SACHS' Combines Advantages Of Manual and Automatic Transmissions

    TROY, Mich., March 5 A new technology designed to optimize
today's transmissions will be shown by SACHS Automotive at the SAE 2001 World
Congress and Exposition in Detroit, March 5-8, 2001.

    SACHS is showcasing its automated manual transmission (AMT) system
components which combine advantages of conventional manual and automatic
transmissions.  With the SACHS electronically-controlled gearbox, a driver can
choose to let the system shift on its own, like a fully-automatic
transmission, or shift gears manually without having to activate the clutch.

    "With electronic control of all gear and clutch functions, the SACHS
system provides increased riding comfort and lower fuel consumption by
constantly selecting the optimum gear," said Walter Erke, president, NAFTA
Powertrain Division.

    "The driver who wants to control the gears can tap the shift lever forward
to upshift, or rearward to downshift, and no clutch pedal is needed," he
explained.  "When the vehicle is brought to a stop, it automatically shifts to
first gear, regardless of what gear it was previously in, so that driving can
resume immediately without need to shift."

    The SACHS AMT system can be used in a variety of vehicles ranging from
minicars to heavy trucks.  It is already in use for city cars like the
European Smart, and BMW is installing it in its M3 as the Sequential M Gearbox
(SMG).

    The system's smaller size and lighter weight, compared to automatic
transmissions, can help reduce fuel consumption and emissions.  It can enable
automakers to use lighter-weight powertrains and smaller engines, which need
to shift gears more often, and still provide the performance levels that
customers expect, Erke pointed out.

    For vehicle manufacturers, advantages of the SACHS system include lower
weight, minimal installation space, and maximum efficiency for the entire
powertrain.  It requires a relatively small investment for OEMs because it is
an add-on system that can be adapted to existing models.  The complete control
system is a compact, easily installed unit.

    With the SACHS AMT system, no clutch pedal is required.  The clutch is
controlled by a small actuator mounted directly on the clutch housing.

    The system offers a safety advantage as well, Erke added.  It is operated
by specially-developed actuators which can automatically release the clutch
for a short time to interrupt the power flow when a danger of skidding is
detected.

    Semi-automatic transmissions are increasingly used in heavy trucks and
commercial vehicles, where driver comfort, greater fuel economy, lower
purchase price, and less wear-and-tear are major requirements, he noted.