The sporting edge
The sporting edge
The new Alfa 156 2.0 Selespeed from the Fiat Group with its five speed gearbox with robotised gearshift brings Formula 1 technology to the mass production market. The gearbox can be operated either from a two button control on the steering wheel or a sequential joystick control on the tunnel between the seats. There is no clutch pedal. Driven normally the gearshift operates at about the same speed as a manual "box" - about one-and-a-half seconds. However, in sporty mode (around 5,000rpm) the system shifts gear in half that time, making it possible to push sportiness to the edge without affecting engine performance. If the driver hesitates, the gear is changed automatically! Where sportiness is not an issue, the driver can press a "City" button and the car becomes fully automatic.
