132KW Amarok

[Mad Manny]

Although I personally do not like this technology I can see why they went that route.
An 8 Speed box is lighter than a 5 speed box plus a Low range transfer case.
Also, you can use all 8 all the time (as Vossie explained).

I'm sure that you will, in many cases, pull off in 2nd & almost immediately slip into 3rd.
So effectively you'll be, largely, using 6 speeds.

I assume that the when off roading it would lock you in 1st only or 1st & 2nd only.

I'm just thinking of something like coming down Koos Se Klim, if you chose NOT to use HDC, you would want to be locked in 1st, obviously.

Vossie, are there actually 8 forward gears in the box? (I'm talking cogs here), I know VW had a box that used 4 secondary gears on a large primary drive gear & then flipped over to another primary drive gear & re-used the same 4 secondary gears as 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th.
In other words there were only six cogs for the eight gears (ignoring reverse).
I'm guessing, but sounds like there are 2 primary cogs & 6 secondary cogs.
The 1st primary cog drives the 1st 2 secondary cogs (Your low range 1st & 2nd) then the larger primary cog takes over, & re-uses the 1st two secondary cogs as 3rd & 4th & then others for 5, 6, 7 & 8.

Or am I totally confused...?

[Makaira]

8-speed ZF box

[Eurard]

Manny dont know if you are confused but hell I am.

[Robbief]

Wonderlik!! Te vroeg om te weet of dit dogtertjie of seuntjie is?

You mean you are not sure if its a Amarok or Amabroek

[Vossie]

This comes from Volkswagenmanuals.com and from what I understand from other sites, this is the same type used in the Amarok. (Manufactured by ZF)

In all Volkswagen Touareg versions, a new 8-speed automatic transmission is being used - an advanced development of the previous 6-speed automatic transmission. That makes this Volkswagen the first SUV in the world with this type of transmission. The automatic is designed for engine torques of up to 850 Newton-metres. Due to the two additional gear levels, a 20 percent larger gearing spread can be attained between 1st and 8th gears. This accomplishes two objectives: First, thanks to this larger spread, the engines operate with even greater efficiency over all speed ranges, making them both more fuel efficient and responsive. Second, it was possible to lay out the 7th and 8th gears as speed-reducing gears (20 percent reduction) - fuel-saving overdrive gears.
On the transmission of the previous model, 6th gear handled this job. On the new 8-speed automatic, on the other hand, the car's top speed is reached in 6th gear. The lower engine rpms attained in this way have a positive effect on noise levels as well. If the engine speed required to reach top speed in 6th gear is considered 100 percent, this means that in 8th gear engine speed is reduced by 34 percent. An example: At 130 km/h cruising speed, the Volkswagen Touareg's V6 TSI only turns at about 2,200 rpm. To optimally isolate the drivetrain from vibration generated by engine torque, further improvements to the torsional damping provided by the torque converter have been made.
In the Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid, the 8-speed automatic - which shifts faster than the gearbox on the previous model - is coupled to a transfer case with Torsen differential. This results in a 40:60 distribution of the propulsive force between the front and rear axles. The Torsen differential is already being used in a similar form within the Volkswagen Group, but it was further refined for the Touareg to improve its weight and efficiency.
Back to the automatic: By using a low-friction transmission fluid (Automatic Transmission Fluid / ATF) and a newly developed heat exchanger, additional fuel economy gains were achieved by lowering friction losses - especially in the cold running phase of the automatic transmission. The so-called plate heat exchanger has been mounted on the back of the transmission, and both coolant from the engine cooling system and ATF circulate through it. The heat exchanger serves two purposes: As soon as the ATF exceeds a predefined temperature, the heat exchanger is used to cool the oil. If there is further need to cool, an auxiliary ATF-Air heat exchanger in the front end is also activated. This assures that optimal temperatures are maintained in the automatic even under extreme conditions, which are not all that rare in an SUV.
To implement the VW Touareg's smoothly transitioning Stop-Start function in every driving phase, the transmission must be provided with sufficient oil pressure to ensure slip-free power transfer within the gear elements. Conventional gearboxes only accomplish this once the engine has attained a specific idling speed, so that the mechanically driven transmission oil pump can build up sufficient oil pressure and oil flow. This is different on the Volkswagen Touareg's 8-speed automatic: Here the system is supplemented by an electrically driven pump, which is able to maintain a stable oil pressure level within the hydraulic system during the engine's stopped phase.

[Francois Theron]

Looking at the pic that Makaira posted, at least 3 planetary gear sets are visible. That makes a lot of sense and effectively give you many options for number of gears avaialble. Gear changes will be smooth and wear and tear is minimal.

Vw and / or ZF put some thought into this. Should be very nice to drive.

[JJJ]

Hi Francois,

The title is not directed at you , but here is perhaps a better image of the internal workings, with legends.

The transmission has 4 planetary gear sets, 3 clutches and 2 brakes.

For more detail and how the sets are combined in terms of clutches and brakes to achieve the 8 forward ratios PLUS reverse, see the attachment in my previous post - straight off the ZF website.

[ManaMan]

Looks like fantastic technology, but I would image you would need to be wearing many layers of amabroekies should something go wrong with that gearbox out of warranty and you get your repair quote

[Francois Theron]

Thanks JJJ, I saw the clutches etc but didn't want to get too technical.

@Manaman, I would quite honestly choose this type of gearbox well before a normal manual simply because it will have a much softer action with less wear. What it will need is clean oil at all times and if it was mine I will service it regularly. Nothing different from what a number of earth moving equipment has been using for years.

Ever since I was taught the workings of planetary gears 30 odd years ago, I was wondering why it wasn't used in more automotive applications.

Also glad to see they went the 4 sun gears route instead of only 3. Nice and strong.

[Makaira]

Looks like fantastic technology, but I would image you would need to be wearing many layers of amabroekies should something go wrong with that gearbox out of warranty and you get your repair quote

Man o man what would you rather do? Pay 450K for a vehicle with that gearbox in it or the same price for a Hilux with a 4-speed box from the stone ages and feel screwed?

[Bogaards]

You mean you are not sure if its a Amarok or Amabroek

Exactly!

[Bogaards]

Dis interessant, het iemand dalk 'n video van hoe dit werk en so? Sien nou uit dat die auto moet kom dat ons sien hoe dit doen!

[sohail1]

Man o man what would you rather do? Pay 450K for a vehicle with that gearbox in it or the same price for a Hilux with a 4-speed box from the stone ages and feel screwed?

lolol nice comment i feel the same my Dad is stoked with the new Amarok and is seriously considering getting the current one but i think i managed to convince him to wait for the Auto.
By the way he is a Toy fan through and through

[Cobus80]

132Kw & 420NM form a 2.0l...makes Ford's "fantastic" 147kw 3.2l look a little silly!

Fantastic gearbox that 8spd! VW is surley bringing the advancements that the bakkie market lacked for a very long time. Hell the other makes are still offering 4spd autos! Sjoe!

All that we need from the Amarok now is to provide full-time 4wd capability. Strange that they opted to only bring the part-time 4wd so ZA.

[Eurard]

Sjoe luckily mine is now 139kw 440NM but you Amarokers are not allowed to chip. That would just wrong and totally against your warrentees!

[KEKPIET]

Die eerste road (off road) test is in die nuwe Leisure wheels. Hulle het hom in Spanje by die bekendstelling gery. Kyk egter na daai mooi Amarok op hulle voorblad.

[RiaanR]

Sjoe luckily mine is now 139kw 440NM but you Amarokers are not allowed to chip. That would just wrong and totally against your warrentees!

Hi Eurard,

Is that power on the wheels or calculated power on fly wheel?

[Eurard]

Converted to fly wheel as is the same with all manufacturer specs. I will be one happy camper if it was on the wheels!

[johannes14]

Manny, if you go to both VW.co.za and VWCommercial.co.za and look at the specs and prices you will see what I mean. Apology excepted!

And Oom Sarel is right - you are on the VW forums more often than the Amarok owners. Don't you think it's time..................

Apology accepted

[RiaanR]

Converted to fly wheel as is the same with all manufacturer specs. I will be one happy camper if it was on the wheels!

en hoeveel is dit op die wiele?