käigukangaga

Käigukangaga is an Estonian term used to describe a vehicle that is equipped with a manual transmission controlled by a gear lever (käigukang). The phrase denotes the presence of a gear selector that the driver moves to choose different gears, typically located on the floor between the front seats or, in some designs, on the steering column.

In a standard manual gearbox, the driver depresses the clutch to disengage the engine, moves the gear lever through a shift pattern to engage a chosen gear, and then releases the clutch to re-engage the engine in the new gear. Gears are arranged to provide a range of speeds, commonly 4, 5, or 6 forward gears plus reverse. The gear lever is connected to the transmission by linkages, cables, or hydraulic/electronic actuators in modern vehicles. Some layouts use column shifters or alternative shift patterns, such as a dogleg arrangement for first gear in certain performance cars.

The use of käigukangaga has varied with automotive technology. While automatic and semi-automatic transmissions have reduced the prevalence of manual gearboxes in some markets, manual-equipped vehicles remain common in many regions for perceived control, potential fuel efficiency, and lower cost or mechanical complexity. The term appears in automotive terminology and user documentation to distinguish cars that require manual gear selection from those with fully automatic systems.