Touchtronic is a manual shifting function in automatic transmissions installed on Aston Martin cars. This option was premiered on the DB7 Vantage model that debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in 1999. The fourth generation of this system, Touchtronic IV, was presented in 2019.
Operating principle of Touchtronic
The Touchtronic system is used in classic automatic transmissions with a hydraulic torque converter and planetary gear sets. A special firmware prevents automatic gear engagement when the manual mode is activated. This mode can be switched on with the help of central console buttons or paddle shifters. Up- and downshifting is done using the paddle shifters.
Technical specifications of transmissions with the Touchtronic function
| Transmission code | Transmission manufacturer | Touchtronic generation | Production start | Number of speeds | Max engine capacity, l | Max torque, Nm | Drive type | Car models equipped with this type of transmission |
| 5HP30 | ZF | I | 1999 | 5 | 6.0 | 560 | RWD | Aston Martin DB7 Vantage |
| 6HP28 | ZF | II | 2003 | 6 | 6.7 | 620 | FWD, RWD, AWD | Aston Martin DBS; Aston Martin Rapide; Aston Martin DB9 |
| 8HP90 | ZF | III | 2012 | 8 | 8.0 | 1000 | FWD, RWD, AWD | Aston Martin DBS; Aston Martin DB11; Aston Martin Rapide S; Aston Martin Vanqiush S |
| 725.0 (NAG3) | Mercedes-Benz | IV | 2019 | 9 | 6.7 | 1000 | RWD, AWD | Aston Martin DBS; Aston Martin Vantage |
Common malfunctions of transmissions with the Touchtronic function
| Malfunctions | Transmissions |
| The clutch drum breaks down prematurely. | ZF 5HP30; ZF 6HP28 |
| The bushes and friction plates of the hydraulic torque converter wear out, which comes with vibrations in the transmission. | ZF 6HP28 |
| Due to worn bushes, the oil pressure in the system reduces, which leads to premature wear of mechanical parts of the transmission. | ZF 8HP90 |
| Dirty solenoids cause jerks during gear shifting. | ZF 6HP28 |
| Damaged oil seals result in oil leaks. | ZF 6HP28 |
| The plastic transmission pan gets deformed, which can also lead to leakage. | ZF 6HP28 |
| The mechatronic unit burns out in hot weather. | ZF 6HP28; ZF 8HP90 |
| When driving in traffic jams, gear shifting errors occur. | 725.0 (NAG3) |
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