Most people associate Mercedes Benz with innovation and quality. Its luxurious interiors are feature-packed and provide comfort and convenience to drivers and passengers alike. However, performance is what really makes Mercedes Benz stand out. This, in turn, is made possible by the famous g-tronic series of automatic transmissions, notably the 9G tronic and 7G tronic. In particular, the 9G tronic automatic transmission provides a more efficient and smoother drive for its drivers. It’s no wonder that Mercedes-Benz has introduced technology that will introduce comfort, efficiency, and performance. In this article, we tell you all you need to know about the 9g tronic automatic transmission.
What is G-Tronic?
G-Tronic refers to a range of automatic transmissions that have a manual mode, and are exclusively installed on SsangYong and Mercedes-Benz cars. The very first G-tronic to ever grace the market was a 4g automatic gearbox released way back in 1981. This has since evolve3d and today there is the 9g tronic transmission that offers superior efficiency and operation. Note that all the G range of gearboxes are developments of Daimler AG. The characteristics of all these gearboxes include reliability, the ability to transmit high torques, and high performance.
What is the 9G-tronic Automatic Transmission?
It is the latest in the g-tronic series of gearboxes, and this automatic transmission is characterized by a more comfortable drive and smoother shifting. The benefits of the nine-gear transmission do not end there. More importantly, this type of gearbox also dramatically improves fuel economy, leading to reduced fuel consumption of about 6.5% on average. The 9G automatic transmission, which is an innovation from Mercedes, is the first automatic transmission in the world that features a hydrodynamic torque converter. Under the transmission, the torque is transmitted using fluid as opposed to a mechanical clutch. The 9G transmission has three driving modes that you can select, and these are Eco, Manual, and Dynamic. This way, drivers can shift their own gears by the use of paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel. Although it has nine gears, this transmission system is still compact and lightweight, as it is made from aluminum alloy. The smaller stature of the transmission system also increases fuel efficiency.
How does the Mercedes 9G-TRONIC Transmission work?
An upgrade from the innovative and legendary 7g-tronic, the 9g tronic uses the same drive program, which is based on shifting gears early to keep engine revs low. This provides imperceptible gear transmission that allows for as comfortable a ride as possible. The lower revs, apart from increasing comfort, also mean reduced noise level. Additionally, this 9g tronic is also capable of jumping gears even as you downshift. This means you can get powerful and quick acceleration in no time. containing an extended gear ratio, your car can cruise very fast even with no high engine speed. This way, the performance, efficiency, and comfort are optimized.
The 9G-Tronic Operating Principle
The G tronic series of gearboxes operate on the principle of automatic transmission featuring electronic control and hydraulic torque converter and features a torque converter lockup. At the start, this enabled drivers to choose the uppermost gears. Later, it enabled the implementation of a full manual mode which was found on all the subsequent generations of the automatic transmission.
These transmissions, as a rule, contain several automatic operation modes, for example, Comfort, Eco, and Sport. There are many ways to choose your desired mode, and these include a special switch, button, or selector located on the central console. Switching to a manual mode just requires putting the gear in the “D” position and then nudging it left in the direction of the negative (-) sign. Doing this locks the gear that was presently engaged. To shift up the gears or down, you just need to nudge the selector in the direction of the positive sign (+). To shift the gears manual, you can use paddle shifters but this has to be available in your vehicle.
Typical Service schedules for the 9G Tronic
Since it features a very intricate form of precision engineering, the 9G automatic transmission gearbox has to be constantly maintained for it to work optimally. Not sticking to the recommended maintenance schedule can result in serious problems with the gearbox. This might be expensive to fix in the long run.
The best recommendation for service of the gearbox is at least once in five years or after 75000 miles. A typical service session will see a number of things performed, like changing the oil and gearbox filter. Sometimes, the dealership or the mechanic may recommend performing additional services which may prevent further problems down the road.
Comparing the 9G Tronic and the 7G Tronic Automatic Transmissions
The 7g Tronic is the platform upon which the 9g Tronic was built. However, it has a lot of improvement on the earlier version. The G9 tronic gearbox first debuted on the Mercedes E350 BE in 2013. It contained the most apparent improvements that the 9g tronic packed.
And although the 0-60 mph are 6.6s for 7g and 9g versions, the E 350 Blue Efficiency shows superior fuel consumption to its predecessor. The consumption of the E350 BE is 53.3 mpg which is better than the 51.4 mpg that the 7g model offers. Another area where 9g trounces its predecessor is on carbon dioxide emission. Whereas the older 7g tronic automatic transmission system releases 144g per 100km, the 9g tronic emits just 138g per 100 km.
But the biggest advantage of this latest automatic transmission system has to be in the area of fuel consumption. Driving the E350 BE Mercedes, you save 44.1 mpg, which is better than the 40.1 mpg that the 7g tronic system gives you.
Conclusion
The 9G tronic automatic transmission system has several important advantages. Its most obvious benefits are seen in smoother gear shifts and better fuel consumption. Also, the newer version is kinder to the environment as it emits a lower amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere compared to its predecessor. It improves on the previous version and packs lots of several useful benefits.