INVECS

INVECS (Intelligent & Innovative Vehicle Electronic Control System)[1] is the brand name used by Mitsubishi Motors for its electronic automatic transmission technology.

The gear lever on a second generation Mitsubishi Outlander, showing the INVECS-III transmission's standard stepped automatic gate on the left, and the manual sequential shift gate to the right.

INVECS

The first generation of INVECS debuted in the seventh generation of the Mitsubishi Galant, which was introduced in 1992.[2][3] An array of sensors continuously monitored six parameters and, using "fuzzy logic", adapted the shift patterns in the automatic gearbox "on the fly" according to the driver's style. The four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, traction control system and suspension were all similarly adapted based on the same sensor data.[3] INVECS would, for example, downshift to increase engine braking while travelling downhill, or similarly automate transmission processes which were previously only controlled manually by the driver.[4]

INVECS-II

Despite sharing its name with the previous system, the second version of INVECS was a radical development, based on Porsche's Tiptronic technology.[5] As with Porsche's version it allowed for either a fully-automatic mode, or a clutchless manual mode if the driver wished to control the up- and down-shift points. It also offered the same Adaptive Shift Control software which monitored and "learned" the driver's habits over time and adjusted the smoothness or aggression of the gearshifts to suit his or her driving style.[6] It was first implemented in the new Mitsubishi FTO in 1994.[2]

INVECS-III

The third version of INVECS was further advanced, and now offered a continuously variable transmission when in fully-automatic mode, or a simulated six-speed clutchless manual if the driver wished to control the up- and down-shift points. A further innovation for Mitsubishi was the introduction of paddle-shifters allowing the driver to make manual gear changes while their hands remain on the steering wheel.[7]

INVECS-III was introduced in 2000, in the eighth generation of the Mitsubishi Lancer.[8][9] The paddle-shift option was first seen on the second generation Mitsubishi Outlander which debuted in 2005.[10]

References
  1. "Latest MMC technologies and near-future goals: INVECS-III CVT" Archived 2007-02-06 at the Wayback Machine, Mitsubishi Motors website
  2. Fact & Figures 2000 Archived 2006-10-22 at the Wayback Machine, p.45, Mitsubishi Motors website
  3. "Control Technology" Archived 2007-10-30 at the Wayback Machine, Mitsubishi Motors South Africa website
  4. "Fuzzy-Mitsubishi", Peter G. Neumann, April 9, 1992
  5. "Automatic with manual override" Archived 2007-01-16 at the Wayback Machine, Mark Wan, AutoZine Technical School
  6. "Technical Features: INVECS-II", Mitsubishi Motors UK website
  7. "Mitsubishi Motors Exhibits at 39th Tokyo Motor Show" Archived 2009-04-29 at the Wayback Machine, Mitsubishi Motors press release, September 28, 2005
  8. "Line-off ceremony marks start of CVT mass production", Mitsubishi Motors press release, April 19, 2000
  9. "Lancer Cedia; New-generation compact sedan", Mitsubishi Motors press release, May 9, 2000
  10. "Mitsubishi Motors launches all-new Outlander", Mitsubishi Motors press release, October 17, 2005
  • Mitsubishi Motors technology library page: INVECS-III
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