AUTOMATIC vs AUTOMATED MANUAL

This subtle distinction matters not only to the technically-minded but also to the average car buyer. Many salespersons are unaware of the differences, which has come back to bite them, when angry customers complain “there’s something wrong with my transmission”, because the driving experience is not what they expected. The truth is that the most customers believe there are two transmissions: automatic and manual. This is not this case.

While traditional automatic transmissions, as discussed in this feature, have been around in their basic form for many years, automated manual gearboxes are not only different inside but present different characteristics. They were introduced in the early 2000s, mainly as an inexpensive answer to the efficiency shortcomings of the traditional automatic gearbox, allowing car-makers to maximise fuel efficiency and reduce laboratory-calculated carbon dioxide emissions.

Of the two basic types, single-clutch automated manual transmissions are manual gearboxes with the clutch pedal and manual gearlever functions replaced by electric servo motors and an ECU. Early versions of these units can be very jerky to drive, especially on take-off and between gearchanges, and you need to modify your driving technique to make smooth progress. We took an extensive look into single-clutch automated manuals in our March 2017 issue.

Twin-clutch automated manual gearboxes were codeveloped by Borgwarner and Volkswagen, with the resulting Direktschaltgetriebe (DSG) becoming the first mass-produced system in 2003. Effectively, these are two manual gearboxes linked together by a pair of clutches. Compared to the cheaper single-clutch alternatives, twinclutch units tend to have a greater public acceptance. Other manufacturers have developed their own units, with the most common alternative to the DSG being Ford’s Powershift (pictured). For more information on twin-clutch transmissions, consult the February 2016 issue.

Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT) are not automated manuals but an entirely different type of automatic gearbox that relies on internal belts rather than epicyclic gears. For this reason, they are not within the scope of this feature.