Hyundai Has Made A Manual Gearbox With No Clutch Pedal
For us enthusiasts, the clutch pedal of a manual gearbox is where we get half the engagement from. But for normals, the whole thing probably seems a little laborious. Hyundai, however, has come up with a way of combining the simplicity and fun of a manual with some of the convenience of an automatic.
You might have already heard of the new intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT), which is being fitted to a bunch of different mild hybrid Kia and Hyundai models. This uses a hydraulically-actuated clutch that automatically disengages the engine when you’re coasting, and on most cars with it, there’s still a clutch pedal - it’s merely a by-wire operated affair. But on the Indian market version of the Venue, the iMT does away with the third pedal entirely.
The system isn’t actually that complex. Each throw of the ever activates an ‘Intention Sensor’, which triggers a hydraulic actuator. The increase in hydraulic pressure allows the slave cylinder to control the clutch and pressure plate, engaging and disengaging at the right moment for the next cog from the six-speed gearbox to be slotted in by the driver.
This not only makes life easier for the driver - it’s also, Hyundai says, more efficient, presumably since every actuation of the clutch will be perfectly executed. The enjoyment factor is what the company seems to be focusing on most, however. “Hyundai has announced the introduction of yet another industry first Innovation that offers customers the convenience of two-pedal clutch-less technology combined with fun-to-drive elements of a manual transmission,” it said in a press release.
The two-pedal iMT joined the Venue range at the beginning of the month, available on vehicles powered by the 1.0-litre ‘Kappa’ T-GDI petrol engine. From the sounds of it, the unusual transmission has replaced the conventional six-speed manual on the model outright.
Developing the system won’t have been a small undertaking, so it’s surely only a matter of time until this gearbox makes its way to other markets and other vehicles. Would you have one instead of a conventional manual, or an automatic?
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
It’s not really a new concept. Saab did it as well back in the 80s called the ‘SAAB sensonic gearbox’. It was fitted to a few cars and it never caught on because of the inconvenience everyday driving situation, say parking on a hill which is going to be very difficult. You either press the brake or the throttle. Not both. This was proven on one of Top Gear Specials: The Worst Car In The History of The World.
VW had that too in the MK2 golf but they are rather rare
Yeah i got the DVD i saw that i was going to mention that but yeah the saab sensonic gearbox lacked a creep function which caused it to lurch foward hopefully this is diffrent
In case of a car like the Venue, I’d take a classic AT since it’s just a city/family commuter. If I wanted a manual, it would rather be a Veloster or an i30, but I’d have a manual to actually manage the gearing manually and that includes working the clutch too. For example, with iMT you are unable to engine brake, rev-match etc.
Ummm… Saxomat (1956)?
I can’t find online. Who made the Saxomat?
it begins…
Goofy foot unite
Didn’t the Alfa Romeo Q-System do a similar thing?
Laughs in Porsche Sportomatic…
Honda had a two-pedal, semi-manual system in the Jazz and Civic for a while.
It was awful, from my experience test driving one, and was so poorly received by owners that they soon replaced it with a CVT instead.