Land Rover will soon ship its Evoque CUV with a new nine-speed automatic transmission designed by driveline specialist ZF.

The British company said increasing the number of gear ratios to nine will help reduce emissions and improve efficiency

Land Rover will demonstrate this world’s first nine-speed automatic transmission for a passenger car at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

Known as the ZF 9HP, this transmission is designed for transverse applications, and is said by Land Rover to be one of the most efficient and technically advanced transmissions ever used in a production vehicle.

Increasing the number of gear ratios from six to nine will help reduce emissions and improve efficiency. Smaller ratio steps also give improved response during acceleration, with improved shift quality and refinement. A higher top gear improves efficiency by lowering engine speed, which also improves comfort and reduces noise when cruising at highway speeds.

The lowest ratio in the 9HP is lower than the existing six-speed transmission and is designed for off-road use, towing, and on-road conditions like steep gradients.

Whereas the existing six-speed transmission makes downshifts sequentially, the 9HP has a skip-shift function for much swifter downshifting to meet rapid deceleration demands. If the driver requests a downshift when the vehicle is traveling too fast for the selected gear, the transmission will remember the request and make the shift when the speed drops to an appropriate level. “Fast-Off” mode measures the rate of throttle release, anticipates further requests by the driver for high power, then holds the gear if necessary.

The torque converter incorporates a multi-stage damper system for smoother pull away and improved refinement. An innovative adaptive shifting system matches the driver’s mood within seconds, sharpening up during brisk driving and then seamlessly shifting to a more economical program when taking a more relaxed driving approach. Additionally, “Curve Mode,” detected acceleration/deceleration forces, and pedal position all control upshift timing.

Despite the extra three gear ratios, the 9HP is only 0.24 inches (6mm) longer and actually weighs 16.5 pounds (7.5kg) less than the outgoing Evoque six-speed transmission. The compact packaging is achieved by using a number of innovative design features: a new compact hydraulic vane-type pump; two patented dog clutches replacing bulkier conventional clutch packs; and a nested gear set.

ZF said this transmission can return savings of up to 16 percent in fuel consumption when compared to a six speed transmission; Land Rover has not yet revealed the official fuel consumption ratings of the Evoque with this new nine speed transmission.

The new nine-speed transmission will be produced at ZF’s Gray Court facility in South Carolina, USA.

The following is a promotional video produced by ZF that illustrates some of the internals of the 9HP transmission:

We can expect this transmission to show up as part of the driveline of other vehicles in the near future. ZF said the 9HP is compatible with hybrid technology and with start-stop features.

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The ix35 Fuel Cell vehicle is based on Hyundai’s popular ix35, C-segment SUV, known in North America as the Tucson.

“With the ix35 Fuel Cell vehicle, Hyundai is leading the way into the zero-emissions future,” said Hyundai Motor Vice Chairman, Eok Jo Kim. “The ix35 Fuel Cell is the most eco-friendly vehicle in the auto industry and proves that hydrogen fuel cell technology in daily driving is no longer a dream.”

The ix35 Fuel Cell produced today will be one of 17 destined for fleet customers in the City of Copenhagen, Denmark and Skåne, Sweden.

The Municipality of Copenhagen, as part of its initiative to be carbon-free by 2025, will be supplied with 15 ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles for fleet use, according to an agreement that was announced in September 2012.  Two ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles will be supplied to Skåne, Sweden.

“Assembly-line production of fuel cell vehicles marks a crucial milestone in the history of the automobile industry not just in Korea, but throughout the world,” said Mang Woo Park, mayor of Ulsan city. “By supplying more hydrogen refueling stations to support the eco-friendly fuel cell vehicles produced, we will make Ulsan the landmark for eco-friendly automobiles.”

Hyundai said it plans to build 1,000 ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles by 2015 for lease to public and private fleets, primarily in Europe, where the European Union has established a hydrogen road map and initiated construction of hydrogen fueling stations.

According to Hyundai, the strategy of leading automakers in Europe and the U.S. is to supply hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and establish refueling stations in order to prepare the market for mass production of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

After 2015, with lowered vehicle production costs and further developed hydrogen infrastructure, Hyundai will begin manufacturing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for consumer retail sales.

Built with proprietary technology, Hyundai’s ix35 Fuel Cell is powered by hydrogen. A fuel cell stack converts the hydrogen into electricity, which turns the vehicle’s motor. The only emission generated by the ix35 Fuel Cell is water.

Hyundai’s ix35 Fuel Cell boasts drivability and performance similar to that of the gas-powered ix35.

Modularization of fuel cell systems for the core part of the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle – fuel cell stack, driving device and inverter –  enabled the engine to be downsized to match the size of a gas engine while improving productivity and making maintenance more convenient.

The ix35 Fuel Cell is considered by the Korean company as the halo vehicle in Hyundai’s Blue Drive sub-brand, the badge worn by Hyundai’s cleanest vehicles, including the Sonata Hybrid, i20 Blue Drive and BlueOn, Hyundai’s battery-powered i10.

The ix35 Fuel Cell can be refueled with hydrogen in a few minutes. It accelerates from zero to 100 kilometer per hour (62 mph) in 12.5 seconds, has a top speed of 160 kilometer per hour (100 mph) and can travel 594 kilometers (369 miles) on before refueling.

The first ix35 Fuel Cell vehicle to roll off the assembly line is currently being shipped in order to be displayed at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show next week.

The post Fuel Cell Now A Reality For Hyundai appeared first on HybridCars.com.

According to Kia, the Cross GT seamlessly melds high technology with nature, creating a harmonious partnership between driver and vehicle that also respects our global environment.

While purely a concept, the Cross GT does reveal Kia’s intentions to potentially offer a larger premium CUV than the current Sorento.

“The debut of the GT in 2011 heralded a new frontier for Kia, both from a design and a business perspective,” noted Peter Schreyer, Kia Motors Corporation president and global chief of design.  “It beautifully illustrated to the world that the brand was ready to explore the possibility of perhaps one day offering a full-size rear-drive luxury saloon.  The Cross GT, with its raised stance and large cargo area, allows us to envision the GT in the form of a full-size luxury crossover.”

The Cross GT is based on Kia’s rear-drive GT-chassis and has short overhangs, a long wheelbase and an aggressively wide posture. But the Cross GT offers even greater visibility thanks to its taller stature and features all-wheel drive for improved performance and all-weather capability.

The Cross GT is powered by what Kia calls an efficient hybrid powertrain that looks to reduce the vehicle’s carbon footprint. Starting with the company’s 3.8-liter V6 hybrid, 8-speed automatic and torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive, the concept adds an evolution of Kia’s parallel hybrid system, a pancake-shaped electric motor sandwiched between the V6 and the transmission.

The electric motor is packaged under the rear floor.  Combined, the V6 and electric motor produce 500 pound-foot of torque and 400 horsepower, with an all-electric range of 20-miles – sufficient according to Kia to enable exhilarating performance, while delivering superior fuel economy and fuel efficiency.

While strictly a concept powertrain, Kia’s hybrid technology, combined with all-wheel drive are ideas that Kia said may one day find their way into a production vehicle.

At 122.0 inches, the Cross GT’s wheelbase is longer than Sorento’s by 15.7 inches, and its overall length of 192.8 inches is 8.4 inches greater than the Sorento. Still compared to the Sorento, the 79.1-inch width is 4.9 inches wider, but the Cross GT’s overall height of 65.3 inches is actually 1.6 inches shorter, giving the concept a lower roofline than most large CUVs.

The Cross GT has dual rear-hinged doors, more commonly referred to as “suicide” doors.  The unique configuration allows for easy access to the rear bucket seats.

The cargo compartment is accessed through a “clam shell” design that incorporates a traditional glass hatch and a tailgate.

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