Before we go into the specs of this great transmission, just a short dive into history.
In 1904 T.J. Sturtevant designed world’s first automatic transmission. The idea was born, but as with so many inventions, Sturtevant was too far ahead of his time.
It was not until 1940 after General Motors invested in the idea, that the first mass-produced fully automatic transmission was launched.
The so-called Hydra-Matic had a fluid coupling and three hydraulically controlled planetary gear sets, which resulted in four forward speeds plus reverse. A genuine step forward in a time where rocky manual shifting regularly led to nerve (and car-) breakdowns.
How does it work?
The most commonly known automatic gearbox is hydraulically operated, equipped with a fluid coupling or torque converter, and a set of planetary gear sets to provide a range of gear ratios.
Ever since the beginning the Automatic Transmission has made an interesting progress. Only think of the fact it started with 2 speeds to the dazzling 9 speeds of today and you might understand why we are so passionate about this technical masterpiece. The current automatic transmission has grown into a learning computer, with its sole purpose to optimize the drivers experience.
Have a look through these pages to learn more about the automatic transmission.
We hope you enjoy the ride!