Tag Archives: ZF Friedrichshafen

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BMW and ZF Bet Big on the Automatic: Why the 8-Speed Isn’t Going Anywhere

For years, the industry has been loudly preparing for a future without gears. EVs don’t need them, after all, and even hybrids are often pitched as smoother, simpler, and more software-driven. But BMW and ZF Friedrichshafen just dropped a very loud mechanical mic on that narrative.

The two companies have signed a multi-billion-euro contract that locks BMW into ZF’s 8HP eight-speed automatic transmission until the end of the 2030s—and not just as a legacy carryover. This deal is about evolving the automatic gearbox into something that works just as well in electrified cars as it does in traditional gasoline-powered ones.

In other words, the automatic isn’t dying. It’s getting smarter.

BMW’s Quietly Radical Decision

While some automakers are sprinting toward fully electric lineups, BMW continues to play a long game. The company has been clear that internal-combustion engines, mild hybrids, and plug-in hybrids will remain part of its portfolio well into the next decade. That requires a transmission that can do more than just shuffle ratios—it has to integrate seamlessly with electric motors, regenerative braking systems, and increasingly strict emissions rules.

Enter ZF’s 8HP.

This gearbox is already one of the industry’s most widespread units, used by everyone from BMW and Audi to Jeep and Rolls-Royce. But the next generation will be engineered specifically for the awkward middle age of the car industry—the phase where gasoline engines and electric motors have to coexist under the same hood.

Three Big Engineering Goals

ZF and BMW are steering the 8HP’s future along three main paths.

First, efficiency and emissions. The new versions will reduce internal friction, improve thermal management, and better coordinate with hybrid systems to squeeze out every possible gram of CO₂.

Second, performance across hybrid layouts. Whether it’s a 48-volt mild hybrid, a full plug-in system, or a traditional engine, the 8HP will be designed to handle electric torque fills, engine restarts, and blended propulsion without sacrificing BMW’s trademark throttle response.

And third, future-proofing. Regulations will keep tightening, and customer demand will keep shifting. ZF is effectively being paid to make sure this transmission platform doesn’t become obsolete halfway through the 2030s.

Why This Matters to Drivers

For BMW buyers, this is quietly excellent news.

The ZF 8HP is already one of the best automatics on the market—quick, smooth, durable, and far better than most dual-clutch gearboxes in daily driving. By continuing to refine it instead of replacing it with something unproven, BMW ensures that its future gas and hybrid cars will keep the crisp, confident shifting enthusiasts expect.

More importantly, it means BMW isn’t treating the next decade as a technological stopgap. Instead of rushing into half-baked solutions, the company is doubling down on a proven piece of hardware and evolving it for an electrified world.

In a time when many automakers are discarding everything mechanical in favor of software, BMW and ZF are making a different kind of bet: that great engineering still matters, even when electrons start sharing the workload.

And for drivers who still enjoy how a well-tuned automatic feels when you put your foot down, that’s very good news.

Source: BMW

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ZF Targets Tire Noise at CES 2026 with Software-Driven Chassis Innovation

At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, ZF will pull the covers off a deceptively simple idea with potentially far-reaching consequences for vehicle refinement: reducing tire noise inside the cabin using software rather than additional hardware.

Instead of relying on extra damping materials or microphone-based active noise cancellation systems—solutions typically reserved for premium vehicles—ZF’s new approach works directly through the chassis. At its core is a Smart Chassis sensor equipped with an integrated accelerometer that measures vibrations as they travel from the tire, through the suspension, and into the vehicle structure.

Once those vibrations are detected, the system responds in real time. Semi-active damper valves generate precisely controlled counter-signals, creating microscopic movements within the shock absorber. These movements are designed to cancel out noise before it reaches the cabin, all without compromising the damper’s primary role in ride comfort and handling.

The key lies in the software. ZF’s algorithm is trained to recognize characteristic vibration patterns associated with tire cavity noise, typically occurring at around 200 Hz. By targeting this specific frequency range, the system can effectively suppress one of the most persistent and difficult-to-isolate sources of road noise in modern vehicles.

In its current development stage, the technology achieves a noise reduction of more than 3 dB—a noticeable improvement in perceived cabin quietness. ZF says future iterations could push that figure as high as 10 dB, a level that would significantly alter the acoustic character of a vehicle, particularly in electric cars where tire noise is more prominent due to the absence of engine sound.

Mass production is planned for 2028, and ZF hints that this is only the beginning. The same principle could be adapted for other applications, including active brake noise reduction, further expanding the role of software-defined chassis systems.

CES 2026, taking place from January 6 to 9 in Las Vegas, will serve as the first public stage for this innovation—one that suggests the next leap in automotive refinement may come not from more insulation, but from smarter suspension code.

Source: ZF

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ZF Unveils Innovative EV Powertrain Promising Up to 30% More Winter Range

The German engineering powerhouse ZF has revealed a breakthrough in electric vehicle (EV) drivetrain technology that could significantly reduce one of the biggest hurdles in EV adoption: winter range loss. With its newly developed Select modular powertrain, ZF claims electric vehicles could achieve up to 30% more range in extreme cold conditions.

Tackling EVs’ Achilles Heel: Cold Weather Efficiency

Cold weather is a well-documented nemesis for EVs. When temperatures drop, so does efficiency—sometimes alarmingly. Range losses of up to 30% are not uncommon, leaving drivers frustrated and anxious during the winter months. These losses stem largely from battery inefficiencies and the increased energy demand of cabin heating systems in frigid temperatures.

Manufacturers and research institutions have long been searching for a remedy. Now, ZF, globally recognized for its sophisticated transmission systems, may have brought the industry closer to a solution.

Inside the Select Modular Powertrain

ZF’s new Select drive unit is a modular, fully integrated system combining an electric motor, inverter, converter, gearbox, and intelligent software. The components are not only designed to work seamlessly together but are also interchangeable, allowing automakers to tailor the setup for specific vehicle platforms and performance needs.

But the real headline is ZF’s magnetless motor technology. Known as the I²SM (In-Rotor Inductive-Excited Synchronous Machine), this motor eschews rare-earth permanent magnets in favor of a more sustainable, space-efficient design. The result? A unit that’s lighter by up to 5 kilograms and capable of squeezing into tighter spaces—ideal for compact EV architectures.

Despite shedding weight and magnets, performance hasn’t been sacrificed. The I²SM motor produces up to 300 kW (408 hp) and a staggering 5,500 Nm of torque, all while reducing energy losses by more than 25% at steady highway speeds—a critical factor in long-distance winter driving.

Smarter Thermal Management with “TherMas”

Perhaps equally important as the new motor is ZF’s enhanced thermal management solution. Dubbed TherMas, the system integrates a compact cooling loop and a propane-based heat pump, delivering superior heating efficiency in subzero temperatures.

According to ZF, at -7°C, the Select system extends EV range by 15% compared to current systems. Push that to -25°C, and the gain rises to a remarkable 30%. For drivers in northern climates or alpine regions, this could be the difference between a confident winter commute and a compromised one.

A Step Toward Broader EV Adoption

ZF’s innovation arrives at a pivotal time. As governments tighten emissions regulations and automakers race toward electrification, solving the issue of cold-weather range anxiety is critical. By rethinking both motor design and thermal efficiency, the Select powertrain addresses this challenge head-on.

With scalability, modularity, and sustainability built into its core, ZF’s Select system could become a key enabler for the next generation of electric mobility—especially in the markets that need it most during winter’s worst.

Source: ZF Friedrichshafen