The most common driveline configurations in cars are the standard drive with front longitudinal engine and rear wheel drive and the front-transverse drive with east west installed powertrain as well as all-wheel drive variants derived from these. These driveline configurations are used in different vehicle segments. The transmission systems mainly used today are automatic transmissions with 4 or 5 speeds and manual transmissions with 4, 5 or 6 speeds. A small number of automated manual transmissions (AMT) and continuously variable transmissions (CVT) are in production. Various systems of automated manual transmissions, powershift transmissions designed as double clutch transmissions and toroidal transmissions are currently being developed.
A brief explanation will be given about the structure of all different driveline configurations and the transmission systems will then be considered for specific applications in these different drivelines. The installation situation with transmission structure and space, potential for fuel savings with overall ratio and efficiency, reduction of emissions and noise levels, performance, drive comfort, transmission weight and manufacturing costs are considered as the main aspects within this paper. This leads to an assessment and recommendation for the use of certain transmission systems for the various driveline configurations.
In the future, both 6-speed automatic transmissions and 6-speed manual transmissions will be used on a wider scale with standard drives. The use of continuously variable transmissions will increase for front transverse drive. In the field of manual transmissions the 5-speeds will dominate in front transverse drive applications. The degree of automation will increase in this segment. For torque levels of up to approximately 180 Nm, preference will be given to the use of automated manual transmissions. The range of up to 350 Nm will be predominantly covered by CVT's, five and six-speed automatic transmissions will subsist in the segment above 350 Nm for transverse installation.