It would be nice, but will never happen. I'd rather see stop-start then a 6th gear

 

yeah that would be cool

 

I would say not really useful but I could be 100% wrong, my thinking is the RPMs would drop pretty low and 6th gear would have so little power it seems almost pointless. That said I am sure every aspect would be adjusted to accommodate an additional gear so taking that into account it might be ok, just basing my thoughts on my other ride and how much power/RPMs differs from 5th to 6th. I'm sure there are many here that have and will share knowledge which may better explain what I am saying and also likely my reasoning will not make as much sense as it does to me now...but I like learning so I look forward to seeing more educated answers!

 

The tranny is the size of a football. It would have to be redesigned made larger which wouldn't fit in the engine bay, so the car would have to be redesigned as well. If they did add a 6th gear, every gear ratio would be changed so 6th would work. They wouldn't just throw a taller gear to what they have.

Engineering.....It's a blast

 

id like an overdrive unit paired to a 5 speed

 

Doesn't make sense, considering both 4th and 5th gear are already technically overdrive gears. Anything less than 1:1 = overdrive.
4th is 0.974
5th is 0.76

 

What's the point, the car tops out in 4th

 

gas mileage. id like to be at 2000 at 60

 

I'd love the 6 speed, but it's costs as usual. It could make a real nice 1-2 and 2-3 gear set for improved acceleration, and a taller 6th for mpg.

It would be the bees knees.

FYI the existing tranny in our cars is made into a 6 speed in EU, that's why we have an unusually long gate to reverse (6th used to reside below 5th).

 

Exactly...

I'd love the 6 speed, but it's costs as usual. It could make a real nice 1-2 and 2-3 gear set for improved acceleration, and a taller 6th for mpg.

It would be the bees knees.

FYI the existing tranny in our cars is made into a 6 speed in EU, that's why we have an unusually long gate to reverse (6th used to reside above 5th).

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

not real necessary imo. the 6th gear would only be marginally taller than 5th is now. i agree with others, if they want to add expense, start stop would be a better choice.

 

In the Abarth, not necessary. The 500 could use another gear (but not just a higher overdrive).

cheers

 

Until they redesign the chassis it won't happen. The 6 spd MT is TOO wide to fit with the additional 'third load path' added for crash protection in N.A. 500's. I agree it would be nice to have and certain models of the regular 500 in Europe DO have the 6 spd but they don't have the additional safety mods to the chassis. The Abarth in Europe ONLY has the 5 Spd MT. I don't know if the more upscale Abarths with the flappy paddle shifter dual clutch trannies have 6 spds or not.

 

At 65mph in fifth I feel like I should have one more gear reduction available. The engine just seems to sound as if I should still shift one more time. However, I agree, the use of space in the 500's engine compartment is extraordinary as is. Adding an additional gear - even if that gear were made to the second and third gear ratios with both becoming a taller gear ratio followed by a slight redesign of the 4 and 5 gear ratios - would not fit into the present configuration of the 500. If the sixth gear ratio could be fitted to the transmission while, say, giving up no more than an extra inch of leg room on the passenger side, that would IMO be worth it.

 

Pass. No sixth gear wanted for the Abarth.

 

It depends on how they do the 6 gears.

I back to back test drove an Abarth and a Dodge Dart (same engine). The Abarth gear spacing is a bit wide. Several times the lower gear was a bit short and the higher gear too long.

But, the 6 speed in the Dart seemed to have the same gearing 1 - 5, but with a VERY tall 6th gear. As in less than 2000 RPM at 60 MPH. Which required a 2 gear downshift to do anything.

I would like to see a 6 speed in the Abarth, but with the same 1st and what is now 5th, be 6th, and space the intermediate gears a bit closer together.

 

Isn't 6spd is for cars over 280hp?

 

No, while a 6th speed is usually an overdrive gear, it really just means the car has 6 gears, nothing more or less. What matters is the ratios, and how the are tuned to the car.

 

They make an aftermarket 5th gear that drops the rpm by 500. I was thinking about it as I commute at 65-75mph for a good 100 miles each day. I'm worried the big offset between 4th and 5th.

 

I was wishing for a 3 in the tree to free up knee room.