Aston Martin at the Paris Motor Show today announced its V8 Vantage sports car will get a new automated manual transmission option called Sportshift. Sportshift offers gear changes up to three times faster than the manual transmission already available, with the driving enthusiast able to access precision gearshifts in less than 200 ms. To adapt to all driving conditions, an additional ‘Comfort’ mode offering a more relaxed gear change is also available, which is selected via a single button on the centre console.
The technology was honed at a range of testing locations including Nardo in Italy and the NÏ‹rburgring in Germany over 18 months, the company said. Aston Martin Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez said: “Sportshift offers a truly engaging and rewarding driving experience giving an even greater performance feel. It is the sporting choice which we have developed to perfectly suit the inherent characteristics of the Vantage.”
09/28, 7:18 PM
posted by:
Commodus
It almost sounds like they’re using an equivalent to DSG. However it’s made, this is the Aston Martin I’d want! You’re as likely to be caught in city traffic with this car as blasting down the countryside, so arguments that the car is “purer” with stick shifting don’t hold water. I’d rather have a car that won’t drive me crazy downtown than something that gives me slightly more throttle control.
09/28, 9:25 PM
posted by:
Commodus
This is paddle shifting. It’s not an automatic in the strictest sense.
Besides, arguing that you ‘need’ a pure manual to love driving is like arguing that you need a bolt-action rifle to enjoy the shooting range. There’s a satisfying feel to it, but it’s not necessarily any better than newer technology.
09/28, 10:00 PM
posted by:
Veda
Commodus, is the point of buying one of these for personal pleasure beating the stick or to outperform others by shifting faster? Personally I’d take the version that’s the fastest not to mention the convenience.
09/28, 11:08 PM
posted by:
gtaste
200ms?? SMGII in E46 M3 is ~80ms, SMGIII in E60 M5 is ~70ms. DSG is around 2ms. Too slow……
09/29, 1:07 AM
posted by:
Thomas
We’ve had this manual vs. DSG/Sportshift/SMG argument far too many times.
It boils down to what you like… and it DOESN’T mean you’re lame because you happen to like an F1-style shifter in your Ferrari… fer Christ sakes.
09/29, 1:19 AM
posted by:
Brendino
Acura_el, what a baseless, arrogant, close-minded thing to say. Seriously.
Elitism isn’t necessary here.
09/29, 2:22 AM
posted by:
Thomas
And from someone who drives an Acura EL.
09/29, 8:11 AM
posted by:
Aston_
Its as close as they wanna get to manual stick driving by making it slllllloooooooooooooow……………
09/29, 12:04 PM
posted by:
doublearon21
Brendino, you are more right than you know, while at the Lamborghini of Troy (by Detroit) track day I was fortunate enough to meat Valentino Balboni, the lead test driver for Lambo for the last 25 years, and get a ride around the track in a Gallardo with him driving, well he prefers a sequential gearbox over a manual because of its abilities to keep you more focused on the track and drive the car at its most extreme limits, so saying that you’re not a true driving enthusiest if you’re not driving a manaul is totally false. And 200ms is pathetic, most people with any skill on a stick can shift faster than that.
09/29, 2:47 PM
posted by:
Veda
doublearon21, come on there’s a reason they took it that long to release the option. Ford just hasn’t gotten the technology yet and they’re really pushing it to get it out the door asap resulting in a much inferior product than the other brands’ offerings. At that price they really need to appeal to the GT crowd and they really have to offer one right now.
09/29, 8:14 PM
posted by:
1c3d0g
I’m amazed, Veda. The new shifter hasn’t been released to the market yet, but you’ve somehow determined with your expertise that it’s “inferior” to the competition.
Unless, of course, you were one of the test drivers for Aston Martin…
09/30, 7:42 AM
posted by:
Veda
1c3d0g, F1 style shifters excel in one thing and that is speed. Read gtaste’s comment above and tell me if it’s superior over the competition.