Unlocking The Mechanism of Tiptronic Transmission

If you are a car enthusiast, you must have watched the Fast and Furious series. You may not have liked the movies but your heart was sure to race like the racing cars every time the camera pans on an actor jumping on the clutch and shifting a gear. Many people want to enjoy the adrenaline rush of the gear-shifting action but not all of them are willing to do it at the cost of the advantages of an automatic transmission. Tiptronic transmission can solve this dilemma by offering the benefits of both worlds!

Automobile enthusiasts will literally divide into two groups when it comes to choosing between automatic and manual transmissions. Both types have their zealous supporters but there is no denying that each one has some unique perks that the other type cannot deliver. Tiptronic transmission can be the bridge between both types. Let’s find out what is Tiptronic, how it works, and its edge over the automatic transmission.

What Is Tiptronic Transmission?

Packard and Chrysler were the first automakers to experiment with the concept of a Tiptronic shift in the late 1930s. They developed a semi-automatic mechanism that could automatically move the clutch during gear shifts.

In the modern world, the Volkswagen-Audi group takes the Tiptronic shift as a brand-specific automatic transmission. You will see this variation in some luxury, first-class brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche, and as well as in some standard vehicles such as Citroen Sensodrive, Honda iShift, Chrysler AutoStick, and more.

Definition of tiptronic transmission

This particular type is similar to an automatic transmission but has an option for the driver to shift the gears manually. It allows you to upshift and downshift in that mode by using the gear lever or the paddles behind the steering wheel. It was developed with the idea of extracting the best performance from a vehicle.

In contrast to semi-automatics, the technology in Tiptronic transmission utilizes a torque converter instead of a clutch. It also incorporates some manual functions in an automatic mechanism.

Benefits of a tiptronic shift

A Tiptronic gearbox allows the driver to manually handle the nuances of two options – upshift and downshift. After overriding the automatic mode with the manual option, the driver can make the shifting decisions. So, it is quite possible to enhance the braking output with a deliberate downshift or increase the acceleration by using the upshift while also enjoying the traditional auto transmission features. The unique benefits of Tiptronic technology are:

• Gear controls can be performed by both the driver and the car’s computer system (ECU), which is suitable for both novice and experienced drivers.
• Manual navigation of upshift and downshift allows a driver to have more control over the gear-shifting action.
  To ensure safety, there’s a built-in safeguard to revert to automatic control if the driver overlooks the RPM redline.
• Just like navigating an automatic transmission, it does not require much skill to operate a Tiptronic transmission. So, even beginner drivers can drive a car with this mechanism.

What’s the Working Principle of a Tiptronic Transmission?

The working mechanism of this system may seem complex because it makes use of the techniques of both transmission types. It’s a no-brainer to tell that it has two modes – automatic transmission and manual shifting.

• The Automatic Mode – The car’s ECU controls the entire transmission system, requiring the driver to do nothing more than handle the brake and accelerator. This mode is suitable for amateur drivers and when you are driving in a city. It will offer hassle-free navigation through all the traffic.
• The Manual Mode – It allows the driver to take control of the transmission, of the shifting of gears to be precise. There are steering-mounted pedals or a gear knob to make the switching of modes. When you use it, the internal transmission actuators change the gear to either upshift or downshift position.

The ECU still retains much of the control (for safety purposes, of course) when you switch to the manual mode. For example, Audi’s Tiptronic transmission keeps shifting from the first to the second gear automatically during manual operation. It’s also evident from the safety measures performed by the vehicle’s central computer system. Most of the models featuring this transmission have inbuilt protections for high and low RPMs.

If the RPM crosses the maximum limit, the ECU swoops in to correct the gear shifting. Similarly, it performs a downshift when the RPM crosses the lowest limit. Many modern cars feature the Tiptronic S version of this transmission that automatically switches into the automatic mode if the drive gives no input within 8 seconds. All of these features are standard safety measures that prevent a failure of the engine.

Read more:

• How to Do a Burnout in an Auto Car
• The Working Principle of a Manual Transmission

Watch the video to understand more about the mechanism of a Tiptronic transmission:

The Difference between Tiptronic and Automatic Transmission

Tiptronic is a kind of automatic transmission but it has some differences from a standard automatic system.

A Tiptronic system gives the drivers the freedom to choose how they want to drive. They can enjoy the hassle-free and easy driving of automatic navigation and the thrill of shifting gears in the manual transmission. Although it allows speeding up or slowing down, the ECU always oversees whether the RPM crosses the danger limits. It takes control if anything goes wrong or the driver does not use the shifting for a specific period. On the contrary, the automatic transmission is always in control of gear shifting and RPM.

There are various advanced versions of Tiptronic transmission. For example, the Porsche Cayenne has an 8-speed Tiptronic S version that learns the driver’s behavior and acts in accordance, according to the manufacturer. Many modern cars have advanced versions of the automatic transmission but none of them has this feature.

Both the transmissions are similar in the sense that they are easy to operate. Even a new driver can operate and make routine trips across city areas.

Conclusion

A Tiptronic transmission hands down a driver the best of both auto and manual shifts. You can shift gears without pressing a clutch and stay worry-free because of the built-in safety features. There is almost zero possibility of making a driving error while running a car with a Tiptronic system.