How many simulated gears does the Stelvio's automatic manual transmission have?

[JocelynFitz]

Stelvio's automatic manual transmission has 8 gears. The Stelvio uses an 8-speed automatic transmission (8AT). For AT transmissions, the number of gears is actual and not simulated. This transmission features high transmission efficiency and fast shifting speeds. The AT transmission is connected to the engine via a torque converter, with a complex internal structure that includes multiple planetary gears. This type of transmission relies on planetary gears for speed and torque variation. The Stelvio's transmission also has a manual mode, which can be used in specific road conditions or during aggressive driving. When switched to manual mode, the driver can use the gear lever or paddle shifters to upshift or downshift the transmission.

[VonAthena]

I've been driving the Stelvio for almost three years now, and this ZF transmission is incredibly smooth. It's advertised as an 8-speed simulation, with particularly intelligent gear shifts—hardly any noticeable jerkiness even in traffic jams. I often use the manual mode for mountain driving; a quick flick of the steering wheel paddle shifters drops the gear, letting me hold between 3rd and 4th to power through corners with tire spin, then immediately upshift on exit with a throttle blip. Despite the multiple gears, it's not a gas guzzler—cruising at 120 km/h keeps the RPM around 1900. Once, I lent it to a friend who switched to sport mode, downshifted three gears to overtake, and came back raving about wanting a car with the same transmission.

[Brown]

Just test drove the Stelvio Sport edition, and the salesperson specifically asked me to use the paddle shifters to downshift and experience the acceleration. In manual mode, this transmission can lock in 8 gears, but even in automatic mode, it shifts based on an 8-gear logic. When using the paddles, the system will automatically upshift for protection once the RPM hits the redline, unlike some cars where manual mode fails to lock the gear. On urban expressways, I noticed it shifts into 7th gear at just 60 km/h, no wonder it saves 2 liters of fuel compared to my old 6AT car. However, a reminder for new owners: remember to switch to manual mode during prolonged low-speed uphill driving to avoid frequent gear hunting in high gears.

[VonKai]

Having studied the transmission specifications of the Stelvio, it utilizes ZF's 8HP series from Germany. During normal driving, gear shifts are barely noticeable. I once specifically counted: it automatically shifts 7 times from standstill to 80 km/h. In paddle-shift manual mode, the current gear is displayed, and gears 1-8 can be locked. What's noteworthy is its rapid response—in Sport mode, dropping three gears consecutively takes only about 0.2 seconds, quicker than some dual-clutch transmissions. It's recommended to use genuine transmission fluid during maintenance, as this gearbox is particularly sensitive to fluid viscosity.