When driving an automatic car, you don’t need to change gear. Automatic gearboxes select the gears independently, as when the driver simply places the car into ‘drive’ and accelerates, the gear changes are handled on their own.
Operating with only two pedals, the brake and the accelerator, an automatic generally tends to be more comfortable to drive than a manual and due to the absence of a clutch, it’s virtually impossible to stall the engine, making it easier to drive. An automatic also generally requires less maintenance than a manual and offers greater performance and efficiency. Here, we take a closer look at the three main types of automatic transmissions, comparing their subtle differences:
Automatic Manual Transmission (AMT)
As you’d expect, an AMT’s primary function is to automate manual transmissions, hence the job of changing gear, or pressing down on the clutch is no longer the responsibility of the driver. An AMT is mechanically similar to a manual gearbox, except sensors perform the act of gear shifting, as opposed to you. For this reason, an automatic doesn’t even come with a clutch pedal, only requiring an accelerator and brake pedal. In comparison to automatic transmissions or traditional automatic gearboxes, an AMT is considered more fuel-efficient, allowing for most of the energy to flow directly to the wheels. This form of transmission is the most commonly used in automatic gearboxes.
Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT)
Existing somewhere between manual and automatic gearboxes, a DCT is an automatically operated manual transmission achieved by using two clutches. Utilising traditional methods of a manual, a DCT splits the gearing across two differing output shafts to allow power flow to shift back and forth between them at speed. The purpose of a DCT is to reduce the gap between gear shifts to an absolute minimum, improving performance, reducing fuel consumption and ultimately benefitting the environment.
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
Despite some fleeting similarities to automatic gearboxes, a CVT doesn’t actually have any gears of its own. Instead, a CVT operates through the use of a pulley system. The pulley system is comprised of two pulleys, one that connects to the engine, the other connecting to the wheels. A flexible V-shaped belt connects the two pulleys together. The width of the pulleys changes depending on how much power the vehicle needs. When one pulley gets larger, the other one gets smaller. Since neither of the pulleys nor the belt is fixed, they can provide an infinite number of gear ratios, unlike the automatic, which has a set number of gears.
At The Clutch & Gearbox Specialists, we offer a range of automatic gearbox services in Bournemouth, including automatic transmission repair and rebuild. Whether your automatic gearbox needs rebuilding or repairing or you’re in need of a company that supplies and fits reconditioned units, look no further than us. Our garage is based in Bournemouth and we can provide collection services within a 20-mile radius. Contact us today!
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