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| Photos: Wikipedia |
If you guessed they all share the same six-speed transmission, you're right! The ZF 6HP26 is made by ZF Friedrichshafen AG and the list of vehicles that it ended up in is long. It's notable historically because it was the first transmission of its kind offered in a production car. The first car that featured it was the 2002-2008 BMW 7 Series (E65). Ford altered it slightly and offered it in their trucks, full- and medium-sized SUVs and the Mustang. Here's a list of (non-Ford) vehicles that also had this transmission:
- 2001–2008 BMW E65/E66 7 Series
- 2002–2005 Jaguar XK8/XKR
- 2003–2008 Jaguar S-Type
- 2003–2009 Jaguar XJ (X350)
- 2003–2010 BMW E63/E64 6 Series
- 2003-2012 Rolls-Royce Phantom (2003)
- 2007-present Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé
- 2004–2006 BMW E53 X5 V8
- 2003–2010 BMW E60 5 Series
- 2005–2011 BMW E90 3 Series
- 2005–present Ford Falcon (BF, FG)
- 2005–present Ford Territory (SY & SY II AWD; SZ RWD)
- 2005–2008 Lincoln Navigator
- 2006–present Jaguar XK/XKR
- 2007–2013 BMW E70 X5 Except 4.0d
- 2007–2012 Maserati Quattroporte
- 2008–2012 BMW F01/02 7 Series (except 760i/Li and Hybrid 7)
- 2008–2011 Kia Mohave
- 2009–2011 Hyundai Genesis V8 4.6L
- 2009–present Jaguar XF
- 2006-2009 Bentley Arnage
- 2008-2011 Bentley Brooklands
- 2002–present Volkswagen Phaeton (Typ 3D)
- 2003–2009 Audi A8 (D3, Typ 4E)
- 2003–present Bentley Continental GT
- 2005–present Bentley Continental Flying Spur
- 2006–present Audi S6 (C6, Typ 4F)
- 2008–2010 Audi RS6 (C6, Typ 4F)
- 2006–2012 Range Rover Full size & Sport All AJV8 4.4L and 5.0L
- 2005–2013 Land Rover Discovery
I know they do that sort of thing all of the time, but that's crazy!
ReplyDeleteRight you are. It's certainly understandable; manufacturers HAVE to use components produced by other companies. But the fact that you can buy the same transmission in cars of such widely different MSRPs is pretty shocking. Makes the Kia seem like a real deal!
DeleteWow, that is quite a list. It certainly makes one reflect on the idea that you get what you paid for.
ReplyDeleteI remember having a discussion with someone years ago. They were arguing that cars from the US Big 3 were inferior to Japanese products. I was driving a 2nd Gen Escort Wagon, they were driving a Mazda Protege. Their "killer" argument was that they really preferred the shifting of the manual gearbox on the Mazda. "Oh really", said I "That is interesting, since the two cars share the same transmission. Must be that Japanese Halo Effect you are feeling". I eventually had to show them the two transmissions from underneath. It was worth the crick in my neck.
You're absolutely right.
DeleteMost people don't even realize how common this sort of thing is and they often don't want to believe it, just as you detailed. I can't imagine how a Phantom owner would feel about it (probably wouldn't listen, anyway). It's a bit of a bait and switch, seemingly, but there's little sense in manufacturers doing otherwise. Unfortunately, the practice bites them severely on the butt sometimes; the Tanaka airbag snafu is just one of many examples.
Your Escort versus Protege example is right on the money and even more so, isn't it. At the most basic level they're the same car, just rebadges.
Thanks for your comment!