Earlier this year, Ford Motor Company announced a paradigm shift for transmissions – the double clutch automated manual transmission. Ford calls it the PowerShift. This new transmission will be available on the 2011 Ford Fiesta.
Below is Ford’s explanation of the new transmission:
GETRAG-Ford PowerShift technology is intelligent and revolutionary in its operation. To explain, the six-speed PowerShift transmission consists essentially of two layshaft transmissions working in parallel, each with its own clutch unit. The layout of the intermediate shafts – one carries the uneven gears 1, 3 and 5 whilst the other carries the even gears 2, 4 and 6 – allows the next gear to be pre-selected whilst the vehicle is in motion and the engine is at full power.
With the next gear pre-selected, the gear change occurs through the opposed activation of both clutches. The double-clutch activations are co-ordinated such that no torque interruption occurs.
In contrast to a conventional automatic transmission, the basic technical configuration of the GETRAG-Ford PowerShift transmission offers numerous advantages. It does not require any complex sub-systems such as a torque converter, planetary gear sets, multiple wet clutches and multiple bands – all of which significantly reduce the efficiency of a conventional automatic transmission due to increased inertia and drag torque effects.
The result is impressive: the PowerShift transmission provides the ease of operation and permanent motion of a conventional automatic transmission as well as the driving performance of a manual gearbox.
It also delivers quick and sporty shifts while maintaining a high degree of shift smoothness and refinement. To read more, click HERE.
Outstanding! Less complex sub systems and more efficient. What a great technological advancement.
