Ford has developed a new version of its 10-speed transmission – which first featured in the 2017 Mustang – for the Transit light commercial vehicle.
The gearbox houses no fewer than six clutches used in pairs, meaning the torque converter does not need to disengage between shifts. The clutches are actuated by integrated solenoid valves, which improve shift times compared with a traditional auto, a system dubbed Casting-Integrated Direct Action Solenoid (CIDAS).
According to Ford, this system increases clutch pressure accuracy and reduces stroke time to deliver faster, smoother gear changes, resulting in more torque being transferred to the road more of the time. The 10-speed’s wide choice of ratios enables the engine to operate closer to its peak efficiency window throughout a range of driving conditions.
The new transmission will initially be available on the rear-drive, 170ps Transit, fitted with the 2-liter EcoBlue engine. Front-wheel drive, lighter duty variants of the van will retain the current 6-speed automatic.