What is it?
A long overdue solution to the Smart ForTwo’s tendency to abruptly bob its nose between gear changes in the form of a new slick shifting six-speed, twin-clutch gearbox.
Called the Twinamic, the Getrag-engineered unit replaces the old automated five-speed gearbox in the recently introduced third-generation ForTwo, providing the choice between manual and full automatic operation.
It will be offered as an option alongside the standard five-speed manual gearbox we sampled at the impressive new two-seat city car’s launch last year at a £995 premium.
The Twinamic will initially be available with the ForTwo’s base 70bhp naturally aspirated 1.0-litre three-cylinder direct-injection petrol engine. However, there are plans to offer it in combination with the more convincing 89bhp turbocharged 898cc three-cylinder, direct-injection petrol engine driven here from mid-year.
Additionally, Smart says it will also make the new gearbox available on the larger ForFour in the not-too-distant future, bringing it into line with the mechanically identical Renault Twingo, which is also billed to get a twin-clutch gearbox option later this year.
Although it is based around the six-speed dual clutch gearbox used by Renault in the front-engine/front-wheel-drive Clio, the Twinamic has been heavily re-engineered for the ForTwo and ForFour’s space-saving rear-engine/rear-wheel-drive layout.
At 67kg, the new gearbox adds 34kg to the kerb weight of the pint-sized city car fitted with the standard five-speed manual unit – in the process negating any real gain in efficiency.
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5wheels
Loved it from the off
superstevie
Quote:The addition of a
Not quite sure what complications you are referring to. I've had several of the older smarts (Roadsters and Fortwos) and they all bar one of the original fortwos had hill start. Very useful on the hills.
I went to see the new fortwo and forfour the other day. Really liked it, looked batter than the pictures suggested. The interior is a lot of fun, exactly what it should be in a smart. However, I really think they've over priced them. I get that spec for spec, an Up! would cost similar, but to not have the option of cheaper basic spec model seems crazy. In Germany, the base spec model is £7800 for the fortwo, and £8300 for the forfour. Ok, you get steel wheels, and the stereo is optional, but still comes with electric windows and cruise control.
I did pop into a Renault garage afterwards, and I prefer the looks of it, but the interior isn't as nicely trimmed. As much as it pains me to say it, but the Twingo would probably be my choice of the two.
Paul Dalgarno
Aaaaargh....
Simple, as soon as you sense it's going to change gear you get ready to lift the throttle, when you feel the drive interrupted then you back off the throttle, and you get a quicker and smooth shift. It's a robotisized manual change - you wouldn't keep your throttle buried when you change gear in any other manual gearbox car would you?
Maybe early Smarts didn't have a hill hold system, but mine did. It kept the brakes on for two seconds until you pressed the throttle on hills.
Don't know why it bugs me so much, but I suppose it's because I expect journalists to be able to drive car properly to give an objective assessment.
superstevie
Paul Dalgarno wrote:I had a
I had two cdis, one was brilliant, the other was a bag of bolts. Totally agree on you with gear change, you did have to learn how to drive with it. Once you did, it actually wasn't that bad. The early smarts didn't have hill hold, my X reg didn't. However, it became standard when they introduced the 700 engine in the first gen Fortwo and roadster.
topsecret456987
How much money does someone
dgate
Web Page Photos
This has only recently happened.
dgate
Photo glitch
dgate
Smart Interior Not Smart
The electronic paddle shift auto versions selector could be installed in the dash centre as it doesn't need any linkage to the trans. The manual versions stick could sprout from a mini console virtually even with the seat front edge.
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