Z Sport Automatic 9th Gear?

[bpeckham]

OK Guys. Went to town this AM and it went into 9th at 47mph at just over 1000rpm. A Mystery.

Downhill with a tailwind?

 

[southboundbear]

nope!

 

[RobotAZ]

I’m going to watch temps and see if I can find a pattern.

 

[steve2150]

My Z Sport automatic, when at cruise, sometimes only goes to 9th at about 70 mph. But other times it will go into 9th at 50. What's up?

Lawrence From MI

*** Also - Just seen my first Z in my area. Went by fast but I think it was a Nizmo, Gunmetal grey. You reading this??

Same with my 2025 performance

 

[thomasp3]

Same with my 2025 performance

Same with my 2024 Performance.
Nearby dealer is clueless. They say since there are no codes there is no problem.

 

[RobotAZ]

Same with my 2024 Performance.
Nearby dealer is clueless. They say since there are no codes there is no problem.

I’m honestly thinking it’s just smarter than us at this point. If I don’t pay attention, it seems to always be in the right gear for conditions. Normally I am irritated by tranny programming, but the only thing irritating about the Z is that I don’t understand the logic.

 

[alutwon]

I've noticed this too. The other day on my way to work I was driving calmly because I wasnt feeling well and it was in 9th around 55 mph. most of the time I'm driving more aggressively so it's usually in 6th or 7th at that speed. so I suspect how you're pressing the pedal has something to do with it.

 

[Punch]

I was going to post and ask if 9 AT drivers here felt a noticeable difference in the transmission or at all in sport mode besides the fake sounds. However I take it from this thread that the car is always looking to save gas in automatic mode no matter what + the computer is putting you into the best gear it thinks is best for your driving style ( its very complicated) answer. I would of expected the sport mode to hold the car in lower gear much more aggressively. its interesting to me to see videos of people running quarter miles in this car yet using the ( manual mode)paddle shifters, I dont have track experience so im curious if a pro would let the transmission row gears on the track with this car (9AT).

 

[alutwon]

I was going to post and ask if 9 AT drivers here felt a noticeable difference in the transmission or at all in sport mode besides the fake sounds. However I take it from this thread that the car is always looking to save gas in automatic mode no matter what + the computer is putting you into the best gear it thinks is best for your driving style ( its very complicated) answer. I would of expected the sport mode to hold the car in lower gear much more aggressively. its interesting to me to see videos of people running quarter miles in this car yet using the ( manual mode)paddle shifters, I dont have track experience so im curious if a pro would let the transmission row gears on the track with this car (9AT).

from my experience, sport mode causes the car to hold gears longer and it tries to anticipate when you are going to do a hard acceleration. I've had times where I've let off the gas coming around a turn and the car revs up to 4k-5k rpms. my only guess is the car thought I was going to do another hard acceleration so it added more fuel and when I didn't, it had to burn the fuel off. sport mode also changes the steering feel a little bit.

it has never does this in normal mode

 

[Thefunk]

I was going to post and ask if 9 AT drivers here felt a noticeable difference in the transmission or at all in sport mode besides the fake sounds. However I take it from this thread that the car is always looking to save gas in automatic mode no matter what + the computer is putting you into the best gear it thinks is best for your driving style ( its very complicated) answer. I would of expected the sport mode to hold the car in lower gear much more aggressively. its interesting to me to see videos of people running quarter miles in this car yet using the ( manual mode)paddle shifters, I dont have track experience so im curious if a pro would let the transmission row gears on the track with this car (9AT).

I know from experience in Sport mode that while sharp turning it will hold gears but on long straights it will eventually upshift. I avoid Auto drive in Sport mode. However to the fuel savings point, in Standard Auto mode I managed 38mpg going to Connecticut from Long Island. Pretty impressive.