According to a report by Automotive News, the Blue Oval has instead opted to use its own eight-speed automatic for models ranging from the Focus, Transit Connect and Edge, to the forthcoming new Lincoln Nautilus, as the claimed gains by GM, according to Ford spokesperson Mark Levine, “did not justify the added weight and cost of an extra clutch and gear”.

At present, GM uses the nine-speed ‘box on the Chevrolet Malibu, Cruze Diesel, Equinox and Traverse as well as the Buick Enclave, Envision, Regal, LaCrosse, Holden ZB Commodore and GMC Terrain, while the 10-speed, which Ford employs on Ford F150, Mustang, Ranger, Ranger Raptor, Expedition and new Lincoln Navigator, does service in the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, Tahoe and Silverado, GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade.

“Typically, if anyone gave me a transmission that didn't require much work, outside of tuning it for a specific vehicle, I would take it and run. It's a lot of design work after the fact to come up with their own flavour. It shows there might be some different schools of thought in terms of transmission efficiency,” analyst Dave Sullivan said.

GM has meanwhile stated that the nine-speed, which debuted on the Malibu two years ago, was designed for added refinement and a premium feel, with Vice-President Dan Nicholson describing it as offering “almost imperceptible upshifts” when compared to an eight-speed, and being “always in the perfect gear no matter the engine torque or vehicle speed”.