As a relatively niche car manufacturer, Mazda has always adhered to its own philosophy, relying on its first-hand design and Chuangchi Blue Sky engine technology to make its own signature very brilliant. Since Mazda has positioned itself as a company Technology-led manufacturers, in addition to the Chuangchi Blue Sky technology that is the head of the engine, they are also very good at gearboxes.
The 6AT gearbox launched by Mazda, which claims to have the function of enabling the driver to unite the horse and the horse. , Enjoy the fun of acceleration, from the A-class car to the Atez in the B-class car, even the CX-8 of the medium and large SUV, all have a very good sense of control.
Even some large groups are extremely prone to getting stuck in gearbox R&D problems. As a niche car company, Mazda is unable to compete with some large companies due to funding, patents, and personnel. However, Mazda can rely on its own strength to create different levels and types of gearboxes comparable to those launched by major manufacturers?
6AT gearbox in Mazda, in Mazda manufacturer's internal code for ELFW6A-ELFW 6AT), is a gearbox independently developed, independently designed and produced by Mazda. After test-driving Mazda models, many fans think that Mazda gearboxes are ahead of similar models. , So where exactly is Mazda's gearbox?
First, on the structure of the Mazda 6AT gearbox, two sets of Simpson planetary gears are used. The solution is to cooperate with three free planetary mechanisms formed by three brakes and two clutches to achieve 6 forward gears through disassembly. The overall structure of the Mazda 6AT gearbox is similar to Toyota’s 6AT A761E gearbox. Many experienced fans think that Mazda’s 6AT gearbox is a special version of Aisin’s 6AT gearbox. This view is actually very one-sided.
There is a fundamental difference in the 6AT gearboxes introduced by these two manufacturers. The remarkable place is that the Toyota A761E gearbox is vertical and the Mazda FW6A-EL is horizontal; in addition, Mazda’s FW6A-EL gearbox is in the structural design (the transmission method used by the Aisin horizontal 6AT gearbox is Lay Pelletier type planetary gear structure) and component arrangement are also very different from Toyota A761E gearbox, so the two gearboxes are actually not very related.
The 6AT gearbox produced by Mazda is very distinctive in the overall mechanism design and uses The flat hydraulic torque converter produced by AST, even if it incorporates three planetary rows and three brakes inside the gearbox, as well as a set of brake hydraulic systems, it can ensure the radial controllability of the gearbox volume. However, it occupies more space inside the engine; with the multi-disc locking clutch, the process is simpler, simpler and more efficient than the structure of the Lepeleter type, making the locking interval of the entire planetary gear set as high as 89%. In the process of power transmission, The contact and transmission of the gears become more direct, and the vibration damping performance is stronger, which improves the transmission efficiency and response performance of the gearbox.
If the Mazda 6AT gearbox is arguing about the shortcomings, then it is the number of shaft layers in the gearbox center. More, the processing and assembly requirements for manufacturers are very high. Of course, Mazda did not seek Aisin OMG for the production of transmissions (Mazda has two transmission plants in Chonburi, Thailand and Hofu, Japan).
The Mazda gearbox is different from the Aisin 6AT gearbox except for the general structure. As a horizontal 6AT gearbox, it has many competitors in the market, but Mazda’s 6AT gearbox has made a lot of effort in setting the gear ratio to respond to the performance needs of different models and improve its brand’s performance. Competitiveness in the market.
In the process of designing the gearbox, Mazda has been striving for perfection in addition to the gearbox hardware foundation. Mazda is also good at tuning the TCU (Transmission Control Unit) of the gearbox. In the process of tuning this gearbox, Mazda not only considers the mechanical quality of the gearbox itself, but also needs to consider the different displacement engines that need to be matched.
on different models (except for Mazda MX5, Mazda MX5 uses a longitudinal rear drive, Mazda has no intention to develop a gearbox specifically for this model, so it uses Aisin longitudinal 6AT gearbox);
Among them, the TCM self-learning function has been added, which enables Mazda’s transmission to implement the concept of "the unity of man and horse" and collect the driver’s driving through the self-learning module Habits, manipulation data, etc., enable the gearbox to optimize the shift logic of the gearbox, so that the gearbox's up/down gear can be closer to the driver’s driving habits, so that consumers can enjoy the fun of driving. The features that are not available in other models of the same price and the same level on the market are also the reason why Mazda gearboxes are highly praised in the market.
In summary, Mazda’s FW6A-EL gearbox has a reasonable structural design. Corresponding mechanical quality, smooth transition gear ratio, excellent shift logic, and smart self-learning system enable this gearbox to match Mazda’s Chuangchi Blue Sky, allowing the driver to feel the unique charm of a naturally aspirated engine. It also allows consumers to know that even a front-wheel drive B-class car like Atez has impressive driving pleasure.
