#Fast automatic cars manual#

Pioneered by DAF in the 1950s, these use belts rather than gears to provide a single variable gear, allowing for seamless ratio changes. However, for pure city driving they can be jerky, and should they go wrong they're very expensive and difficult to repair.ĬVT automatic (Continuously Variable Transmission)Ī different choice altogether is a CVT or Continuously Variable Transmission.

#Fast automatic cars manual#

On the move, twin-clutch automatics are smooth, quick-shifting and can even better thair manual rivals for fuel economy and emissions. That reputation is changing though, largely thanks to brilliant torque converters like the ZF 8-speed auto, which is fitted in dozens of performance cars from BMWs to Jaguars.ĭSG: what is a Direct Shift Gearbox and how do they work? Torque converter autos offer very smooth but not necessarily lightning quick gearchanges, earning them the affectionate name of 'slushbox' in some cases. These have been in use since the middle of last century and since then have been endlessly refined and improved. It uses a fluid coupling between the engine and gearbox which transmits power under load. The oldest and best-known type of automatic transmission is sometimes called a 'traditional automatic', but it's more accurately named a torque converter automatic. 'Traditional' automatic or torque converter automatic Here’s a quick guide to the technology behind the different types of auto gearbox on the market today… With an enormous 600-litre boot and impressive rear cabin space, the Octavia is one of the most versatile hatchbacks available, and it feels built to last over many years of family duties. Aside from the sporty vRS versions, no Octavia is thrilling to drive, but DSG-equipped models take the sting out of city driving with their slick shifts and solid refinement.

There's nothing particularly exciting about the Octavia, but by clothing a Golf-derived platform in a more practical, unassuming body, Skoda has created a family friendly hatchback that's better value than its Volkswagen sibling. With its spectacular wood-festooned interior, plush ride and unruffled demeanour at speed, there are few better cars for covering distance than the Continental GT - at any price. Better yet, the Bentley's four-wheel drive system and active roll control make it surprisingly easy to deploy all that grunt - whatever the road surface or conditions - and it settles down beautifully when you turn things down a notch. The British firm chose to equip the latest Continental GT with a dual-clutch gearbox, and somehow, it manages to combine silky responses with rapid shifts - the results are superb, and the rest of the package is equally compelling.Īvailable with either V8 or W12 petrol engines, the two-door GT has the thumping performance to match its imposing looks, whichever version you choose. The Continental GT treads a line between opulent cruiser and capable sports car, so in theory, neither technology is a perfect solution. In a sports car, a quick-shifting dual-clutch gearbox is often preferable to a lazier, smoother torque converter, which serves up a dilemma for Bentley.