General Motors’ new nine-speed automatic transmission is set to make its Chevrolet debut in the 2017 Malibu before heading to the 2017 Cruze Diesel and 2018 Equinox.

Known as the Hydra-Matic 9T50, the new gearbox will be paired with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine in the Malibu. Its three extra gears help the Malibu increase its EPA-estimated highway rating from 30 mpg to 33 mpg.

With a wider overall gear ratio of 7.6:1, the transmission introduces a deeper 4.69 first gear for improved acceleration off the line and a taller 0.62 top gear to minimize engine rpm on the highway. Some models will support start/stop technology to further reduce fuel consumption.

“The smaller steps between the gears, compared to the six-speed, enable smooth, almost imperceptible upshifts, for excellent refinement,” promises GM propulsion systems VP Dan Nicholson.

GM plans to bring the 9T50 to 10 different models by the end of 2017.