Is the new 6-speed semi-automatic gearbox the best of both worlds? Should you choose a traditional manual or automatic gearbox?
What is Hyundai Venue iMT and why does it exist?
Venue iMT is a new variant of the modern compact SUV, it uses a rather unique gearbox and is equipped with a 1.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine. Conceptually, it is between manual and automatic. Hyundai's goal is to provide buyers with more convenience than manual transmissions, but the price should not be much higher.
iMT aims to provide drivers with the best manual and automatic driving experience.
It retains the 6-speed H-type shift lever of the Venue manual transmission, but it has no clutch pedal at all. This means you can draw a row in the gear without worrying about engaging and disengaging the clutch.
Why are red all over the car?
This has nothing to do with the iMT gearbox, but a new'Sport' decoration package that can be added to the SX, SX+ and SX(O) variants, regardless of the engine and gearbox. Similar to Kia’s "GT Line" on the Kia Selfots and Sonet, although the equipment list has not changed, it adds some sportiness both inside and outside to distinguish it from the standard variant.
Venue iMT has a new Sport variant that can add red highlights and other appearance changes.
On the outside, you will see a black grille with red decorations on the slats, blackened headlights and taillight covers, red decorations on the wheel arches, the bottom of the doors and roof rails, and Red brake caliper.
Venue Sport's cab provides red highlights and Creta steering system.
In the Venue Sport, you will find the all-black car with red decorations, another set of fabric seat cushions with red piping, and Creta's "butterfly wings" flat-bottom steering wheel with contrast stitching. Here it is, red. In addition, Venue still maintains well-equipped and high-quality features, although it is not the most spacious and compact SUV ever. How does
iMT gearbox work?
We have introduced it in detail before, but as we said before, it is conceptually between the manual gearbox and the automatic gearbox. Technically speaking, it is between the manual transmission and the most basic automatic transmission AMT, so we use it as a reference point.
has 6 speeds to choose from in standard H mode.
Mechanically, AMT is a manual gearbox, although it uses sensors and actuators to operate the clutch and switch gears. On the contrary, iMT only uses sensors and actuators to operate the clutch, and you have to change gears yourself through the H-type shifter like other manual gears. Think of it as a small robot inside the gearbox, it can accurately calculate when you need to change gears and depress and release the clutch pedal for you.
, like AMT, does not require a clutch pedal. The
"intent sensor" detects when the shifter is moved out of the gear slot, and then finds the required clutch input, then finds the gear to be inserted into the next gear, matches the speed and ejects the clutch. And because the electronic brain is responsible for the clutch, you can never stop it.
Driving Hyundai Venue iMT
Even after years of driving, this is undoubtedly a new experience. Just like in AMT, you must be in neutral to start the car. Once you plug it in first and apply the brakes, it will slowly creep forward without any accelerator input, as if you had stepped on the accelerator pedal.
Initially, you find that your left foot is at a loss to step on the pedal, but soon you learn how to fix it on the invalid pedal, just like in automatic driving. If you are on a flat ground, it will even start in second gear, but if you try to start in third gear or higher, you will hear a loud noise and a warning on the MID will prompt you to shift down. Similarly, if you accidentally put it up high and reduce the speed too low, you will receive the same warning, but it will still not stall, because eventually it will engage the clutch.
Those familiar with automatic or manual may find that iMT is used to it. Once the
is driving, you can draw a row on each gear like a manual operation, except that there is no need to step on the clutch, which takes some time to adapt. At random speeds, the process is very smooth, and you tend to release the throttle each time you change gears, but you don't have to do this. It allows you to change gears when the accelerator is fully on the ground, but if so, you will experience a drop in speed, a slight pause in acceleration when the clutch is engaged, and some resistance to the gear lever. You can say that this is not the ideal way of doing things, and shifting gears is smoother.
When you are crawling in heavy traffic, you can feel the real advantages of this gearbox. Just put it in the first or second gear, then release the brake to move forward and apply the throttle when necessary-this is most like an automatic transmission. After a long crowded commute, your left leg will thank you. The interesting part of
is that it starts from the still place on the slope, which is where some AMTs can get crazy. However, in iMT, because the software, sensors and actuators only need to calculate the clutch input, without the need to change gears, its performance is much better. On a slow slope, you can easily step on the brake and hit the accelerator without the car going back. However, this top variant is equipped with Hill Assist Control, so it is interesting.
When driving a Venue iMT, lifting and shifting will make your driving smoother. How does
Venue iMT compare to manual and DCT automatic?
Of course, you can't get the degree of control like manually operating a clutch. For example, sometimes you want to slip the clutch and control the speed, for example, if you are stuck in sand or loose mud, or if you encounter water. In this case, iMT behaves like an automatic gear, you only need to select the appropriate gear and put it down. However, it will follow the instructions in the manual gear to move along the red line and stay there until you move. Z2z
driving enthusiasts also want to use manual transmission. First of all, you cannot hard start Venue iMT. Whether you first build the speed and then insert the gear, or keep it on the brake while the gear is running, the system prioritizes smoothness and clutch retention, so it will always gently push you instead of pushing you as fast as possible From the gearbox. On the other hand, since the algorithm controls the clutch and not the human, it may last longer.
iMT has been programmed for smoothness and clutch retention (not performance).
In addition, you will not be as invested in the driving experience as manual driving, nor will you be satisfied with performing perfect timing shifts. Slow down. When the speed is high and you want to change speed as soon as possible, although the speed is smooth, you will still have a short pause and the subsequent "head nod" between the gears as the sensors and actuators catch up. Therefore, just like AMT, it is a power transmission system that is at its best when driving leisurely.
Compared with automatic transmission, iMT obviously cannot provide you with the ultimate convenience without shifting at all. The automatic transmission obtained by using Venue's 1.0 T-GDi engine is not a cost-effective AMT, but a cost-effective AMT. AMT. Tech dual-clutch car. This DCT gearbox is also a quick shifter, whether you are cruising, starting from a standstill or driving on flat ground, and if you want to control manually, you can also use a paddle shifter.
Venue iMT is only suitable for 120 hp, 1.0-liter turbo gasoline engines.
In terms of performance, iMT can't match it-0-100kph takes 13.47 seconds, 2.23 seconds slower than Venue manual transmission using the same engine, and 1.57 seconds slower than DCT. This is almost entirely the fact that you cannot hard start iMT. However, it is worth noting that although the Venue iMT we tested is a BS6 car, the other two are BS4 specifications. Of course, iMT is closer to manual transmission than gearbox or rolling acceleration because they have the same function. Although this is where DCT is significantly faster, it can increase by up to 5 seconds, but thank you, of course, it is automatic reduction. files.
Although we have not conducted proper fuel economy tests, we still expect Venue iMT is close to manual transmission, because you can control the throttle and gear lever again, so it all depends on your driving style.
should you buy one? The price of
certainly played a big role. The prices of these variants are not the same, for such a small premium, you will get great convenience, especially in traffic jams. In fact, the cousin of the venue, Kia Sonet, has abandoned its 1.0 T-GDi engine manual transmission and only provides you with the choice of iMT and DCT.
There is no change except for the key points. What is interesting about
is that although the technology is more expensive, Hyundai offers DCT in smaller S trims at a lower price, while iMT only offers higher SX trims, which further confuses its positioning.
For some people, iMT will be the best of both worlds, allowing you to control the gears like manual, providing the convenience of automatic driving without a clutch pedal, and at a reasonable price. For others, it may be a "neither here nor there" situation. Either choose the purity of the appropriate manual transmission, or make the price jump to a mature DCT car, thereby simplifying driving to the greatest extent. Will this fascinating new technology succeed or fail? Only time will prove everything.
