Why MINI’s New 8 Speed Transmission is a Huge Step Forward
When BMW announced that it was sticking with the Aisin 6 speed transmission for the F56 MINI a couple of years ago, more than a few were surprised. While the Gen III had been dramatically improved over what came before it (the version found in the F53 and R56 for instance) it was still down a couple of gears to some of the competition. For 2016 MINI is solving that problem with the Clubman (in Cooper S form) by introducing the new Aisin 8 speed. The 8-speed AT enables both wider and closer gear ratios than the 6AT delivering improvements in both fuel efficiency and engine performance. How much of an improvement? We dug up a slide that Aisin used at symposium recently that summed it up.
Shockingly it’s also slightly smaller than the 6 speed it replaces making it suitable even for the smaller MINIs. Look for the 8 Speed to be offered in the 2017 F60 Countryman Cooper S and eventually make its ways to the F56, F55 and F57.
What of those rumors of a dual clutch in some UKL based BMW and MINI vehicles? While BMW hasn’t ruled it out, it would seem on paper that the new 8AT offers most of what a DCT offers without the cost and complexities associated with a dual clutch set-up.
<p>It shows a silhouette of the 8-speed gearbox overlaying a silhouette of the 6-speed gearbox, and despite having two more gears the 8-speed gearbox is physically smaller.</p>
<p>I love manual transmissions…and the one in my 2015 Cooper S is ridiculously easy to drive, but I would buy a JCW 2-Door with an 8-speed and the ALL-4 drivetrain.</p>
<p>Chrysler uses the ZF 9-speed, designed soecifically for transverse engine applications. Land Rover was the first recipient of the ZF 9-speed and has had no problems with it at all. Chrysler, however, had some problems.</p>
<p>What’s that last pic supposed to represent? I see purple and gray fields, but no axis (axii?)</p>
<p>It shows a silhouette of the 8-speed gearbox overlaying a silhouette of the 6-speed gearbox, and despite having two more gears the 8-speed gearbox is physically smaller.</p>
<p>Aha, thanks! Thought I was looking at something completely different, lol.</p>
<p>I love manual transmissions…and the one in my 2015 Cooper S is ridiculously easy to drive, but I would buy a JCW 2-Door with an 8-speed and the ALL-4 drivetrain.</p>
<p>Has the 8-speed been reliable in the vehicles it’s been used in? Wasn’t Chrysler an early adopter?</p>
<p>No Chrysler doesn’t use Aisin. Just the new Lexus RX to my knowledge.</p>
<p>Chrysler uses the ZF 9-speed, designed soecifically for transverse engine applications. Land Rover was the first recipient of the ZF 9-speed and has had no problems with it at all. Chrysler, however, had some problems.</p>
<p>It is quite impressive how much performance is gained between the 8-speed and the 6-speed transmission!</p>