Why Not Automatic?!

That's what I have noticed as well. The I Shift really does drive just like a car. I don't find myself having to use throttle to do slow maneuvering with them most of the time like I do with other autos. Every once in awhile they still need a little motivation to move though.

 

I had a very hard time operating my truck with an automatic trans when attempting to park or dock. It would suddenly lurch 5 ft and/or rock my cab violently...it was just a huge pain in the butt during low speed parking situations.
I did, however, enjoy it in rush hour traffic!
To be fair...it was in an 07 Century, likely one of the early autos, perhaps the newer ones are better.
I'm back in a 10 spd now and for the most part, I prefer it.

 

Auto's are awesome. Drove one for eight months. Had no problem going up steep mountains. They are safer too. More attention paid to the road in front of you. They eliminate multitasking. Old timers said the same thing about digital photography. "Real photographers don't shoot digital" now everyone shoots digital. Same old story. Most old timers hate GPS's too.

 

You evidently didn't pay too close attention to the videos. When you mention full auto not being as efficient as "direct drive" system, you must have missed how Allison's T10 goes into full lockup at 4 mph. And unlike a auto shift, there is no computer basically "floating" the gears in the shift. There is no reduction in acceleration applied to the engine by the computer as is needed with a auto shift manual to disengage from one gear and "float" to the next. The T10 can shift under full power with no let up on the engine by computer or driver. No auto shift can do that. That is their whole contention at Allison, they do not affect the torque coming off the engine in any way to make the shift and can get a truck to road speed quicker and more efficiently. And on the down and nasty grunt work, they do not have to abuse the snot out of a clutch like an auto shift does. The torque converter takes all of it as it was designed to do.

I would have agreed with you on the previous models that Allison came out with. The T10 just got introduced this year and is in a way different league than previous full automatics and are finally serious contenders against the auto shifts. But old perceptions die hard. Guess that is why I have taken so much abuse also on how my current truck is set up. Some folks get set in a particular mindset and it takes a major event in their life to change them. That's ok.

 

The newest duel clutch I -shift is supposed to shift with no power " interruption ".

Only moto guys can experience real full power shifts ....lol

 

I get from point "A" to point "B" in my automatic just fine.

 

That is interesting, now duel (two) clutches? I suppose you could be right, but it sure seems like a long way to go around the barn. And they are still clutches. There is still the frictional nature that they bring to the table. And to do a full power shift would involved complexities that really introduce complexities that the full auto with a torque converter would not have to deal with and affect reliability. Hydraulics can overcome a multitude of problems that friction based systems have to contend with. Guess that is why torque converter style full automatics have been around reliably since the early 1900's and auto shifts only came to the party in the 90's.

Kinda reminds me of the second Star Trek movie in which Kirk and the crew were going to steal the Enterprise. The Excelsior was going to give chase but konked out. Commander Scott is then heard to say... "the more complicated they make the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain".

In reality, I hope that the competition between these manufacturers makes ALL the products better and more reliable for everyone. And it really makes things nicer that there are so many choices instead of a one size fits all thing. The purests and traditionalists can have their manuals, those that prefer a computer shift the transmission can have that, and those that want a true automatic have a place at the table also.

 

CP, you've probably seen this already . Short sales video about the duel clutch I-torque......Check out this video on YouTube:

http://youtu.be/gUZgVgNtlkU

 

Interesting video for sure! Still would be an issue for me in that I won't buy a Volvo product. If they offered their iTorque on on other platforms, then I might give it some consideration. That is the beauty of the other tranny OEM's, they have no problem selling their stuff on various engine/chassis/brand combinations. But I will keep my eyes open and see where this goes in the future. Thanks for posting the video.

 

dual clutch is becoming quite popular in the auto industry.I think porche designed it, then flowed to audi and vw. Ford uses a dual clutch on the focus and IIRC the escape.
Most auto makers have a form of it in use now. BMW, dodge, fiat, hyundai, F1 ect...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd10wif87Qk

Honda makes them now for motorcycles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8reh-GWbMs

Heavy haul, or super heavy haul uses torque convertor alot. No tearing up parts, and reliable.
I'm looking forward to see this allison TC10.