Computerised Automatic

However, in the past few years, 5-speed automatic was increasingly popular in European prestige saloons, now covering virtually all Mercedes and BMW, thus improved performance and economy a bit.

Another improvement was the adoption of electronic control. A computerised automatic transmission has different shifting programs for different requirements : Economy, Sport and Winter (Snow) are the most popular choices. For instance, if you select Sport mode, the gearbox upshift at higher engine speed to make better use of power band, hence enhances acceleration. On the contrary, choosing Economy mode will ease the pressure to the engine, thus enhance smoothness, quietness and save fuel.

Some computerised autos even have learning function (some uses Fuzzy logic). They memorise the driving habit of the driver through reading the input from throttle, rev counter etc. Then adapt their programs to suit the driving style of the driver.

Future of Automatic Transmission

Not too optimistic, because CVT and the likes of Ferrari / Alfa's Selespeed manual-based gearbox are improving rapidly in these few years.

As CVT becomes stronger and stronger, hopefully within a few years it will be suitable to medium-sized or even luxurious cars. By then, CVT's smooth manner and better fuel-efficiency will make automatic transmission looking useless. Moreover, production cost is just half way between manual and automatic gearbox.

Manual-based gearboxes with automatic mode will also eat into auto's market. Not only being lighter and cheaper, their superior performance must be attractive to keen drivers. Given a little bit more development in shift quality, they can also benefit traditional auto-equipped cars like Mercedes.

In the near future, automatic transmissions still have an edge in handling high torque for high-end luxurious cars. Continuous improvement to performance, cost and weight may extend its life span into the next decade. German transmission expert ZF has developed the world’s first 6-speed automatic gearbox for production cars. It will be adopted by the new BMW 7-series. Not only offering 5-7% reduction of fuel consumption and improvement to performance, most impressive is that it uses 30% less components and weighs 13% less than the existing five-speeder.
 

Advantage:	Smooth and quiet shifting, ease of use
Disadvantage:	Heavy, large, costly, slow and fuel-inefficient
Who use it ?	Nearly all automatic transmissions now are computerised

 

Automatic with manual override

Porsche Tiptronic

Shifter with + and - positions

Shift button on the steering wheel of Tiptronic S

Even in manual mode, the computer may intervene under harmful conditions. For instance, if the driver let the rev exceeding redline without upshift, the computer will shift automatically.

Tiptronic was developed in conjunction by Porsche, ZF and Bosch. Porsche originated the idea, ZF made the gearbox
and Bosch responsible for the electronic control.
 
In 1995, a newer version called Tiptronic S launched. It offers fingertip control button mounted on the steering wheel spoke, thus allow the driver can to shift without loosing concentration on the road.
 

Advantage:	Feels more involving than pure automatic
Disadvantage:	With all the disadvantages of automatic. No faster.
Who use it ?	Porsche Tiptronic / Tiptronic S Audi / Volkswagen Tiptronic / Tiptronic S - licensed by Porsche) Mitsubishi Invecs-II Sport Mode - simplied from Tiptronic and licensed by Porsche Peugeot 607 - licensed by Porsche Hyundai XG - licensed by Porsche Honda S-matic BMW Steptronic Chrysler AutoStick Toyota E-shift Alfa Romeo Q-system Mercedes One-Touch Volvo Geartronic (probably also licensed by Porsche) .... many