Ford is dumping $1.4B into one of it's transmission plants...the one that will produce the new 10 speed. Production begins in June.

Also noted, "That unit will take up home in certain F-150 models, including the Raptor."

Sounds like at least limited availability across the line, possibly the higher end models initially (that's just a guess).

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...ission-plants/

 

Ford has been talking about the 10 speed in the 2017 Raptor for some time now.

Not sure why there is continued one upsmanship on gear count, I love the 8 speed in my wife's GC and FILs Ram. The existing 6 speed in my F150 is the worst part of the truck!

 

"I can make a hat, a broach, a pterodactyl..." - Sorry, I couldn't resist!

 

Stab in the dark if it's due to limited supply I can imagine it coming with lariat and above ecoboost 3.5 second gen engines. Wanting not only to give the new engines the most benefit mpg wise but also another reason to go up trim. If it's not because of supply I would say all engines lariat and above for same reasons above and carb. Following year all trims. Could be 3 year roll out but I doubt it. But who knows.

 

What caught my attention was the comment about "take up home in certain F-150 models, including the Raptor," which seems to say the availability will be beyond the Raptor this next year. Speculation about which models, as you say, Lariet and above, depending upon factory output.

@steelo. Like it or not, it's all about CAFE and fuel economy. The best way is via a CVT but those have Hp/torque limitations. Savings are reported to be about 5%. The closer you can get to the infinite number of gears a CVT provides with a standard automatic the better the mileage. Of course there is the point of diminishing returns, and not to forget marketing "bragging rights." Ford is not about to let itself fall behind RAM's mileage with it's biggest profit maker and largest production vehicle. Which is also the why of the diesel rumors too.

 

I would guess it will come on any truck sporting the 3.5eco....as this is on models across the board including the 2017 Raptor...


just a hunch


.

 

I would look at Chevy and see what they option the 8 speed with, just guessing but I would say the higher trim levels will get the 10 speed leaving the lower trim levels with the 6 speed

 

I would be interested in seeing the mileage difference between two cars that are the same other than the trans, with one being a CVT and the other a 6 speed auto. I can see being able to nurse better mileage, but a normal driver? In my opinion, the RPMs stay too high with a cvt.

 

had that same thought too. Possibly. We will see soon.

 

It's easy to believe higher RPM would counter the savings, but CVTs allow an engine to be tuned at it's "sweet spot," normally a very narrow RPM range and there fore optimizing mileage. More gears in the transmission allow mapping to get closer to that spot. Problem with CVTs is that customers don't like them very much so manufactures programmed in "shift points" making them more like a normal geared transmission.

As proof in point, in '84 I bought a new '84 Audi Quattro 4000. 2.2L 5-cyl 5-speed. 70MPH was 4,000 RPM. 27 MPG highway. Sold it with 150,000 miles. Used no oil. Nice thing was that 4,000 RPM was right in the middle of the torque curve so there was plenty of passing power. Point is, don't fear high RPM or reduced MPG just because of those higher revs.