[Number 3]

Think of it this way.

Have you ever driven a Camaro or Corvette with CAGS? What happens when you try to accelerate after getting forced to shift into a gear that is too high? It takes a much longer time to get back up the power band to have good acceleration.

More gears means more flexibility and the ability to optimize the right gear for the right situation. This helps for both FE and performance.

Now that being said, it needs to shift lightning fast. This is one reason why gearing is critical in a 0 - 60 or 1/4 mile run. If you are shifting, you aren't accelerating anymore.

Now my hope is GM doesn't screw up the powertrain calibrations. The last transmission JV was the 6 speed FWD that went into the Traverse, Outlook, Acadia and Enclave. GM had multiple recalls to recalibrate. Ford's version that I'm aware of had no issues.

This is a critical point for everyone to pay attention to. It's not simply the hardware, it's the ability to calibrate/integrate into the vehicle. The best calibrator/integrator WINS!