Land Rover will demonstrate a new nine-speed automatic gearbox at the Geneva Motor Show, developed by ZF and said to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

The first nine-speed transmission, dubbed 9HP, in a car has been developed by the gearbox specialist with Land Rover as the lead partner, and has been designed with all-terrain performance in mind.

The lowest ratio in the 9HP is far lower than the existing six-speed transmission and is specifically designed for off-road use, towing and more extreme on-road conditions like gradients and altitude, giving the driver a greater sense of control.

Whereas the existing six-speed transmission makes shifts sequentially, the 9HP has a skip-shift function for much swifter downshifting under rapid deceleration or from greater driver input demands. The torque converter incorporates a multi-stage damper system for smoother pulling away and improved refinement.

"We are extremely excited about the 9HP which has been tailored exactly to dovetail with the unique attributes of our vehicles. It will add another layer of performance, refinement and efficiency, further enhancing Land Rover's world class abilities," said John Edwards, Land Rover global brand director.

Despite the extra three gear ratios is only 6mm longer and weighs 7.5kg less than the outgoing six-speed transmission.