The Elio Automatic Transmission

[Coss]

Since this is supposed to be a discussion about the automatic transmission, in the photos I've seen, why is the shifter a PRND without at least 1 low gear option? Whether it's a 5 or 6 speed, a 1 or 2 gear choice is helpful when you're stuck in the snow.

EM has mentioned paddle shifters for the automatics in the past; these will be an option, not standard equipment.
If they do paddle shifters, they'll have to have a gear indicator somewhere on the dash.

 

[Jambe]

From Elio Motors Facebook page:
"The Elio will be using an AMT for the automatic transmission. No paddle shifting will be optional at this time."

 

[Grumpy Cat]

From Elio Motors Facebook page:
"The Elio will be using an AMT for the automatic transmission. No paddle shifting will be optional at this time."

Key words there.

 

[Daryl M]

Ok, it is time for me to end the year by highlighting my ignorance.
I've looked at every post in this topic/thread and haven't found an answer.
What is the efficiency differential between the manual and AMT transmissions?

Our Honda Civic, manual, has problems in hilly terrain - often having to downshift to 3rd along the main road. Sometimes I'm 15mph or more below the speed limit before cresting the hill. After turning off the main road onto the road to my house, we can't get above 2nd.

Since the Elio has less than half the power (though less than half the weight) I am concerned that it may also have problems in the hills.

A traditional automatic hides the shifting but, if it also robs too much power, things could get really sluggish going up hill.

I know very little about the AMTs like will be in the Elio. I have some experience with BMW's previous generation automatic manual (SMT?). It sucked so much that both Hoover and Dyson felt threatened.

If performance will be about the same with either the manual or AMT, then the decision will be based upon how lazy I feel when it comes time to actually place my order. If one or the other would affect how easy it will be to maintain the speed limit (45), or the AMT would go into yo-yo mode between two gears, then I would like to know in advance (or at least know more than I do right now).

Sorry for this long rambling post, but I don't feel I know enough to even ask the correct questions.

 

[Coss]

Ok, it is time for me to end the year by highlighting my ignorance.
I've looked at every post in this topic/thread and haven't found an answer.
What is the efficiency differential between the manual and AMT transmissions?

Our Honda Civic, manual, has problems in hilly terrain - often having to downshift to 3rd along the main road. Sometimes I'm 15mph or more below the speed limit before cresting the hill. After turning off the main road onto the road to my house, we can't get above 2nd.

Since the Elio has less than half the power (though less than half the weight) I am concerned that it may also have problems in the hills.

A traditional automatic hides the shifting but, if it also robs too much power, things could get really sluggish going up hill.

I know very little about the AMTs like will be in the Elio. I have some experience with BMW's previous generation automatic manual (SMT?). It sucked so much that both Hoover and Dyson felt threatened.

If performance will be about the same with either the manual or AMT, then the decision will be based upon how lazy I feel when it comes time to actually place my order. If one or the other would affect how easy it will be to maintain the speed limit (45), or the AMT would go into yo-yo mode between two gears, then I would like to know in advance (or at least know more than I do right now).

Sorry for this long rambling post, but I don't feel I know enough to even ask the correct questions.

Amazing how well the Search works on here.
These are 3 posts that I did before covering this very topic:
http://www.elioowners.com/posts/141826/

http://www.elioowners.com/posts/128723/

http://www.elioowners.com/posts/157940/

These should answer your questions

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

Ok, it is time for me to end the year by highlighting my ignorance.
I've looked at every post in this topic/thread and haven't found an answer.
What is the efficiency differential between the manual and AMT transmissions?

Our Honda Civic, manual, has problems in hilly terrain - often having to downshift to 3rd along the main road. Sometimes I'm 15mph or more below the speed limit before cresting the hill. After turning off the main road onto the road to my house, we can't get above 2nd.

Since the Elio has less than half the power (though less than half the weight) I am concerned that it may also have problems in the hills.

A traditional automatic hides the shifting but, if it also robs too much power, things could get really sluggish going up hill.

I know very little about the AMTs like will be in the Elio. I have some experience with BMW's previous generation automatic manual (SMT?). It sucked so much that both Hoover and Dyson felt threatened.

If performance will be about the same with either the manual or AMT, then the decision will be based upon how lazy I feel when it comes time to actually place my order. If one or the other would affect how easy it will be to maintain the speed limit (45), or the AMT would go into yo-yo mode between two gears, then I would like to know in advance (or at least know more than I do right now).

Sorry for this long rambling post, but I don't feel I know enough to even ask the correct questions.

Manual transmission (MT) Has Clutch. You control the gears and the clutch (baseline)

Automatic transmission (AT) Has Torque Converter and uses hydraulic fluid, generally less efficient, more complex and less reliable.

Automatic manual transmission (AMT). A manual gear box that has a servo in place of the clutch pedal and servos in place of the shifting cable. A computer controls the clutch and the shifting. Driver will have a stick or switch to select full computer control (drive) where the computer will select the gear and the clutch timing or manual where the driver can select the gear but the computer will still control the clutch engagement and disengegement.

 

[Coss]

And more information on Automatics, MMT's, AMT's, CVT's and others than you ever imagined:
Different types of "automatic" transmissions

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_transmission

 

[Ty]

Since this is supposed to be a discussion about the automatic transmission, in the photos I've seen, why is the shifter a PRND without at least 1 low gear option? Whether it's a 5 or 6 speed, a 1 or 2 gear choice is helpful when you're stuck in the snow.

This isn't an automatic. It'll shift through the gears like a manual transmission. I would be surprised if the shifter didn't come with a +/- button on the right to control gear selection like a paddle shifter. You should be able to hit something like "M" which will keep the current gear unless you hit the +/-.

 

[Maurtis]

This isn't an automatic. It'll shift through the gears like a manual transmission. I would be surprised if the shifter didn't come with a +/- button on the right to control gear selection like a paddle shifter. You should be able to hit something like "M" which will keep the current gear unless you hit the +/-.

That is similar to how the AMT in the older model Smart worked. The "Pure" model had a +/- shift lever position you could use if you wanted to "manually" shift and the "Passion" model had paddles on the steering wheel.

 

[Coss]

That is similar to how the AMT in the older model Smart worked. The "Pure" model had a +/- shift lever position you could use if you wanted to "manually" shift and the "Passion" model had paddles on the steering wheel.

That's so you can play "F1 race car driver"!