Sportronic is a term with multiple meanings. It refers to the transmissions of Alfa Romeo and Mitsubishi vehicles. On Alfa Romeo vehicles, Sportronic is an automatic transmission with a manual shift mode. This has been used since the late 1990s. It combines the advantages of a manual and an automatic transmission. This transmission is characterized by low fuel consumption and perfect driving dynamics, guarantees comfortable driving, allows the driver to perform more complex maneuvers and improves the car's performance in difficult off-road conditions. In addition, this transmission adapts to your driving style.
On Mitsubishi models, the Sportronic designation stands for a manual shift function in continuously variable transmissions, which also allows the driver to operate the transmission manually in order to use the engine's torque output with maximum efficiency.
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How Sportronic works
Alfa Romeo's Sportronic transmission is based on a traditional automatic transmission, equipped with a hydraulic torque converter and a planetary gearbox. Manual operation is carried out indirectly via an electronic control unit with special firmware. Data about the selected gear is sent as electrical signals from various sensors to the control unit, then the electronic control unit sends commands to the actuators that engage the desired gear. In manual mode, the driver selects the gear with the shift lever.
With Mitsubishi cars, manual shifting can be performed using the shift lever or the shift paddles.
Popular Sportronic transmissions
| Index | Manufacturer | Number of gears | Gear Type | Max. Torque, Nm | Max. Cubic capacity, l | Type of drive | Year of manufacture | Car models that are equipped with this type of gearbox |
| 4HP20 | ZF | 4 | Automatic with torque converter | 330 | 3.5 | Front wheel | 1995 | Alfa Romeo 166 |
| AW55-50SN | Aisin | 5 | Automatic with torque converter | 330 | 3.5 | Front | 2000 | Alfa Romeo 166 |
| F1CJA/W1CJA (JF011 E) | Jatco | – | Continuously variable transmission | 250 | 2, 5 | Front, 4WD | 2005 | Mitsubishi ASX GA; Mitsubishi Outlander GF; Mitsubishi Lancer CY; Mitsubishi Outlander CW |
Frequent defects of Sportronic transmissions
| Defects | Transmission |
| The valve body tubes clog due to wear of the clutch pack friction plates. | AW55-50SN |
| Mechanical assemblies wear out quickly due to lack of oil. | AW55-50SN |
| Over time, the hydraulic valve body and the bushings of the planetary gears wear out. | AW55-50SN |
| Due to the wear of the torque converter friction plate, the shaft vibrates and leaks appear up. | ZF 4HP20 |
| The components of the transmission pump, for example the bushing, the bearings of the stator and those of the drive wheel break. | ZF 4HP20 |
| The solenoid valves and transmission position sensor fail. | ZF 4HP20 |
| The bearings of the input and output shafts wear out prematurely. | F1CJA/W1CJA (JF011E) |
| The belt of the continuously variable transmission with V-belt wears out . | F1CJA/W1CJA (JF011E) |
| The transmission pump flow control valve clogs due to negligence in fluid replacement intervals, resulting in jerking. | F1CJA/W1CJA (JF011E) |
| The stepper motor often falls fig. | F1CJA/W1CJA (JF011E) |