In this 1967 campaign, the convenience of its use by women was insisted on due to the lack of a clutch pedal. Obviously very comfortable for urban driving. In short, the combination of automation and control typical of any semi-automatic transmission. Although thanks to the lever, the driver could intervene by selecting the ratio he wanted regardless of what was given by the mechanism. Regarding the gears, the 850 Idromatic had four. As soon as the gear lever was handled, the clutch was released, being able to start in fourth gear if the terrain was flat. Only manufactured by FIAT in Italy without translation to licensed variants of the model such as the one made by SEAT in Spain.įrom a mechanical point of view, the transmission of the 850 Idromatic mounted a hydraulic torque converter actuated by a hydraulic control. Point that explains the limited commercial run of this version. Strange and difficult to adjust as if they were Citroën's hydropneumatic suspensions, one of these Idromatic could be the nightmare of not a few neighborhood mechanics. In this sense, the fact that the FIAT 850 Idromatic based its changes on a hydraulic system did not make its commercial development easy. Perhaps one of the reasons why the automatic changeover took decades to materialize on a European scale is the difficulty of its arrangements. Note the absence of the clutch pedal IDROMATIC, A HYDRAULIC SYSTEM In this way, it was evident how the automatic transmission had come to stay among European manufacturers. In fact, the magazine Road & Track announces the appearance of the 850 Idromatic saying that “FIAT joins the growing group of economy cars with semi-automatic transmission”. However, in line with simplify urban driving by eliminating the clutch pedal, more manufacturers joined this option reaching the seventy. A version with a semi-automatic transmission, as at the time, only the DAF Daffodili in the field of urban models. Diagram of the semi-automatic transmission system of this FIAT 850Īware of this, FIAT presented the 1966 Idromatic at the Turin Motor Show in 850.But in 1968 the name was changed to Idroconvert.A pleasurable game doing stretches on Sunday, but also a daily annoyance if you have low leg strength due to injury or physical build. If we add to that the constant stops typical of day-to-day routes, we have an obvious result: the constant use of the clutch. Especially when Starting in the XNUMXs, the industrial belts, the commuter towns and the slow adaptation of the road network caused the appearance of the dreaded traffic jams. A place where driving can become tedious. However, beyond occasional long trips related to vacation leisure, FIAT 850 owners used it mainly around town. As slow as full of obstacles, which could be comfortably overcome thanks to the FIAT 850 Idromatic. The Italian giant's response to urban driving. For this reason, together with sports options such as the Spider or the Sport Coupe, the FIAT 850 also had a variant equipped with a semi-automatic gearbox from 1966. those where the constant grind of the clutch pedal due to traffic lights and traffic jams is more of an annoyance than a springy pleasure as it is on winding roads. In fact, traditionally the latter were left for vehicles for daily use in urban areas. In any case, news such as the definitive abandonment of the manual transmission by Ferrari in 2016 augurs times in which this driving will be cornered.Ī pity Since, given the diversity of the automobile market, there should always be room for the most passionate options, even though the most innovative are the majority. Unsustainable from a comfort point of view, but unbeatable when it comes to sensations behind the wheel and control of the car in sporty driving. Just the profile that does not give up technologies such as manual transmission. Thus, the models located here have as potential buyers those drivers who do value motorsports beyond mere mobility. Niches in which sensations at the wheel must prevail over more rational functions. However, it is clear that beyond the general there are small market niches in all segments. Seeking the greatest possible simplicity when it comes to fulfilling daily transport to shopping, work or occasional leisure. A function where there is no room for enjoyment or recreation. For these reasons, in them design and mechanics must always be subordinate to function. In this way, any vehicle designed for the general public must respond comfortably and easily to daily mobility needs. When we talk about massive models, efficiency and practicality have to be above all else.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |