What does the S in automatic transmission mean?
2 Answers
Automatic transmission S stands for the sport mode of a car, which can be used during aggressive driving or overtaking. More related information is as follows: 1. Almost every automatic transmission car has an S gear, and even if there is no S gear, there is a sport mode switch. 2. There are three common types of automatic transmissions in cars: AT transmission, CVT transmission, and DCT transmission. DCT transmission is a relatively popular automatic transmission, which is actually a dual-clutch transmission developed based on manual transmission. Its structure is similar to manual transmission, except that manual transmission has an additional set of clutch and gear shift control mechanism. 3. One set of clutch in the dual-clutch transmission controls the odd-numbered gears, while the other set controls the even-numbered gears.
I've been studying cars for many years, and the 'S' in automatic transmissions stands for Sport mode. When you shift to S gear, the transmission delays upshifting, keeping the engine in a higher RPM range for quicker and more powerful acceleration, which is especially useful for overtaking or climbing hills. However, frequent use increases fuel consumption and engine wear, so avoid it in city traffic jams. Sport mode also alters throttle mapping and suspension feedback, making driving more engaging, but avoid using it in rain or snow to prevent skidding. Technically, it relies on coordinated optimization between the ECU and TCU, a common feature in new cars that enhances driving experience diversity.
