tiptronic

Tiptronic is a registered trademark of the German automotive parts manufacturer ZF Friedrichshafen AG. It refers to a proprietary automatic transmission system that allows the driver to manually select gears. While often perceived as a distinct type of transmission, Tiptronic is essentially a manual override feature for a conventional automatic transmission.

The system typically consists of a selector lever with a standard "Drive" position and an additional gate or slot. When the driver moves the selector into this Tiptronic gate, the transmission enters a manual mode. In this mode, the driver can then push the selector forward to upshift to a higher gear or pull it backward to downshift to a lower gear. This provides a more engaging driving experience, allowing for better control, especially during spirited driving or when descending steep gradients.

Early Tiptronic systems were purely electronic, meaning the car's computer still had the final say in gear changes, often preventing the driver from selecting a gear that would over-rev the engine or stall it. More advanced versions offer greater driver control, though the transmission's control unit generally still intervenes to protect the engine and drivetrain from damage. Tiptronic technology is widely used by various automotive manufacturers.