Manumatic is a transmission type that offers both automatic and manual operation modes. By default, gear selection is performed by the electronic control unit and is not controlled by the driver. However, if necessary, the driver can select gears manually, in order, for instance, to accelerate quickly or to save fuel. Manual control is usually performed by shifting the gear lever in a special slot, and sometimes with the help of buttons or steering wheel paddles.
Operating principle
Typically, manumatic is based on a traditional automatic transmission equipped with a hydraulic torque converter. However, automated manual transmissions and continuously variable ones can also often be seen.
The manual control mode is made possible due to a special electronic control unit firmware. When the driver chooses a certain gear, the corresponding signal is sent to the electronic control unit which then engages the selected gear.
Popular manumatic brand names
| Name | Car make |
| Sportronic, Q-Tronic, Q-System | Alfa Romeo |
| Touch Activated Power (TAPshift) | Chevrolet, Pontiac, Saturn |
| S Tronic | Audi |
| Steptronic | BMW, MINI, Rover, MG |
| AutoStick | Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, Ram |
| Shiftronic, HIVEC H-Matic | Hyundai |
| MultiMatic, iShift, S-matic | Honda |
| Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG) | Volkswagen, Škoda |
| Sportmatic | Kia |
| Comfortronic | Lancia |
| CommandShift | Land Rover |
| ActiveMatic | Mazda |
| TouchShift, G Tronic, | Mercedes-Benz |
| Xtronic CVT, DualMatic M-ATx | Nissan |
| ActiveSelect | Opel, Vauxhall, Holden |
| E-Shift | Lexus |
| 2Tronic | Peugeot |
| Tiptronic | Porsche, Volkswagen, SEAT, Audi, Škoda, Peugeot |
| Tiptronic S | Porsche |
| Geartronic, I-Shift | Volvo |
| SportShift | Subaru, Honda |
| Auto-Gear Shift | Suzuki |
| Multimode manual transmission | Toyota |
| Sportronic | Alfa Romeo, Mitsubishi |
| Switchtronic | Alpina |
| SelectShift | Ford, Lincoln |
| Sequential SportShift | Acura, Honda, Ford |
| Allshift, INVECS I-III, Twin Clutch SST | Mitsubishi |
| Multimode manual transmission | Toyota |
| Touchtronic | Aston Martin |
| EGS | Peugeot, Citroën |
| Sentronic | Saab |
| Protronic | Proton |
| Driver Shift Control (DSC), Touch Activated Control (TACshift) | Pontiac |
Advantages and disadvantages of manumatic
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Engine braking is possible | Slower gear shifting compared to manual transmission |
| Higher fuel efficiency compared with traditional automatic transmissions | Larger gearbox size |
| Improved vehicle dynamics | Complex design |
| Sport mode option | High cost |
| Engine is protected from damage caused by incorrect gear shifting | |
| Better car handling |
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