Automated manual transmission. This drivetrain setup relies on a traditional mechanical gearbox and a dry or wet clutch, but replaces the driver's clutch pedal and shifter with electronic or hydraulic actuators. The vehicle's computer commands the gear changes, providing the mechanical efficiency of a manual gearbox without requiring the driver to manually shift.
The customer complained about jerky shifting, but that's just normal operation for an early AMT in heavy traffic.
AMTs are notorious for feeling clunky at low speeds because they physically disengage and re-engage a single clutch, lacking the fluid cushion of a traditional torque converter.
Also heard as
- automated-manual-transmission
Do not mix it up with
- DCT: A DCT uses two separate clutches to pre-select gears for very fast shifts, whereas an AMT uses a single clutch and physically interrupts power delivery during every gear change.
Related terms
Automatic transmission
A gearbox that changes gear ratios independently without a manual clutch pedal.
Manual transmission
A gearbox requiring the driver to manually select gear ratios using a shift lever and a clutch.
DCT
A dual-clutch transmission uses two separate clutches for odd and even gear sets to enable lightning-fast shifts.
CVT
The abbreviation CVT stands for continuously variable transmission, a gearbox using belts and pulleys.