Automatics outsell manuals for the first time

[Zafiro]

Vehicles sold this year with automatic transmissions have numbered higher than those with manual gearboxes for the first time. A study run by Just-Auto has found that automatics have proven more popular despite having higher fuel consumption levels and costing extra, especially in North America and Japan.

Manual transmissions have traditionally been popular in Europe and parts of Asia due mostly to the importance of low cost and efficiency, but the research found that the penetration rates of automatics are on the rise and are expected to account for over half of all global transmissions by 2012.

Just-Auto is estimating that by 2014, additional demand automatics for will equate to the production output of no less than ten major transmissions plants. GM, Honda and Japan’s Aisin are focusing on expanding their current capabilities including establishing new technical centers in China.

 

[Zafiro]

funny, I thought that happen like 2 years ago...

 

[cawimmer430]

Does this also include CVT's?

 

[Zafiro]

Does this also include CVT's?

SMG, CTV, every automatic you can think of I think.

 

[cawimmer430]

SMG, CTV, every automatic you can think of I think.

Interesting.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

But sequentials, dual-clutches aren't real automatics, more like something in between.

So why didn't they break them properly ?!
And to my knowledge some of these "automatics" give better fuel efficiency.

 

[Zafiro]

Here in North America, you have to look really hard for a manual transmission in anything other than a sports car or econobox. We love our automatic trannys here, mostly because they're easy to operate and they tend to work better in traffic than a manual. Heck, an awful lot of people under age 40 don't even know how to drive a stick. In 2007, worldwide automatics will finally out-number manual transmissions. It has been that way here in North America and Japan for a very long time, but now in countries like China and India more and more drivers can afford an auto trans. Traffic is also more congested in those countries too, with more cars on the road.

In Europe, manual-shift automatics are aiding the transition away from manuals. They're sure to become more popular here in the US as well, which will cut down the amount of sticks in sports cars. The proliferation of CVTs, which get lower HP vehicles off the line a bit quicker than the standard automatic are helping the transition also. The writing was on the wall the minute you could get exotic European sports cars with paddle shifters.

 

[siko]

Booooooo....

Shows that the populations are either getting old or lazy... or both.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

Booooooo....

Shows that the populations are either getting old or lazy... or both.

Not necesarly.

Again, sequentials and duals aren't exactly automatics. Also this transmisions have been in used endurance sport-prototypes, WRC and Formula 1 cars for a while now.

Thus you would imply that Le Mans winners, WRC and F1 world champions are lazy, unskilled or old, witch simply isn't the case.

 

[BeeAmDoubleU]

a REAL driver will always drive a manual

 

[warot]

But sequentials, dual-clutches aren't real automatics, more like something in between.

So why didn't they break them properly ?!
And to my knowledge some of these "automatics" give better fuel efficiency.

Automatics are not as efficient as manuals.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

a REAL driver will always drive a manual

So F1, WRC world champions and Le Mans winner aren't real drivers ?!
Sorry, that's non sense.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

Automatics are not as efficient as manuals.

Yes they are. Sequentials and duals and even some of the newer automatics are
more efficient, sometimes far more efficient.

 

[sunnyman12]

how can anything be more efficient than a manual...u can cut off engine power whenever you want

 

[Imhotep Evil]

how can anything be more efficient than a manual...u can cut off engine power whenever you want

Depend what are we talking about, the real automatics or hybrids .

Sequentials and duals, witch aren't real automatics, have vastly superiour upshift (and downshift for sequentials) speed.

So in a SMG III you upshift and downshift at best in 65 milliseconds vs. 600 milliseconds for manuals.

This means both better performance and fuel economy.

And no in manual mode the box (sequential or dual) DOESN'T shift gears (up or down) automatically, you the driver have to do it.

That's why they're not really automatics. Whatever you can do this hybrids can do better/faster/more efficient.