom.jaguarlandrover.com/en-in/...eY.twitter Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Had a drive in a Bentley Mulsanne with the 8 speed.
Very very smooth  Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

Most I've driven is 6 speed how much smoother can they be? Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

CVT auto's are very smooth although a bit weird. Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

When i read 9 speed auto the 1st thing that came to mind was "variomatic" makes me wonder if this is whats next in time to come ?

Variomatic, please not the Daf, please

First 3 gears are for vanning, the rest are for normal drivers At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Bentley isn't a CVT.

It's too many, the XF with 8 gears, on the 2.2 diesel is too much. It's constantly changing. Yes it's smooth but irritating listening to the engine trying to make a tune. It's not linear either.

There's no benefit to it, it'll get emissions down on paper for the EU test but no better in real life. The DPF will run cooler as top gear will be longer than at present so more blockages and constantly changing will wear parts quicker as well.

HGV's have 12 usually, the low loaders that towed out gear, 150tonne gross at times had 16 and economy and costs are more important in haulage! Mine: 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35
Family's: 2009 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Auto, Stornoway

Yorkshire - God's County

I watched a road test of the latest RRS with the 8 speed gearbox & the guy said that he thought it was a bit 'busy', constantly changing gear. Poke it, Poke it, make it do it again!!

Gone - 2008 Freel2 HSE Santorini Black
Hello - 2010 RRS TDV6 3.0 HSE Santorini Black

I disagree with the comment about the XF's 8-Speed auto not being great. My father in law has just bought one, an I had it for the day yesterday and did about 150 miles in it through town and country, I thought I was sublime! Way smoother than the 6 speed auto in the FL2.

The nice thing about the new 9 Speed is that is doesn't have to follow the gears from 1 to 9 and back again. For example, if you are pulling away down hill, it may decide to pull off in second, or pull off in first and go straight to 3rd.

It is a very clever box, apparently much better than the 8 Speed which I think is excellent.

The new 9 Speed will go in the facelift Evoque next year but I doubt it will see the curren Freelander. Freelander 2 HSE Lux 2013MY - Barolo Black with Ivory Leather. Alpine DVD - Privacy -Evoque 20" Dynamic Wheels and more to come.........

Ive currently got an 62 plate XF 3.0 tdi as a courtesy car while im waiting for my Freelander. Its got the 8 speed auto, and cant say im massively impressed with the box. It is constantly shuffling gears when it doesnt really need to. It surges at low speeds even on cruise. The sport mode is pointless, just holds the revs at a minimum of 3k, which on a diesel that has a meaty flat torque curve from 1500-3500 rpm is pretty useless. Especially when kickdown works just fine and still holds the gear till 4500.. The throttle response for example when pulling out at a junction is slow to the point of being scarey!! Changes are nice and smooth though.

Big Dave wrote:

Bentley isn't a CVT.

Sorry Pegleg I read it wrong!

From a mechanical sympathy point of view constantly changing can't be good...it even says in the book that if the transmission 'hunts' constantly then flick into Sport or Manual to avoid unnecessary changes, which also aren't good for economy.

The changes are smooth, but it's just the shear amount of changes it will be doing, and changing is not as smooth as staying in the same gear! Our 6 speeder is still smoother principally because it's in the same gear for longer!

Last bit of the rant...I don't want paddles on my Land Rover! Mine: 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35
Family's: 2009 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Auto, Stornoway

Yorkshire - God's County

No worries Big Dave  Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

have driven an Amarok (seperate story) with the 8-speed auto and 2.0TDi 180ps engine and it was ok. I normally detest auto boxes, theonly one I ever got on with was the 4-speed in my P38a 2.5 6-cyl diesel. Though the Amarok did want to kick down a little too eagerly and rev when I didn't think it needed to.