Xtrac Touts Hybrid Automated Manual Gearbox Design

Xtrac Ltd., the British maker of high-performance transmissions for supercars, says its new 1010 H-AMT hybrid gearbox concept can help such models meet Europe's increasingly stringent emission standards.

The 1010 design integrates a seven-speed gearbox with a 60-kW electric motor that can propel the vehicle. The motor also can smooth out gear shifts by supplying torque to the drivetrain when the transmission switches to another gear.

Xtrac notes that a common complaint about automatic manual transmissions, especially in city driving, is jerky shifts. The 1010 architecture provides "torque infill" during gear changes at speeds as high as 95 mph.

The 370-lb gearbox, which features a transverse gear cluster orientation, is compact yet able to handle torque loads of 590-738 lb-ft, according to Xtrac. The company says its design is simpler, less expensive and about 20% lighter than conventional dual-clutch automatics.

Xtrac unveiled the 1010 transmission this week during a technology conference in Berlin. The company describes the gearbox as a relatively easy way to help supercar makers meet Europe's expected emission standards for 2020.