7G-Tronic is Mercedes-Benz's trademark name for its 7-speed automatic transmission, starting off with the W7A 700 and W7A 400 (Wandler-7-Gang-Automatik bis 700 oder 400 Nm Eingangsdrehmoment; converter-7-gear-automatic with 516 or 295 ft·lb maximum input torque; type 722.9) as core models.
This fifth-generation transmission was the first 7-speed automatic transmission ever used on a production passenger vehicle.[1] In all applications this transmission is identified as the New Automatic Gearbox Generation Two, or NAG2. It initially debuted in Autumn 2003 on 5 different V8-cylinder models: the E 500, S 430, S 500, CL 500, and SL 500. It became available on many 6-cylinder models too. Turbocharged V12 engines, 4-cylinder applications and commercial vehicles continued to use the older Mercedes-Benz 5G-Tronic transmission for many years.
The company claims that the 7G-Tronic is more fuel efficient and has shorter acceleration times and quicker intermediate sprints than the outgoing 5-speed automatic transmission.[1] It has 2 reverse gears.
The transmission can skip gears when downshifting. It also has a torque converter lock-up on all 7 gears, allowing better transmission of torque for improved acceleration. The transmission's casing is made of magnesium alloy, a first for the industry, to save weight.[citation needed] The 7G-Tronic transmission is built at the Mercedes-Benz Stuttgart-Untertuerkheim plant in Germany, the site of Daimler-Benz's original production facility.
In July 2009, Mercedes-Benz announced they are working on a new nine-speed automatic.[2]
^Differences in gear ratios have a measurable, direct impact on vehicle dynamics, performance, waste emissions as well as fuel mileage
Specifications
Operating Modes
Regular
In normal condition it sequentially shift gears, but if required it can skip some gears, that are: 7 to 5, 6 to 2, 5 to 3 and 3 to 1.[3]
On vehicles with 6 or 8 cylinder engines with comfort mode engaged, as well as on off-road vehicles with low range selected, the transmission will always use 2nd gear as initial gear.[4]
„Limp-Home Mode“
If the transmission control unit senses a critical fault during driving, it will activate an emergency operating mode: Upon hydraulic failures, it will stop shifting gears and permanently retain the currently selected gear; if the failure can be pinpointed to one of the internal hydraulic control valves, the transmission will continue shifting but stop using the affected gear(s). Upon electrical failure, the transmission shifts to 6th gear.
If the critical fault persists after the vehicle is stopped and the engine restarted, only 2nd gear and reverse gear #2 are available.[3]
AMG SpeedShift
AMG SpeedShift TCT
The TCT transmission is essentially the 7G-Tronic automatic transmission including "Torque Converter Technology".
Sporty, performance-oriented version with the same gear ratios. First used in 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG.[5]
In 2007, 7G-Tronic transmission with AMG SpeedShift was also called '7G-Tronic Sport'.[6]
The MCT transmission is essentially the 7G-Tronic automatic transmission without a torque converter. Instead of a torque converter, it uses a compact wet startup clutch to launch the car from a stop and also supports computer-controlled double-clutching. The MCT (Multi-Clutch Technology) acronym refers to a planetary (automatic) transmission's multiple clutches and bands for each gear.[7]
The MCT is fitted with 4 drive modes: "C" (Comfort), "S" (Sport), "S+" (Sport plus) and "M" (Manual) and boasts 0.1 second shifts in "M" and "S+" modes. MCT-equipped cars are also fitted with the new AMG Drive Unit with an innovative Race Start function. The AMG Drive Unit is the central control unit for the AMG SpeedShift MCT 7-speed sports transmission and all driving dynamics functions. The driver can change gears either using the selector lever or by nudging the steering-wheel shift paddles. The new Race start Function is a launch control system that enables the driver to call on maximum acceleration while ensuring optimum traction of the driven wheels.
It is available on the 2009 SL 63 AMG and E 63 AMG, and will be used for the 2011 S 63 AMG and CL 63 AMG, and the 2012 CLS 63 AMG and C 63 AMG.
Compulsory on the 2014 CLS 63 and E 63 AMG models, as well as their "S--Model" variants. Improved with the release of the 2015 model year, by decreasing the lag time between shifts.
Layout
Progress is reflected in 7 forward gears[a] using 11 main components,[8][3][9] compared to 5 forward gears[b] with 9 main components in the previous 5G-Tronic transmission. This turns out the design as advanced compared to its predecessor but less economical compared to its competitors. It uses no bands nor sprag clutches.[3] It is fully electronic controlled. Torque converter lock-up can operate in all 7 forward gears.[3]
^ abcdeStandard 50:50 — 50 % Is Above And 50 % Is Below The Average Gear Step —
With steadily decreasing gear steps (yellow highlighted line Step)
and a particularly large step from 1st to 2nd gear
the lower half of the gear steps (between the small gears; rounded down, here the first 3) is always larger
and the upper half of the gear steps (between the large gears; rounded up, here the last 3) is always smaller
than the average gear step (cell highlighted yellow two rows above on the far right)
lower half: smaller gear steps are a waste of possible ratios (red bold)
upper half: larger gear steps are unsatisfactory (red bold)
^ abcdeIn line with the logic for the 2nd reverse gear of the predecessor 5G-Tronic, the extended layout provides this 3rd reverse gear, but it was not used in the transmission that was finally launched on the market
^ abcStandard R:1 — Reverse And 1st Gear Have The Same Ratio —
The ideal reverse gear has the same transmission ratio as 1st gear
no impairment when maneuvering
especially when towing a trailer
a torque converter can only partially compensate for this deficiency
Plus 11.11 % minus 10 % compared to 1st gear is good
Plus 25 % minus 20 % is acceptable (red)
Above this is unsatisfactory (bold)
^Standard 1:2 — Gear Step 1st To 2nd Gear As Small As Possible —
With continuously decreasing gear steps (yellow marked line Step)
the largest gear step is the one from 1st to 2nd gear, which
for a good speed connection and
a smooth gear shift
must be as small as possible
A gear ratio of up to 1.6667:1 (5:3) is good
Up to 1.7500:1 (7:4) is acceptable (red)
Above is unsatisfactory (bold)
^ abFrom large to small gears (from right to left)
^ abcdeStandard STEP — From Large To Small Gears: Steady And Progressive Increase In Gear Steps —
Gear steps should
increase: Δ Step (first green highlighted line Δ Step) is always greater than 1
As progressive as possible: Δ Step is always greater than the previous step
Not progressively increasing is acceptable (red)
Not increasing is unsatisfactory (bold)
^ abcdeStandard SPEED — From Small To Large Gears: Steady Increase In Shaft Speed Difference —
Shaft speed differences should
increase: Δ Shaft Speed (second line marked in green Δ (Shaft) Speed) is always greater than the previous one
1 difference smaller than the previous one is acceptable (red)
2 consecutive ones are a waste of possible ratios (bold)