|
|
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,025
Member
|
OP
Member
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,025 |
From: www.Autoexpress.co.uk Ford Mondeo Durashift
Ford can rightly claim to be at the cutting edge of motoring technology ? although in certain areas it lags behind the crowd by an embarrassing margin. Take its automatic gearboxes, for example. While rivals developed their new CVTs, clutchless manuals and six-speed self-shifters, the blue oval had still to get around to offering even a Tiptronic-style sequential change. But now, at last, the company is starting to catch up.
Designed to appeal to enthusiastic drivers, the £1,500 five-speed Durashift 5-tronic is currently only available as an optional extra on 170bhp 2.5-litre V6-engined Mondeos.
Whatever the car's speed, drivers can switch between the new unit's two functions simply by pulling the lever to the side, away from the D and towards a gate marked with + and -.
Used as an automatic, the changes are smooth and swift, and the system offers an impressive degree of refinement. Pull the lever across to the right, however, and the gearbox transforms seamlessly to a sequential mode in which the driver is given virtually full control over changing ratios.
Move the lever back towards you, and the car changes up into a higher gear. Push the lever forward and the system shifts down. To prevent expensive damage, an override system stops the gearbox from selecting a ratio that would cause the engine to rev higher than 6,500rpm. Similarly, the gadgetry makes it impossible for the driver to change up too soon, and offers a low rpm kickdown set-up that only functions at speeds below 45mph.
There's a stop-go feature for use in busy traffic, too. It alters the gearbox programming, preventing jerky starts. In all, the Durashift suits the V6 engine well. Although purists may still want the ultimate control of a manual, the new box strikes a balance between the two systems that should appeal to long- distance cruisers and city drivers alike.
1998 SVT Contour E1, Black 2001 Honda SuperHawk VTR1000F "I bent my Wookie" www.mamisano.com
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 818
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 818 |
2000 Contour SE Sport T-Red MTX, Mystique rear dome light, Blau Florida cd.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,066
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,066 |
"Designed to appeal to enthusiastic drivers" heh...probably not.
STD's are like Pokemon...
Gotta catch em' all!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,899
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,899 |
Dan Parmelee
1999 Acura Integra SiR-G coupe
"I heard Affleck was the bomb in Phantoms"
"Word, bitch! Phantoms like a muhfuka"
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 70
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 70 |
Originally posted by TheGSRGuy:
Still sounds cool. unlike you
newman sux
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,025
Member
|
|
OP
Member
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,025 |
Originally posted by Evil Spatt: Originally posted by TheGSRGuy:
[b]Still sounds cool. Knock off the $HIT!! 
1998 SVT Contour E1, Black 2001 Honda SuperHawk VTR1000F "I bent my Wookie" www.mamisano.com
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 70
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 70 |
Originally posted by mamisano: Originally posted by Evil Spatt:
[b] unlike you no thank you bob parmalade is a worthless chump and needs to hightail it out of here besides, what do you care, i'm trying to help rid the CEG of garbage and this is the thanks I get look at his post for crap's sake Originally posted by TheGSRGuy:
Still sounds cool. delete this and many other posts by this moron and the CEG becomes a better, less-cluttered place.
newman sux
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,906
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,906 |
In any case, to get back on topic, give me a manual over an autostick any day, they make me nervous, and it's still not as interactive as a true manual.
One more option and reason to be jealous of the europeans...
Spattmobili®
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 846
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 846 |
Originally posted by gwellington:
still a slushbox...
Brinn Riley
Melbourne, FL
'00 Black/Tan SVT Contour #560
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,899
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,899 |
Evil Spatt -- I posted my opinion. I believe that is allowed around here. Go get a real life, stop causing trouble around here.
Dan Parmelee
1999 Acura Integra SiR-G coupe
"I heard Affleck was the bomb in Phantoms"
"Word, bitch! Phantoms like a muhfuka"
|
|
|
|
|
