Tiptronic gearbox: special features and technical features

Tiptronic is a function that allows manual shifting of automatic transmissions from Allowed for Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, SEAT, Škoda and certain Peugeot models. A manual transmission was introduced in 1989: the Porsche 911, equipped with the ZF 4HP22 4-speed automatic transmission, was the first to be equipped with a Tiptronic function.

According to the ideas of the engineers, the Tiptronic can -System to simulate driving a race car in a conventional car. The automatic transmission is controlled manually in a similar way to the sequential manual transmission: the gears are shifted one after the other.

Tiptronic has an integrated protective function that prevents damage to the engine and transmission. If the drive unit reaches a critical speed, or if the driver is inactive for a long time, the on-board computer switches back to automatic mode.

Design and the function of Tiptronic

Tiptronic transmissions are based on a shaftless automatic transmission with a torque converter and planetary gears, as well as an electronic control function and a function that allows the torque converter to be locked in all modes. In order to switch to manual operation, the shift lever must be placed in the intended position. A specific gear can then be selected by sliding it forwards or backwards. Moving triggers a special program in which the engine control unit engages a specific gear.

It is important to note that the shifting algorithm is completely different from that used in race cars: upshifts are performed by pushing the shift lever forward, while downshifts are performed by pushing the lever backwards.

If a gearbox does not have all of the above functions, it cannot be called a Tiptronic. Therefore, similar functions in vehicles from different manufacturers have different brand names. Continuously variable transmissions with programmed shift points and semi-automatic transmissions, for example, cannot bear the name of the system patented by Porsche.

Tiptronic has all the advantages of Manumatic gearboxes, but it has some disadvantages:

1. The weight of the car increases due to the additional elements and the size of the gearbox.
2. Repair on Transmission is expensive due to the complex structure and the use of wear-resistant materials.
3. There is a 0.1-0.7 second delay when shifting.

Popular gears with Tiptronic mode