Toyota is making waves with its current patent for a simulated manual transmission in electric vehicles with as much as 14 ratios. While this innovation is popping heads and is promising to ship engagement behind the wheel, it is value noting that Mitsubishi had a guide transmission with greater than six gears approach earlier than it turned cool. Enter the Super Shift transmission, developed by Mitsubishi within the late Nineteen Seventies, that includes an eight-speed guide with a 4×2 association.

The gearbox, also referred to as Twin-Stick, emerged as a guide transaxle transmission that was born from a normal four-speed designed for the first-generation Mitsubishi Mirage. However, the modern eight-speed gearbox featured a novel two-speed high-low selector. The transmission’s mounting beneath the engine necessitated a artistic method to energy switch, resulting in the incorporation of an extra “idle” shaft. This shaft developed right into a separate two-speed gearbox managed by a secondary shift lever alongside the principle gear shift lever contained in the cabin.

The end result was a transmission with a traditional four-speed H-pattern shift mechanism, augmented by an extra two-speed high-low selector. This successfully doubled the variety of gears, offering drivers with a powerful eight ahead speeds. Remarkably, the Super Shift transmission additionally allowed for using the two-speed selector in reverse, resulting in the existence of two reverse gears. In most vehicles, the selector was labeled as Power for the decrease vary and Economy for the upper vary, with a dashboard gentle system indicating the chosen mode.

While the gearbox had eight gears, making the engine much more versatile, sensible use posed challenges. Sequentially using all eight ahead speeds required simultaneous motion of each gear levers – an intricate feat that proved practically inconceivable with out using each arms. Many homeowners opted for the comfort of the transmission’s low Power mode, often switching to the secondary selector to interact excessive Economy mode when in fourth gear.