The Future of Driving: Transmissions and Uncertainty

O​ften brought up in conversations with other gear heads, the subject of driving in the future can be very uncertain at times. We face threats from autonomous driving, electric compact cars, and CVT transmissions. Technology can seem to be our enemy in these instances.

T​attood on my right tricep in the word "Fahrvergnugen"; Description of a pleasurable sensation experienced when a car and its driver are in mutual harmony; A unique driving experience;Pleasure; Satisfaction; A feeling experienced by Volkswagen drivers. It was this feeling that kickstarted my passion for cars, especially my Volkswagen. It was only through the transmission I was physically able to connect with the car, it was a 6 speed manual. As it becomes a thing of the past, will Fahrvergnugen be lost? How can car enthusiasts connect with cars with CVTs, hybrid motors, and start/stop technology? I have a prediction for the fate of our shared love: driving.

Of course, this is nothing but pure speculation. However, I do have some evidence supporting the claim; there will be two main types of automatic transmissions in the near future as the manual becomes NEAR extinct, not fully. I make this distinction because there will always be a demand for a manual. Always. If there is one car left in the world that still offers a manual, that will be their competitive advantage.

1​. The Dual/Multi Clutch

T​his transmission, already being adopted by several supercar makers, like Lamborghini, Porsche, Ferrari, and Koenigsegg. If you know anything about auto tech, you know that it all trickles down from F1 engineers. Then, supercars, then luxury cars, then mass produced cars we buy. I actually really enjoy driving dual clutch, not only is the speed of shifting ridiculously fast, but the sound isn't ruined like in a CVT. For us enthusiasts, if the DCT becomes the normal performance upgrade, that's not such a bad thing. Certainly I would rather a manual, but going faster is never a negative. Below pictured is a basic overview of a modern dual clutch gearbox.

C​redit: Flatirons Tuning

C​redit: Flatirons Tuning

2​. The CVT

Y​es, the horrid continuously variable transmission. The band-driven, "infinite" gear selecting, grenade-of-a-gearbox CVT has become the standard choice for the common car. Highly efficient, equally boring, the drone of the linear revving is one of the sounds that makes us auto enthusiasts cringe. There is no doubt, however, that the technology is revolutionary. While we may not like it, the efficiency is nearly unmatched and it is the perfect transmission for the average Joe. They're relatively cheap to make for starters, and the technology has improved tremendously after Nissan pioneered for the rest of the industry and worked out a lot of the kinks. Granted, a conventional automatic is still more reliable, but it just won't cut the standards we set out for the modern automobile anymore. Maybe one day they're gonna figure out how to make it appealing to the enthusiast. Below pictured is the belt that is central to the shifting of a CVT. I believe it is a Nissan/Mitsubishi.

C​redit: SAMARINS.COM

C​redit: SAMARINS.COM

B​ut what about speedshift? Shiftronic? Steptronic? SMG?

Y​es these transmissions are still around for the most part, but they're becoming a thing of the past. They did wonders for BMW, Mercedes, and other great brands but they're on their way out as they roll out newer models based on newer powertrain platforms. Welcome to the new age of modern automotive design infrastructure where nearly every component is inexclusive and shared between several models.

A​gain, it is fair to say the future of driving is uncertain. In fact, new tech might roll out tomorrow and revolutionize the industry. But there will always exist adaptation. If there's a market, there will be a product to be sold. Rest easy, gear heads. If there's one thing that is certain, driving is not going anywhere.