Zf 6 Speed Top Speed For Each Gear

[BFXR6T]

Hey Guys

I have tried searching but came up trumps, so can anyone advise what are the top speeds for each gear in the ZF 6 speed auto gearbox?

Also, are there any online reference sites that have all the techo info on the BF XR6T?

Thanks in advance

Simon

[EvilDaifu]

I have tried searching but came up trumps, so can anyone advise what are the top speeds for each gear in the ZF 6 speed auto gearbox?

Hi Simon,

I found this info on speeds for the ZF 6 speed auto in the Fords but an indication is in the Drivers Manual (in the glovebox) that shows speeds that should not be exceeded in each gear.

1st Gear 50 km/h

2nd Gear 75 km/h

3rd Gear 115 km/h

4th Gear 160 km/h

5th Gear not specified in manual

6th Gear not specified in manual

For the FPV F6 Typhoon (from Wheels Dec 2005 pp91)

1st 65 km/h at 6000 rpm

2nd 116 km/h at 6000 rpm

3rd 178 km/h at 6000 rpm

4th 238 km/h at 6000 rpm

5th 250 km/h at 4800 rpm (estimated or Ford's claims)

6th 250 km/h at 3800 rpm (estimated or Ford's claims)

[Iconic Bionic]

Just checked my manuel and was about to post the same thing.

[EZ2CME]

I would have thought 2nd gear would have lasted for longer.

[BFXR6T]

Thanks guys.

I too would have thought 2nd would be higher, but I can understand these low speeds in the manual.

EvilDaifu or Bionic, can either of you confirm if the BF XR6T speeds are the same as the manual or closer to the Typhoon speeds?

Cheers

Simon

[mattyc]

I have tried searching but came up trumps, so can anyone advise what are the top speeds for each gear in the ZF 6 speed auto gearbox?

1st Gear 50 km/h

2nd Gear 75 km/h

3rd Gear 115 km/h

4th Gear 160 km/h

5th Gear not specified in manual

6th Gear not specified in manual

←

Yyou sure about 2nd and 3rd gear there? that seems short....

[Lawsy]

For the ZF 6 speed auto, 2.73 diff, 245/45/18 @ 40PSI with 100% tread left, I came up with this...

63.52

113.20

174.26

232.35

304.46

383.88

[edit] At 6000rpm.

[Lawsy]

To get the same numbers Ford get, I have to use just over 6100rpm...

Or use perfect tyre circumferenses... Which, with my little spreadsheet, means a tyre pressure just over 55psi...

So I dunno if Ford actually tested it or just punched in the numbers like me.

[EDIT] Not that it really matters though... Was just pointing it out because.... Well I don't know why actually....

[FSIX]

After all the PM's I have recieved asking for a link to the tech article on the ZF, best I post it....this article has been taken from fordforums.com.au

.

FPV is set to hit its rivals for six - again. A key element of its new BF range of high-performance vehicles is an optional state of-the-art ZF six-speed transmission that blends the traditionally opposing driving characteristics of refinement, efficiency and performance.

This self-shifting six-speeder will be available on all FPV models, including the turbocharged F6 Typhoon and F6 Tornado which were previously only offered with the close ratio six-speed manual gearbox.

FPV is the first Australian high-performance manufacturer to offer a six-speed automatic transmission with the introduction of the state of-the-art new ZF 6HP26 gearbox, which features multiple driving modes and a number of innovative driving and safety features.

As was the case with the re-engineering of the Tremec T56 six-speed manual, the ZF six-speed automatic transmission has been tailored to suit the unique driving conditions and customer demands of the Australian high performance vehicle market,

"The introduction of a world-class six-speed automatic specifically suited to our conditions continues to build on our credentials of creating high-performance vehicles using the very latest, class-leading technology," said David Flint, Managing Director of Ford Performance Vehicles.

The ZF 6HP26 six-speed automatic is a compact and lightweight, high efficiency, high torque capacity transmission with a low first gear, higher top gear and smaller, more graduated steps between each gear.

"With a larger spread of ratios, the six-speed transmission offers real-world benefits in the traditionally divergent areas of performance and fuel consumption," Ford Australia's Calibration Supervisor, Tim Postgate, said,

"The low first gear greatly improves launch feel, while the larger and tighter spread of ratios delivers livelier performance, especially at wide open throttle, along with the added benefits of smoother shift quality and reduced fuel consumption.

"Gear shifts between the top few gears are often imperceptible, while the smaller steps between 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th also ensure less 'busyness' within the transmission as it determines the right gear.

"The end result of the transmission being in the right gear at the right time leads both to an improvement in vehicle performance and a reduction in fuel consumption.“

The six-speed automatic transmission is based Lepelletier gear set, which is constructed by connecting a planetary gear to a Ravigneaux gear - a double planetary gear set commonly used in four-speed automatic transmissions.

The sun of the planetary gear is connected housing and cannot rotate, while the carrier of the planetary gear is connected by clutches to the large and small sun wheels of the Ravigneaux gear.

The input shaft is always connected to the ring of the planetary gear and can be simultaneously connected to the carrier of the Ravigneaux gear using a separate clutch.

The output, or driven, shaft is connected to ring of the Ravigneaux gear.

There has been a host of hardware changes made to the six-speed automatic transmission to suit FPV models. These include a unique transmission main case, unique torque converter, new transmission cross member and a unique input/output driveshaft flange. FPV has assisted in the development of a specific high-performance version of the ZF transmission that features upgraded clutches with extra plates in each clutch pack.

The net result of these modifications is a torque capacity of 600Nm, which has allowed FPV to fit the transmission for the first time on the back of the F6 270 Turbo engine with its automatic transmission groundbreaking 550Nm of torque. Building on the mechanical strength of the transmission, another significant shift forward with the new gearbox is a major upgrade in computing power and software applications.

'The ZF transmission is able to tailor its responses to individual driving styles courtesy of a number of software functions and Driver Recognition features, all designed to deliver increased transmission functionality and performance, and a refined shift quality," Postgate said.

The Sequential Sports Shift feature introduced on BA Falcon continues as a key element of the new six-speed automatic transmission offering the same style of adaptive and performance automatic modes as well as total manual control through sequential manual shifting.

Torque converter clutch lock-up is available in all six forward gears, not just in the top two overdrive gears, which assists with better transmission cooling and reduced fuel consumption when towing heavy loads in city driving or hilly terrain. Electronic control of all gearshifts in the six-speed automatic transmission is via clutches rather than bands, delivering a more direct and refined shift quality. The internal Transmission Control Module (TCM), which is mounted on the hydraulic control valve assembly, or mechatronics unit, has been matched to the transmission's valve body. The TCM and the valve body are an exact matched pair, with the TCM being calibrated to the specific valve body during assembly, which ensures accuracy of operation and a more transmission, refined shift quality.

The transmission also has transient rpm limit that allows the F6 270 Turbo engine to momentarily exceed the prescribed rev limit during upshifting. This enables wide open throttle upshifting of gears to be scheduled at an engine speed closer to the rev limiter than would otherwise be possible.

The transient rpm feature allows the engine to exceed 6000 rpm - up to 6250 rpm - while the transmission is completing the gear change, thereby taking full advantage of the high engine performance of the F6 270 Turbo engines.

A host of advanced features are accessible to the driver as part of the Driver Recognition software with the six-speed automatic transmission (See breakout for details).

"Driver Recognition matches transmission performance to the current driving style by considering acceleration and deceleration rates, brake and throttle applications, and cornering speed, to ensure the vehicle is in the right gear at the right time without undesired gear shifts," Postgate said.

"The transmission 'learns' the driver's style and assigns a theoretical count system to certain driving scenarios to determine the activation point of particular features"

The count system extends from a "base" fuel economy bias (0 counts), through stages such as "sporty" driver (100 counts), up to "enthusiast" (200 counts).

The transmission software recognizes various performance-based actions, such as rapid acceleration / pullaways, enthusiastic cornering, pushing the accelerator pedal through the detent and moving the shift lever into performance mode, and increases the number of counts accordingly.

By moving the shift lever across from adaptive to performance mode, the driver recognition function increases by 100 counts instantly, making the advanced features more accessible, If the transmission had already learnt to 40 counts in adaptive mode, then when the shift lever is pushed across into the performance mode it would become 140 counts.

In performance mode, driver recognition can learn from "sporty", representing 100 counts, up to "enthusiast" (200 counts).

Counts can be gathered quickly as increases occur in blocks, while a more graduated, single point decrease in counts occurs when you return to a less sporty driving style.

"The Driver Recognition features allow for a tailored driving experience, where the transmission rewards different styles of driving at both ends of the performance spectrum," Postgate said.

"A lower point count and more normalized driving style will deliver significant benefits in terms of refinement and fuel economy, while a greater count will reward sporty driving with sharper responses and a more defined sporty feel."

The refinement of Ford's adaptive shift programming that occurred on BA Falcon has been further enhanced with the introduction of the ZF transmission in the BF range.

"The sheer capacity of the ZF transmission to allow for the real-time calculation of a variety of parameters has enabled us to further refine the shift strategy, shift schedules and shift pressures to cover a whole gamut of driving scenarios," Postgate said.

"With corner, grade and load recognition, the transmission is able to adapt its functionality to suit the situation as demanded by the driver"

Adaptive modes include economy, performance appropriate gear to account for the load being towed, which could be 4th, 5th or 6th gear, depending on the precise situation.

The result is improved vehicle performance and fuel economy, as well as improved engine and transmission efficiency.

An accelerator pedal detent feature has been introduced on all automatic FPV models, which provides physical feedback when accessing the kickdown switch.

When the accelerator pedal is pushed through the pedal detent to the floor, the kick-down switch (which is integrated into the accelerator pedal mechanism) activates the kickdown feature.

Depending on vehicle speed and the current gear, the kickdown switch will trigger a single or double downshift, However, to avoid potential damage to engine or gearbox, no downshift will occur if the engine speed is already too high to permit a lower gear from being selected.

The accelerator pedal map has also been revised for more refined foot rotation versus engine throttle-plate calibrations, which has improved driveability and resulted in more linear vehicle performance.

The new remote transmission oil cooler fitted to all automatic models is a heat exchanger mounted to the engine block with a three-way coolant thermostat.

It serves the dual function of using engine coolant to provide rapid warm-up of the transmission fluid during start-up, as well as improved cooling of the transmission under high load/high temperature operating conditions.

"The rapid warm-up feature delivers a significant reduction in friction losses within the transmission, contributing around 1.5 per cent to the overall improvement in fuel economy within the BF program," Postgate said.

"The remote oil cooler also delivers further refinement to shift quality, as well as reduced fuel consumption, due to better control of the operating temperature of the transmission."

The end result of introducing the ZF six speed transmissions to all FPV models is almost overwhelming. It improves almost every area of vehicle performance - from acceleration to fuel economy and safety - with refinement in shift quality that is second-to-none in an Australian built vehicle.

Hit for six? We've belted it over the grandstand and into the carpark.

With greater computing power in the new sixspeed automatic transmission, Ford and FPV have been able to introduce a host of smart features. These include:

GRADE CONTROL LOGIC (Automatic modes)

When driving downhill, with sufficient brake pedal pressure, the transmission will downshift to provide increased engine braking. Originally introduced with the four speed automatic on Territory, Grade Control Logic operates in an even more reined and subtle manner with the six-speed automatic transmission, as the gap between the gear changes is smaller and the execution of gear changes is smother.

UPSHIFT PREVENTION AT ZERO THROTTLE (Automatic modes)

When coasting downhill from rest, this feature inhibits upshifts beyond 2nd gear with zero throttle pedal input, to help prevent a 'running away' feeling.

EMERGENCY DOWNSHIFT (Manual mode)

When in manual mode, if the throttle pedal is pushed through the detent to activate the kickdown switch, the transmission will downshift to a lower gear (depending on vehicle speed) to provide acceleration in an emergency situation.

The transmission will then revert to full manual control, remaining in the dckdown gear and requiring the driver to input for upshift.

Already a feature of the four-speed automatic on BA, the emergency downshift function is more accessible on the six-speed automatic courtesy of its two additional gears – allowing a greater range of gear options for a potential downshift.

With the intuitive Driver Recognition software, there are a number of new high-tech driving features that are accessible with the six-speed automatic. These include:

BRAKE SUPPORT DOWNSHIFT (Automatic modes)

Driver Recognition will enable early downshifting during heavy braking, to provide

engine breaking and to optimise gear selection for tip-in (throttle reapplication) response.

GEAR HOLD AROUND CORNERS (Automatic Modes)

This feature will enable the selected gear to be

held when the vehicle cornering enthusiastically, to avoid an unwanted upshift or downshift through the corner.

Cornering is detected by differential wheel speed and the ABS sensors on each wheel.

GEAR HOLD GOING UPHILL / DOWNHILL (Automatic modes)

If the throttle pedal is released when traveling up or down hills,

upshifts are prevented to reduce hill shift busyness on grades (on tip-in when going up hill)

and to assist with vehicle speed control (reduce the need for repeated brake application).

GEAR HOLD, FAST OFF THROTTLE (Automatic modes)

Upshifts are Prevented when the throttle position sensor detects the driver has instigated a rapid lift off of the throttle pedal (fast off) and maintains the current gear until the tips in

(reapplies throttle pressure). It also helps Prevent shift busyness in

driver sporty when driving and inhibits the 'running away' feeling when cresting hills.

Pics below

GEAR RATIOS

1 4.17

2 2.34

3 1.52

4 1.14

5 0.87

6 0.69

R 3.40

[tab]

Same as this one http://www.ford.com.au/about/newsroom/2005...-20050817-3.asp

But still no mention of top speeds.

One thing that you haven't allowed for Lawsy is the ECU trying to keep everything under control. Doesn't the ZF have different rev limiter points for different gears or something?