What type of automatic gearbox is in the Hyundai i40?
What type of automatic gearbox is in the Hyundai i40?
John Carey (Clogheen)Apr 2011 Filed under: automatic
Expert answer
Hi John,
It was developed in-house by the Hyundai-Kia Group for fitment in a wide range of future vehicles. It is a six-speed unit. The driver can choose from two operating modes - fully automatic or ‘Sport’. For city driving, fully automatic mode is ideal, while ‘Sport’ mode allows for clutch-less manual gear changes for greater driver involvement - either using the centre console selector lever or the new steering wheel-mounted ‘paddles’ (standard on all automatic models).
The paddles enable the driver to change gear without taking his/her hands off the steering wheel. Pulling the right-hand paddle towards the driver changes ‘up’, while pulling the left-hand paddle changes ‘down’.
Although the six-speed transmission is a regular ‘torque converter’ automatic, it incorporates a unique ‘flat’ torque converter, with three planetary gear sets and four pinion differentials - ensuring, according to Hyundai, ultra-fast, smooth and precise gearshifts throughout the engine speed range - and it weighs just 78kg - 20 kg more than the manual gearbox.
Its layout makes this transmission the most compact six-speed unit currently available anywhere in the world according to Hyundai. It is 54 mm shorter and weighs 12kg less than a regular five-speed unit and boosts fuel economy by up to 12 per cent. Like the i40’s six-speed manual, the automatic is a ‘filled for life’ maintenance-free unit.
Automatic transmission-equipped i40s will feature cruise control and Hyundai’s ‘Active Eco System‘ economy indicator to assist with fuel-efficient driving.
Hope that's enough information?
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