The levers attached to the steering wheel of a car help to shift gears in automatic transmission. Although automatic transmissions don’t allow drivers to shift gear manually, the invention of paddle shifters made it easy for drivers to upshift or downshift gears. The Ferrari F1 team invented the paddle shifters in the 1980s for the first time which was easy to use and provided control to the drivers.
Here’s a complete guide on how to drive with paddle shifters and its advantages:
WHAT ARE PADDLE SHIFTERS?
The latest vehicle models manufactured by automotive industries use torque converters, dual-clutch, or continuously variable transmission. On a continuous variable transmission (CVT), the paddle shifters serve the purpose of upshifting or downshifting of gears. Since the CVT has no actual gears the paddle shifting helps in belt setup to produce the revolutions a vehicle requires at a certain speed.
There are two paddle shifters, one at right for up-shifting and the other at left for downshifting gears. Racing cars had the first paddle shifter but its purpose varies in normal vehicles. The main difference between automatic and manual cars is that manual transmission had the gear stick to change the gears whereas the automatic transmission in cars had no such technology.
In the modern day, the auto brands equip paddle shifters in automatic cars to bring the similar control and cater the needs of drivers. You can find a number of cars in the UAE equipped with paddle shifters. Here are some of them that you can have a look at:
HOW TO USE PADDLE SHIFTERS
Automatic transmissions changed the gear automatically but the paddle shifters equipped behind the steering wheel allow drivers to upshift or downshift the gear. Using paddle shifters is an easy task. All you have to do is press or push the paddle with your hand to activate manual mode in the car.
The paddle shifters come with positive and negative signs indicating the upshift and downshift, respectively. This technology has not only provided the driver with control but also made gear shifting easy, unlike manual transmission.
ADVANTAGES OF PADDLE SHIFTERS
The following are the advantages of paddle shifters that enhance the driving experience:
CONTROL
The driver shifts the lever to change the gears in the automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The automatic transmission uses car computers to store the information and change gears accordingly but the paddle shifters help the driver to control the gear shifting manually and override the standard set of programming.
Drivers can downshift the gear when driving uphill to generate more rev speed and overcome the tough slopes and terrains. Besides, downshifting with paddle shifters when going down the hill or driving on snowy or muddy roads help in gaining complete control of the car and lowering speeds without applying brakes.
UPSHIFTING
Upshifting with paddle shifters help in gaining traction in the snow or mud. Since the fuel economy has become important and can only be achieved with higher gears. Therefore, the paddle shifters allow the drivers to upshift gears quickly and easily which results in better functioning of transmission and engine.
DOWNSHIFTING
When you need to tow another vehicle or drive uphill or downhill, the downshifting with paddle shifters will help in balancing all the loads. Moreover, this will help in reducing excessive pressure on brakes. Therefore, making brakes go through less wear and tear.
Downshifting of gears also helps in cornering as it increases the engine torque which helps maneuver the car easily.
Automotive manufacturers have constantly strived to manufacture and bring more innovations like paddle shifters in modern cars. This was all about paddle shifters that many auto brands have adopted in their latest car models. Moreover, you can have a look at some of the top pre-owned cars in the UAE that don’t only provide safety features but also enhance the road performance and driving experience.
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