It’s called Intelligent Manual Transmission IMT and it’s a new six-speed manual transmission that Toyota has just introduced… in full expansion of automatic systems. The goal has been to “please drivers who love the control and feel of well-tuned manual transmissions” in the words of the engineers who developed it. So far, he has debuted in the Toyota GR Supra.
new manual transmission
In addition to the transmission, the clutch is also new. The entire assembly has been designed and tuned specifically for use in the coupe’s straight six engine.. In fact, the engineering team has worked on the tunnel and transmission shaft, gears and gear ratios. Elements that were not necessary have also been removed, as part of the acoustic insulation, to further reduce weight, something key in a sports car like the GR Supra.
A new invoice clutch has also been installed, with a larger diameter spring and reinforced diaphragm.o. Thanks to the larger friction area and a more resistant spring, the perfect performance is achieved for use with the GR Supra 3.0L engine, they say from Toyota.
The iMT transmission employs an intelligent control system programmed with new software that prioritizes sporty behavior. Thus, when upshifting, the parameters have been adjusted to optimize engine torque at the time of both engagement and disengagement. While downscaling, the software has been tuned to deliver better performance. Also, although the system is set by default, it can be disabled in sport mode if the driver prefers.
Also, to improve acceleration and recoveries, the final transmission ratio has been shortened. It goes from 3.15 in the automatic GR Supra to 3.46 in the manual version. The result is a sportier response and a perfectly phased gear change.
Specific characteristics
From a functional point of view, a manual system takes up more space, so its integration into the passenger compartment has also been carefully designed. “It wasn’t just a matter of swapping one gear lever for another; you had to make sure that the location of this was optimal to make precise and fast changes” say the engineers.
The initial problem was that the design of the center console did not leave enough space between the gear lever and the climate control panel. So, for better ergonomics, the center console and driving mode selection system have been redesigned. Lever travel has also been adjusted and the effort required to shift and engage reverse gear has been optimised. In this way, a separation of 42 mm has been achieved between the gear lever and the climate control panel, sufficient for comfortable handling.
Jayson Fong
In a manual selector, the weight and shape of the lever knob to the touch of the gear changes are also essential. So, Toyota has adjusted the effort required to engage reverse gear and opted for a heavier knob (200g), for a more pleasing effect when using it.. From a practical point of view, with an automatic system, second gear can be used when starting uphill when the left and right wheels are on surfaces with different levels of grip, for example when the vehicle is parked off to the side on the hard shoulder. the road In this circumstance, the vehicle moves smoothly, without moving backwards or skidding the wheels.
However, with a manual gearbox, you have to use first gear, and releasing the clutch runs a greater risk of the wheels losing grip. To deal with that problem, Toyota engineers have adjusted the vehicle’s traction control -TRC– to achieve smoother operation in this type of situation, similar to that experienced with the automatic, they assure. The iMT has also been optimized for the GR Supra’s characteristic high torque, wide tires and propulsion.
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