what is it and why? Video and work reviews
You can find a lot of information about the advantages of different types of gearboxes. We have already written on our website Vodi.su about the pros and cons of a mechanical box:
- reduced fuel consumption;
- ease of maintenance;
- you can change gears depending on the situation.
But at the same time, mastering the mechanics is much more difficult. The automatic transmission, in turn, is easier to learn, but there are a number of disadvantages:
- dynamic performance deteriorates;
- more fuel is consumed;
- repairs are more expensive.
It would be reasonable to assume that manufacturers are trying to come up with a type of gearbox that would have all the positive aspects of both transmissions. Such an attempt was partially successful for the Porsche concern, where in 1990 its own technology, Tiptronic, was patented.
Tiptronic is an automatic transmission with the ability to switch to manual gear shifting. Switching from automatic to manual control is due to the transfer of the selector from the "D" mode to the additional T-shaped section +/-. That is, if we look at the gearbox, we will see a standard groove on which the modes are marked:
- P (Parking) - parking;
- R (Reverse) - reverse;
- N (Neutral) - neutral;
- D (Drive) - drive, driving mode.
And on the side there is a small appendix with plus, M (Medium) and minus marks. And the moment you move the lever into that side cutout, the electronics switch from automatic to manual and you can upshift or downshift as you please.
This system was first installed on Porsche 911 cars, but since then other manufacturers have started to use Tiptronic technology. This type of transmission is often referred to as semi-automatic.
It is worth noting that the name semi-automatic gearbox in relation to Tiptronic is not entirely correct, since the driver only moves the selector to the desired position, however, the transition to the new mode occurs with some delay, because all commands first go to the computer, and it, in turn, affects to executive devices. That is, unlike a manual transmission, it is the electronic unit that provides gear shifting, and not the driver.
To date, the Tiptronic system has undergone significant modifications. In many modern cars, paddle shifters are used instead of an additional cutout for the selector. This is a very convenient invention, since the paddles are located directly under the steering wheel and can be pressed with your fingers. As soon as you press the paddle, the transmission switches to manual mode, and the current gear is displayed on the on-board computer display. By pressing plus or minus, you can upshift or downshift.
This system is fully automated, because in the event that you switched to manual control, but did not move the lever or press the petals for some time, the automation turns on again and the gear shift will occur without your participation.
Pros and cons of Tiptronic
Compared to an ordinary automatic machine, Tiptronic has a number of positive properties.
- At first, the driver has the opportunity to take control into his own hands: for example, you can slow down the engine, which is not available on the machine.
- Secondly, in such a transmission, a protection program is implemented that works even when the manual mode is on and ensures that the driver's actions do not damage the engine.
- Thirdly, such a box will be simply indispensable in the conditions of the city, because by taking control of yourself, you will be able to act adequately to the situation.
Of the minuses, the following can be distinguished:
- Tiptronic significantly affects the cost, you simply will not find it in budget cars;
- the transmission itself is large and heavy, and repair is very expensive due to the large number of electronics.
Well, the main problem is the speed of response to the actions of the driver: gear shifting occurs with a delay of 0,1 to 0,7 seconds. Of course, for the city this is a small gap, but for high-speed racing or driving at high speeds, it is significant. Although there are examples of how Formula 1 cars equipped with a Tiptronic gearbox took first place in races.
On our channel you can watch a video from which you will learn what tiptronic is.
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