Different Types of Vehicle Transmission

A couple of years ago the only option consumers had was either automatic or manual about transmission systems. This was true until the 1990s, however with the introduction of electronics in the vehicle system, the transmission game has changed. Nowadays with every new car that comes out there is a new type of transmission you’ve never heard of.

Below is a quick guide on the most common type of transmission available in the market today.

Standard Manual

This is undoubtably the oldest type of transmission system that is currently being used. Its relevance is guaranteed because of its simplicity. There are different systems with various speeds like the most common 5 speed. A good example is an r154 gearbox for sale almost everywhere. A manual system uses fly wheels interlocking with each other and is connected to the rotational energy of the engine’s input shaft.

From here the individual gears are engaged by the gear-selector fork and synchro. A clutch is used to disengage the engine so that the shifting can occur. The clutch is engaged using a clutch pedal.

Standard Automatic

After its introduction in 1939, this type of transmission system overtook the manual system due to the fact that it requires minimal driver involvement. As the name suggests all of the above shifting and disengaging are done automatically.  A torque converter is used to transmit the power of the engine to the transmission. Hydraulic fluid is to make the connection, and this removed the need for a clutch.


Also known as semi-automatic or manumatic, this system is an automatic transmission but has a regular gear and clutch setup. However, the shifting in the system is done by sensors, actuators, processors and pneumatics and these components replace the shift and clutch combo.

CVT(Continuously Variable Transmission)

An automatic transmission system has a steel gear wheel system and a CVT system replaces this with a belt and pulley system which is used to change the gears. Due to this replacement, there is no fixed gear so a CVT can achieve a wide range of ratios, more power transfer to the wheels and allow the engine to rotate at its maximum speed.

DCT(Dual Clutch Transmission)

As the name suggests a DCT system has two separate shafts for changing between gears. One shaft is used to shift between odd numbered gears while the other shaft manages the even numbered ones. A DCT system also has two separate clutches. The biggest advantage of this type of system is that you can quickly switch between high and low gears. Acceleration is quite seamless. However, a DCT system also has quite a few drawbacks like excessive noises, stalling and lurching, limited throttle response and hesitation.


This type of automatic transmission behaves like a manual gearbox by enabling the driver to use a shifter on the floor or in the form of a paddle. However, it is still considered an automatic transmission and uses a torque converted and does not require a clutch pedal.

These are some of the most common types of transmission systems in the market today. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. 

Please follow and like us:
Follow by Email