GEARBOX
There was a time when the majority of cars were sold with manual gearboxes. However, that has now changed significantly. Now automatic transmissions have vastly improved, and most new models have dropped the manual gearboxes altogether. You might only find them in cheaper car models.
The progression in technology has also given rise to different transmissions. Their use has increased in popularity, and the different acronyms can be very confusing. In this article, we discuss the most common types of gearboxes and how they work.
Two Main Types of Gearboxes
The gearbox is a vital component of the vehicle. It transmits power from the engine to the drivetrain, allowing the car to be driven. Essentially, it acts as a key link between the driver and the vehicle. The two main types of gearboxes are as follows:
Manual Transmission
A manual transmission is the classic stick shift that people have been driving for decades. It refers to a gear stick for choosing the gear you want the car in. By pressing your left foot on the clutch pedal, you can disengage the gearbox and change the gear using the lever. The clutch is then re-engaged to reconnect the wheels and engine of the car.
A manual gearbox gives the driver full control of the vehicle. The driver can drop the gear to speed away swiftly or save fuel by staying in a higher gear. However, operating a manual transmission requires skill, as you continuously engage and disengage the clutch and shift gears while keeping the car in motion.
Most cars have five or six gears for driving. However, some newer car models now feature seven-speed manual gearboxes, such as the Aston Martin Vantage and the Porsche 911.
Automatic Transmission
As opposed to a manual gearbox, an automatic gearbox operates entirely differently. There are various types of transmissions for different applications, and some may not work well with other mechanical characteristics of the car.
An automatic gearbox typically has options such as Park, Reverse, Neutral, and Drive, while some may also feature additional functions, such as a manual shift mode or Sport. An automatic gearbox has an electronic switch that acts as the “gear lever” by sending instructions to the software managing the gearbox. Many advancements have been made in this area, and now you can find the use of paddles, dials, or buttons to control the transmission.