The drive to perfection: a brief evolution of vehicle transmissions

If there has been one area of car development that’s undergone a massive tech explosion over the years, it’s transmissions. Facing more recent pressure from lawmakers, the environment and the public than ever before, the past decade has seen automakers move away from fuel-drunk Earth-killers and towards smarter, greener and cleaner vehicles.

Most are developing a form of hybrid power unit, meshing combustion engines with rechargeable electrical motors. Others like BMW, have invested heavily in lighter construction materials, shunning traditional alloys in favour of “carbon fibre and thermoplastic,” in the case of its i8. But those not ready to completely abandon hope in petroleum are developing smarter drive trains and more efficient transmissions for current generation vehicles, increasing engine efficiency.

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