Ford Patents Electronic Clutch for S650 Mustang

[FL SAAC]

Ford Motor Company has moved to patent an electronic clutch system that would allow drivers to manually shift gears without having to worry about clutch engagement

Ford Patents Electronic Clutch, Could Debut In S650 Mustang Or Bronco
https://www.musclecarsandtrucks.com/ford-patents-electronic-clutch-s650-mustang-bronco-fiesta-focus-st-rs/

[98SVT - was 06GT]

I hope they improved over the one that is in the Smart Car. It was so slow shifting I always thought I'd get hit from behind leaving a light.

Vehicles using this type of electric clutch system wouldn't need to include a clutch pedal, however, Ford does state vehicles could still include a clutch pedal, it would simply be connected to the control module instead of physically linked to the clutch master cylinder

That's going to be a bean counter item. They had a big argument when 05 Mustang came out if there should be real gauges displaying analog data or if the Mustang buyer would be happy with "idiot light" gauges that always showed normal until something was wrong then they switch to showing a high or low reading. Real gauges won out and the design team took $2 out of the car someplace else to make up for it.

[Side-Oilers]

Quote from that article: 

"One of Ford's goals with this electronic clutch system is to do away with some of the negative attributes associated with driving a manual transmission vehicle day-to-day, a large part of the reason we've watched manual take rates decline over the past 30 years."

Negative attributes?  To whom...other than to the effete man-bun millennial who doesn't have the leg strength (or mechanical knowledge) to operate a clutch? 

[shelbydoug]

I hope they improved over the one that is in the Smart Car. It was so slow shifting I always thought I'd get hit from behind leaving a light.

Vehicles using this type of electric clutch system wouldn't need to include a clutch pedal, however, Ford does state vehicles could still include a clutch pedal, it would simply be connected to the control module instead of physically linked to the clutch master cylinder

That's going to be a bean counter item. They had a big argument when 05 Mustang came out if there should be real gauges displaying analog data or if the Mustang buyer would be happy with "idiot light" gauges that always showed normal until something was wrong then they switch to showing a high or low reading. Real gauges won out and the design team took $2 out of the car someplace else to make up for it.

"They're selling cars aren't they Shel?" "Yup. That's what they do Bulldog".

I test drove a Porsche with a PK transmission in it. As I understand, that is a manual transmission, with a dual disc clutch disc, that is shifted electronically by the CPU.

You can row it manually if you like. In trying it that way, I just couldn't beat the computer. As an impulse hit me to shift, it was already done.

This worked with both upshifting, downshifting. Decelerating into a turn in coordination with braking and accelerating. The need for cerebral interaction was no longer required, nor even desired.

The age of the "duncil" had arrived.


I will say that at least the Porsche PK is a remarkable device. I'm wondering if the C8 from GM is as good?

Personally I'm tired of a clutch pedal and constantly readjusting it. My left leg isn't any stronger for it and after driving one for over 50 years I do have a peculiar medical degeneration of my left knee, left calf and left hip.


Stay with your clutch pedal as you will macho man but the term machismo is not a term of endearment or a compliment. It is about a heavy of an insult as you can make in that language. It basically means or translates from how pigs recreate, that you think with your balls, your brains are in your balls, or your brain IS your balls? I'll have to wait for Tony to completely explain that. Maybe it just varies according to your country of origin?

..and yes, I still have my balls. Big hairy ones. Lefty regularly gives me quite a painful kick at resenting being involved in having to push that clutch pedal down again, and again, and again. Frankly for more then just that one reason, I could do without lefty and without either of them for that matter. So could the rest of the world. There is no saving of the world coming from them anytime in the past or anytime in the future.



However, Easter will soon be upon us. There are those who still practice self flagellation. Who am I to stop you from your basic pleasures?

[98SVT - was 06GT]

You can row it manually if you like. In trying it that way, I just couldn't beat the computer. As an impulse hit me to shift, it was already done.

Personally I'm tired of a clutch pedal and constantly readjusting it. My left leg isn't any stronger for it and after driving one for over 50 years I do have a peculiar medical degeneration of my left knee, left calf and left hip.

Why have a clutch at all? My wife's Tbird has the auto/manual shift and yes it's useless the ECU is better at getting the shift points right.

You sound like my wife. She hasn't been able to drive a stick for years due to bad knees and replacement.

I'm down to 2 stick shift cars - 1989 SVT Mustang and the race car. The other 5 are all autos and I can see no reason at all why Ford let Mercury put paddle shifters into the MKc - that already has a pushbutton trans - it's like driving a typewriter.

BTW: Your last 2 paragraphs sure sound like you are very bitter towards people who can or do decide to row through the gears in a totally nostalgic way while you are forced by your aches and pains to sit on the sidelines.

[shelbydoug]

You can row it manually if you like. In trying it that way, I just couldn't beat the computer. As an impulse hit me to shift, it was already done.

Personally I'm tired of a clutch pedal and constantly readjusting it. My left leg isn't any stronger for it and after driving one for over 50 years I do have a peculiar medical degeneration of my left knee, left calf and left hip.

Why have a clutch at all? My wife's Tbird has the auto/manual shift and yes it's useless the ECU is better at getting the shift points right.

You sound like my wife. She hasn't been able to drive a stick for years due to bad knees and replacement.

I'm down to 2 stick shift cars - 1989 SVT Mustang and the race car. The other 5 are all autos and I can see no reason at all why Ford let Mercury put paddle shifters into the MKc - that already has a pushbutton trans - it's like driving a typewriter.

BTW: Your last 2 paragraphs sure sound like you are very bitter towards people who can or do decide to row through the gears in a totally nostalgic way while you are forced by your aches and pains to sit on the sidelines.

I'm not bitter. 4 of my cars are manual trans cars. It does determine the character of the car though.

Different strokes for different folks. Different ways on different days.

I don't have enough experience with the PK to know if I would miss the clutch pedal at all. I might though. It can make a good foot rest.

I would say that driving a high performance car for everyday transportation is the way I would choose to go.

Scaring the heck out of myself on a race course for a few hours on the weekend, that's a different story altogether. It all depends on the purpose of the vehicle.

I kind of like the idea of the self driving car that is coming also. I can catch some winks and be fresh when I get there.

With the way traffic and law enforcement is now, it's almost pointless to put a 1,000hp car on the street.

[Side-Oilers]

Doug: Agreed that the transmission defines (much of) the character of a car.  The engine does too, even more so.

I own two F cars, both with the Getrag 7-speed dual-clutch auto/manual.  I'd have paid big $$ to be able to buy one with a stick.  But, Ferrari don't play that no mo.  And, I've used the trendy "launch" button exactly ZERO times. I don't want to beat on the car that hard, I just want to shift for myself. When you get good enough in a stick-shift F car to nail a 2-3 speed-shift with just barely "tinging" the metal gate, you're a superstar.

My KR and Kirkham are my only stick-shift cars.  While the F-cars are true dual-personality machines that'll rip azz on a race track, an then cruise contently around town with the A/C on, the KR and Kirkham obviously deliver more in-your-face performance experience.  The Kirkham is my favorite car I've ever owned. Purposely because it's a handful to drive.  A high level skill-set is required...every nanosecond. 

I agree with 98SVT that paddle shifts are ridiculous on most of the cars they're on, these days. Our Navigator has them and I've used them exactly one time, only to learn that they don't really hold the transmission for very long in a lower gear (such as you'd want on long downhill grades while towing) and you have to toggle back and forth, while rubbing your stomach at the same time to make it do that.

My buddy is considering buying a late-model Boxster 718. I'm doing my best to encourage him into a 6-speed stick, but he's not a performance car guy and just wants a speedy two-seat convertible.  I keep pointing out that the 6-speed Porsches are already holding their value better than the PDKs do.  I'm not giving up, but I think he's already mentally gone to the dark side.  As he's said to me: "The PDK is faster shifting."   "It's easier to drive in traffic."  "My wife could drive it...although she never would."

Some day, very soon, there will be no more stick-shift new cars.  Then, everyone will miss them.

[crossboss]

Guys,
IF you insist on an automatic equipt car, a Challenger Demon/Hell-Cat is it. The best retro of the three. Fast, good looking and everyone wants one...including me. Sorry, the new Mustangs are ugly. I'm gonna take heat for that on here.  LOL

[TA Coupe]

The Mustangs are out selling the Challenger and Camaro. So I don't think everyone wants one.

Roy

[FL SAAC]

Guys,
IF you insist on an automatic equipt car, a Challenger Demon/Hell-Cat is it. The best retro of the three. Fast, good looking and everyone wants one...including me. Sorry, the new Mustangs are ugly. I'm gonna take heat for that on here.  LOL

We affectionately call them "FUDGIEs" the whale and we love to see them with those pool noodles in yellow on their front spoiler,  cute !

[FL SAAC]

The Mustangs are out selling the Challenger and Camaro. So I don't think everyone wants one.

Roy

And some of those stangs are pretty quicko amigo !

Back to the topic at hand, electronic clutch what a zinger  !

[crossboss]

The Mustangs are out selling the Challenger and Camaro. So I don't think everyone wants one.

Roy

Roy,
Sorry, no. Challenger is the top seller.

[Lincoln tech]

"Back to the topic at hand"======Careful negativity Police is watching 

[5566]

2021 US Sales

Mustang     61,090
Camaro      29,775
Challenger  52,955 

Q1 2022 US Sales

Mustang     13,986
Camaro        6,710
Challenger  11,214

[FL SAAC]

This is a great opportunity toooooo.....start another thread!

Back to the topic elctroclutchamo