Which manufacturer produces the transmission for the Edge?
1 Answers
The 8AT automatic transmission in the Ford Edge is jointly developed by General Motors and Ford, and is independently researched and manufactured. The model is 8F35, and it is equipped in vehicles such as the Ford Edge, Ford Taurus, and Ford Focus. Compared to the 6AT transmission, the 8AT requires the addition of an extra set of planetary gears and two sets of clutches inside, which theoretically increases its size. However, engineers optimized the size of other components to offset the added volume, making the 8AT compact enough to fit into the engine bay of front-wheel-drive vehicles. Additionally, this 8AT transmission technically borrows the shift-by-shift gear-changing strategy from the 6AT. During upshifts or downshifts, the adjacent two gears are kept in a semi-engaged state, ensuring smooth and responsive shifting. Moreover, the torque converter in the 8AT transmission has a longer stroke, allowing it to lock directly at high speeds to improve transmission efficiency. This reduces fuel consumption at high speeds and enhances NVH performance.