Two additional gears mean threefold progress: quicker shifts, greater smoothness, enhanced efficiency.
The wider spread of ratios allows the engine to run at lower speeds, often in the "tallest" gear, 8th. Yet even with this wider spread, the steps between adjacent gears are reduced; in turn this means a stronger, smoother flow of power during acceleration.
Faster shifts are a further benefit because only one clutch pack is disengaged to shift up or down by one or two gears. On the other hand, downshifting more than two gears is accomplished as a direct shift. For example, a downshift from 8th to 2nd gear is made with only one clutch pack disengagement, and thus occurs without stepping down through the intermediate gears. So, at one instant the driver can be enjoying the quiet, fuel-efficient low rpm of 8th gear, and in the next instant getting maximum acceleration.
See also:
Office
...
1990: the third generation - premiere of the BMW 3-Series Coupé and BMW
3-Series Compact, new six-cylinder petrol and turbodiesel engines
1990 saw the introduction of the third-generation 3-Series, the four-door
Sedan taking to the stage on a wave of elegance and new technology. On top of
this, the dimensions of the body and the spa ...
The concept
Night Vision with pedestrian detection is a night
vision system.
An infrared camera records the area in front of
the vehicle and displays the image on the Control
Display.
The picture is a hea ...