2019 Corolla. Saw that in an add today.
2019 Corolla. Saw that in an add today.
"iMT (“intelligent Manual Transmission”) feature, which will automatically blip the throttle on downshifts, rev matching for smooth shifts that keep the drivetrain from jerking around.
Racing drivers do this via a technique known as “heel-toe,” applying a quick jab of the throttle with the side of the right foot while pressing the brake pedal, all while the left foot is in the clutch. This is especially important when exploring the limits of grip on a race track, as any jerk in the drivetrain could upset the delicate balance of threshold braking."
I hate it when there is a jerk in my gearbox.
Apparently it's just an automatic throttle blip on downshift. Between that, the hill start assist, the light clutch pedal, and the soft clutch engagement, and I'm sure a heavy dumass flywheel, it's supposed to be pretty novice friendly.
If Toyota is actually trying to promote new interest manual transmissions with this technology, and is actively marketing it, that is a good thing.
Hasn't the Camaro had this for a while?
In reply to Dave M :
I believe the current model of Mustang has it.
Pretty sure the G37/370Z has this as well.
I've never driven a car with it, but I think it would be fun.
I believe the 370z was the first car to have that feature.
My Camaro has the auto rev match feature. I thought I'd really like it, but I don't. It doesn't blip quiet right, it's a little too slow. The car has four drive settings and only the track setting allows for decent manual throttle blips. The throttle response in the other modes is too slow, which makes it feel like there's a lot of inertia in the engine.
If you are unable to heel and toe, or the car has pedals that are too far apart to do this smoothly, it can be useful. Otherwise I find it annoying, as I rev-match unconsciously due to habit. When the car steps in, I find it obtrusive, and unnatural. Besides, it's part of the fun of driving.....I can do this myself perfectly fine thank you very much.
Some electronic intervening can be useful---- like rear-view cameras and blind-spot warnings. Most I find annoying though.
At least in the vehicles I've driven with this "rev match" feature it can be disabled.
Joe Gearin said:When the car steps in, I find it obtrusive, and unnatural. Besides, it's part of the fun of driving.....I can do this myself perfectly fine thank you very much.
They need to include a rev-matching score / mini-game instead of a stupid eco-leaves on the display and other such nonsense. Coach the kids up right! Have them ripping off perfect 3-downshift-combos in no time.
Honestly, the cars that need the throttle blip the most are manually shiftable automatics. In the BMW, using the steptronic to pull it down a gear while off throttle results in a lurch and is likely pretty rough on the trans, as it has to drag the engine up to speed. And adding a throttle blip manually just confuses the thing or if you over-do it a little, results in a violent jolt of power. The Jeep on the other hand has a cable throttle and a very unintelligent trans, so a well timed throttle blip on a downshift allows for as smooth and natural a downshift as a well shifted manual.
Our F55 Mini does the rev-match (it's more than a blip, it seeks the specific RPM the next gear needs for current road speed). I miss getting the practice and worry that my skills will atrophy, but honestly, it works really well, and I can quickly get whatever gear I need in traffic even if I was lazy and went to the brakes without positioning my foot for blipping (which I don't really do in the Mini now that I'm used to it).
It was aggravating for the first while we had the car and I didn't realize it had this feature, and the car and I fought over who was going to blip...
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