Maybe Toyota Won't Let the Manual Die After All

This applies to third gen because we love our manuals and the third gen manual is it's saving grace.
Toyota looking to develop technology to automatically put transmission in neutral when going downhill to save fuel.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-car...transmission-technology-found-on-1960s-saabs/

 

Seems like a waste of resources.

 

Maybe if you like driving the numb, lethargic slushbox auto.

 

I HATE the auto trans. It is the biggest piece of cost reduced sh!t I ever experienced in a modern automobile.

 

So you don't like automatics, but you are interested in a new system that takes control away from a driver of a manual transmission (automatic coasting, gear change restrictions)?

 

I must have gotten a model year 2020 rather than a 2017. Mine can already go into neutral when going downhill (when I push in the clutch and shift into neutral )

 

I know nothing besides the posted article, but from info in the article, I do not want this. WTF ,miss shifting 2nd to 5th or whatever and if I want to coast... WHOA I slip into neutral

 

What about compression braking from the engine?

I constantly use it, especially when I lived around mountain passes

 

If incorporating this system means people can still row their own gears then I am all for it. My 2013 is actually an auto (my 78 FJ40 is not however) and I don't mind it but wish it were a manual. I am not against autos. Just against the death of manuals. One of the reasons manuals are dying is because autos get better MPG now. This might help manuals narrow the gap a bit.

 

Meh. Toyota just filed a patent. Doesn't mean it will get implemented. Boeing has patent US20110018740 for a warning system that pokes the pilot in the ass. To my knowledge it has not been implemented.

 

It seems like having the vehicle shift itself into neutral when you're going down a hill would be counterproductive. Modern fuel injectors already close when you're coasting, so the engine is just cycling and using zero fuel. If they have the transmission shift to neutral (and therefore disengage the engine), they'll have to use fuel to keep the engine idling.

The reason that the old Saabs used a freewheel mechanism was because they were a two stroke.
Engine braking? Zero lubrication to the engine. Very bad.
Stepping on the throttle to keep the engine lubed? Very fast downhill speed. Very bad.
Stepping on the throttle and the brakes to control your speed while lubing the engine? Very bad.
The solution? Freewheeling.

But since modern cars are neither 2 strokes OR carburated, the tech doesn't make any sense to pursue to me.

 

I hear you.

Reading the article, I'm kind of picturing a tiptronic transmission with a stick gear selector instead of a sequential lever / paddles. It could still have the benefits of gear selection, but keep you from blowing stuff up.

 

I thought bmw has this patent already?

As far as injectors I assume they will change so they also cut in this "neutral mode" is activated

 

LOL

 

No clutch = not a manual.

 

That would be silly.....modern EFI engines don't use fuel when coasting. Its completely cut-off. If you coast in neutral, you must supply fuel to idle. Are they going to let the engine turn off like start/stop technology?

Edit: actually read the article now...OK...Start/Stop was mentioned.

 

That is my guess. They are not idiots, they will probably set it up so it still cuts in neutral or something

 

That would be a great way to sell more starters.