All About Tiptronic Transmission in Cars and Its Functioning
- Tiptronic Gears History
- More About Tiptronic Technology
- How It Works
- Tiptronic System Benefits
- Some Drawbacks to Know About
- FAQs
Modern cars are all about convenience, safety and diverse driving experiences. The long-tailed evolution of automobiles has resulted in the availability of different types of transmissions. In addition to automatic and manual transmission, there is the Tiptronic transmission. Cars with such a transmission system offer both automatic and manual gear shifting. As a result, drivers can switch between the two transmission modes, according to their preferences. This enhances convenience and allows the driver to have more control over the vehicle’s acceleration.
To understand more about the Tiptronic gear system, let’s explore its history briefly and learn about its key features.
History of Tiptronic Gear System
According to Porsche history, it was the first brand to introduce a Tiptronic gear system in the 1990s. The Porsche 964 (911) was the first model equipped with such a technology that was ahead of its time.
Due to the growing popularity, the five and six-gear Tiptronic system was introduced by other Volkswagen Group brands. These brands mainly include Audi and Volkswagen. Similar to the scope of the Volkswagen Group, many other large automakers own multiple car brands.
More About Tiptronic Gear System
The Tiptronic gear system involves components of different car transmission systems. Primarily the automatic Tiptronic transmission works like any other automatic transmission system. However, the differentiating factor comes into play upon pressing the manual override button. This changes the transmission mode to manual gear shifting.
For those who use their vehicles mainly for daily commutes, it doesn’t make much of a difference. However, for speed enthusiasts, controlling the acceleration of a car translates their passion into practicality. Nowadays, many car brands offer cars with Tiptronic transmission or a similar technology.
How Does Tiptronic Transmission Work
When comparing the automatic vs manual transmission, there are many differences to list down. However, one of the major things differentiating both systems is the use of torque converter and clutch. Manual cars use a clutch for gear-shifting and speed-controlling mechanisms, while automatic cars rely on the torque converter.
Since the Tiptronic gearbox is based on an automatic transmission, it also uses a torque converter. Cars with Tiptronic technology either have gear levers or paddle shifters. The change of transmission mode allows the driver to maximise the car’s on-road performance.
What are the Benefits of Cars with Tiptronic Gearbox?
Driving a manual car in city traffic can be quite challenging due to the constant need to switch gears to control car acceleration. However, a manual car can provide a driver with a greater sense of freedom when driving on the open road. They are in more control of the vehicle’s acceleration and manoeuvring. Allowing hassle-free switching between automatic and manual transmission, the Tiptronic gear system is optimal for different driving scenarios.
Moreover, there is also a safety switch in every Tiptronic gear system. When the driver delays upshifting or downshifting, the system automatically switches back to auto transmission. This mechanism ensures the car internals are not harmed by manual gear-shifting delays. Crossing the RPM redline is among many other things to avoid in an auto transmission car to keep it optimally functioning.
Exploring the Downsides of Tiptronic Gear System
The automatic revert mode in the Tiptronic gear system also has its downside. If a driver deliberately wants to keep the car in a certain gear, the system won’t allow that. It reverts to automatic and to engage manual shifting, the driver has to turn on the Tiptronic feature again. It could get tedious in certain situations.
Similarly, the gearbox Tiptronic technology is often more complex than automatic and manual transmission. The complexity of technology naturally makes it more expensive to repair. However, in this case, the many benefits of the Tiptronic gearbox overshadow its few drawbacks.
On a similar note, any car transmission can face wear and tear with time. There are plenty of auto workshops in Dubai and other emirates that motorists can visit for vehicle repairs.
FAQs
What is a Tiptronic transmission?
First introduced by Porsche, the Tiptronic transmission allows both automatic and manual gear shifting.
What is a Tiptronic transmission vs manual transmission?
Based on automatic transmission, Tiptronic uses a torque converter, unlike manual transmission which uses a clutch.
What cars have Tiptronic transmission?
Originating as the Porsche registered trademark, Triptonic gears or similar technologies are offered by many other car brands.
This was everything to know about Tiptronic gears, their functioning and features. CVT is another popular type of car transmission often found in cars with small HEVs. A detailed comparison of CVT vs automatic transmission will help you understand more in this regard.
Whether you are seeking a Tiptronic, CVT, automatic or manual car, the options in the pre-owned market are plenty. Browse these listings of used cars for sale in the UAE and pick a ride according to your requirements.
For more useful tips for driving a manual car, keep reading dubizzle Cars’ blog.