(Auto) Ford doesn't want you to step on the clutch

[Askor lml]

It is nothing new that fewer and fewer cars come with a manual gearbox. Such is the case that even the most traditional sports cars are in the news when they are equipped with a manual transmission, since the entire industry opts for automatic gearboxes, which are increasingly advanced and efficient. Personally, I am a defender of manual boxes; of the connection they provide with the mechanics, of the total control they can give you of the vehicle. But I confess, much to my regret, that after so many tested cars, every time I get out of an automatic vehicle and drive through the city, I miss it.

Manual gearbox without clutch pedal

Beyond what trends dictate, it seems that Ford has a project in the pipeline for a manual gearbox without a clutch pedal, since according to a patent for the brand by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the oval brand is working on a manual transmission that would retain the gear lever and the ability to change gears manually, but without using a clutch pedal, but operating it electronically.

Applications of this system

The transmission and gearbox would basically retain the same components as a traditional manual gearbox. In addition, Ford would have provided for some specific models a clutch pedal for faster gear changes, that is, for those who appreciate a truly sporty touch and fully connected to the car. But in more relaxed situations, the driver could let the electronics fulfill this clutch function.

A system of this type could be used for any type of vehicle, and there is speculation that this gearbox could debut in the Bronco or in the sporty ST versions. It's also not out of the question that this manual transmission could make its first appearance in the new Mustang.

This is not so revolutionary

What seems to be a disruptive idea actually has a clear precedent a couple of decades ago, when FIAT presented the Palio Citymatic in 1999, with a very similar idea. In that case, the clutch pedal was replaced by a cable that was activated by moving the gear lever, so the use of the left foot was not necessary, something that was used to promote this technology at that time.

Later this system gave rise to the so-called manual gearboxes, some (let's say it bluntly) infamous automatic transmissions that were actually robotic manual gearboxes, such as the Dualogic, Easytronic and I-Motion, characterized most of the time by their artificiality and slowness.

News brought byhttp://noticias.autocosmos.com.ve/2022/02/12/ford-no-quiere-que-pises-el-embrague