TX6 Transmission
TX6 Transmission
The Antonov TX6 transmission is a 6-speed electronically controlled, hydraulically actuated, transverse automatic gearbox for small and medium sized passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. The TX6 has been engineered and developed in the UK over the last 3 years and is now entering the final production development phase.
The TX6 design is based on proven automatic transmission technology. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that the design incorporates wet clutches as launch devices instead of a torque converter which is found in conventional automatic transmissions. This offers the potential for greater fuel economy over current 4-speed and 6-speed automatic transmissions. The TX6 architecture is unique to Antonov and is designed to address the latest market requirements. This patented architecture uses the combination of a planetary gearset and a parallel axis gearset to provide two gear ratios. When combining three of these systems, six forward gear ratios can be achieved. This architecture provides great flexibility in gear ratio optimisation for vehicle driveability and fuel efficiency.
The transmission will be launched initially in the Chinese market with a planned annual capacity of 200,000 units. With the expected growth in car production in China, the future launch of TX6 product variants for different vehicle sectors, and the potential to export the TX6 to other global territories, it is expected that the annual production will increase to 500,000 units per annum. Wherever possible, components and subsystems for the TX6 will be manufactured in China by either the Antonov/Landai Joint Venture Company or other high quality Chinese domestic suppliers.
TX6 Program Status
Antonov has been developing the current evolution of the TX6 transmission since 2006. Advanced engineering analysis tools were utilised early in the program as part of a ‘right first time’ engineering process. This reduces the technical risk and overall program timing to production for the TX6. The design has also been specifically tailored to Chinese manufacturing capabilities following an extensive review of potential component suppliers in China.
In 2007 Antonov launched the hardware development phase of the program by making five transmissions, and in 2008 Antonov installed two pre-production prototype TX6 transmissions into two Volkswagen Golfs. One vehicle is in the UK and is the test, development and durability vehicle. This car has now covered more than 50,000km without any transmission failures. The second car is located in Chongqing, PRC. This car is used to demonstrate the TX6 technology to potential Chinese vehicle OEM customers.
Successful evaluations of this demonstration vehicle in China have led to a signed agreement with the Lifan Industry Group in Chongqing to install a TX6 transmission into a Lifan 620 car. This agreement, demonstrating significant interest from a potential end customer of the TX6, has partly provided the foundation for the agreement between Antonov and Chongqing Landai Industry Co., Ltd. to form a Joint Venture, JV, company in Chongqing. This JV Company, Chongqing EFA Transmission Co., Ltd., supported by the transmission engineering expertise of Antonov and the volume transmission manufacturing expertise of Landai, will now finalise the production development of the TX6 and launch the product to the Chinese market in 2011.