When Ford launched the redesigned Escape and Mariner compact CUVs last year, the bodies and interiors were all new but the powertrains were largely carried over from the first-generation models. For the 2009 model year, that issue has been addressed with thorough upgrades to both four- and six-cylinder engines. We'll talk more about the engine upgrades next week after we drive them. In the meantime we got an early look at the new automatic transmission for the non-hybrid models. The previous four-speed unit is replaced with an all-new six speed unit dubbed the 6F35.

The new transmission is built at Ford's Van Dyke transmission plant in Sterling Heights, MI in addition to the 6F50 that debuted in the Taurus, Edge and other Ford, Mercury and Lincoln vehicles last year. The new unit uses three planetary gear-sets and five clutch packs to provide the six gear ratios. The extra two ratios allow for a wider overall spread compared to the older four speed. Continue reading about the 6F35 after the jump.