Early locking transmission vs. Automated manual.
 

Can anyone provide insight into the tactile differences between an early locking torque converter and an automated manual. Is the Toyobaru auto going to essentially be a auto-manual with a single clutch?

When the TC locks up, the engine and transmission is directly, mechanically connected. so it should feel like an auto-manual, but obviously they both work in different ways.

Both automatics use a clutch, the only difference is one uses 2 clutches and one uses a clutch with a torque converter. Once the torque converter is locked, it's basically a manual transmission.

technically incorrect.

Auto-manuals use the conventional manual transmission gearset with an electro-hydraulically controlled clutch. dual clutches obviously use 2 gearsets and 2 clutches.

torque converter automatics use a torque converter, lock up clutch, and planetary gearsets. each planetary gearset has its own clutches/brakes to make up the different ratios

the in between transmission is AMG's MCT which uses planetary gearsets but replaces the TC and lockup clutch with a wet multiplate clutch

I don't care too much how they work but I appreciate your knowledge. My main question is how long will the clutch remain locked (within each gears range, I know it must unlock to change gears). Is it locked during cruising and hard acceleration or will it de-couple as soon as you accelerate hard.

What manufacturers are shifting towards is a lockup clutch that is more or less always engaged past 1st gear. See Mazda Skyactiv transmission, or Lexus ISF.

This is correct.

So if you throw both the FRS auto and manual on a dyno the RWHP numbers will be pretty the same?

Who cares? This car isn't about dyno numbers...


:D


But to answer your question, yes, pretty much.

So what is the advantage of a manual over the locking auto? Stronger left foot?

More fun. that's just about it.

and notice i said more fun. plenty of people can enjoy themselves in a well sorted AT. i'll never say an AT is more fun than a MT, but a good AT is fun enough, and that's good enough for me.

A transmission with a torque converter is going to feel a little bit different coming off a traffic light compared to a single or dual clutch automated manual.

But when it matters - when you're actually moving - it should feel very similar, as long as the TC locks up after first (as I would guess this gearbox does).

for the better I think? I heard that automatic using clutches only aren't very smooth from stop.