Bosch eClutch takes over clutch work when needed

1-GS-19393

Bosch’s new eClutch system might just be the best thing for enthusiast drivers since sliced bread. The eClutch system is an electrically-operated clutch for manual cars, or ‘clutch by wire’ if you like. Having a manual car clutch that can be automatically controlled in certain situations has its benefits.

Firstly, no more killing your left foot in traffic jams. The eClutch system will control the clutch in heavy stop and go traffic, allowing drivers to start off from rest in first or second gear without stalling or jerking. Your manual car magically becomes an automatic.

Of course, we doubt it’ll be as smooth as a torque converter automatic, and will probably feel closer to automated manual or ‘AMT’ gearboxes, but still, imagine a world where a car is automatic during jams and becomes a 100% three pedal car on B-roads.

The eClutch system will also allow automatic coasting on highways when the throttle is closed, so you don’t have to press the clutch pedal or shift to neutral manually.

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.

10% discount when you renew your car insurance

Compare prices between different insurer providers and use the promo code 'PAULTAN10' when you make your payment to save the most on your car insurance renewal compared to other competing services.

Car Insurance

Paul Tan

After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Comments

  • ‘imagine a world where a car is automatic during jams and becomes a 100% three pedal car on B-roads.’

    I said it a few months back would’t it be great that there is an automatic 1st gear and the rest have to be change via good’ol clutch. Its almost a win-win for purist that drive their car daily. I still from time-to-time drive my 20-plus old Saga manual throu Subang’s rush hour and I’am used to the clutch work(thou lately the radiator is not working as it should, typical old car overheating), but a crawl gear is a desired feature in those situation. Hopefully seeing this wunderbar technik in cars soon, makes some sense to reconsider a manual again.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 28 Thumb down 17
    • narakka on Dec 14, 2013 at 9:25 pm

      GSC will use this smart stop technology.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
    • if you referring the car can automatic drive during jam, you can refer to this video.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa_ZSRj0WM0?w=200

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
      • JDMftw on Dec 17, 2013 at 6:12 pm

        Subaru made it first, refer to this video

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwnXssQ-go4

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
    • Hi AVH, that’s a cool idea!! become a automatic transmission at jam and bloody 3 pedals at the rest! definitely a good idea

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • I remember someone on this site commented something about making the first gear to be auto once it is in.. Well my friend look what we have here! This is exciting!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 19 Thumb down 0
  • BLUR SOTONG on Dec 14, 2013 at 1:47 pm

    Think it will only be fixed in Continental car brands and types . Look at our own Proton,the Jap – Honda,Toyota,Nissan . Which car manufacturers had used Bosch hi tech parts. NONE , I can say :$ . Sadly It will only be a dream for purists to have the E clutch here in Malaysia

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 14
    • Just saying on Dec 14, 2013 at 2:55 pm

      Most car brands doesn’t even offer manual for their cars. Manual are usually confined to the bare-spec entry level models too, pushing them even lower down the desirability scale for potential buyers.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 7
      • John654 on Dec 14, 2013 at 9:55 pm

        That’s just in Malaysia. In Europe most cars are still manual, automatic gearboxes are an option for an additional cost (which most cost conscious Europeans don’t take). Even for most BMW and Mercedes models. This technology has great potential there. And hopefully bring cars with a manual boxes to Malaysia.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 19 Thumb down 0
      • yea.. John654 is right, in UK and Europe most of the car are using manual.. even old lady also driving manual.. What manual transmission offer is the driving experience.. The reason why u will think manual is in kosong spec just because of Malaysia Car distributor Marketing plan.. :)

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
    • That’s wrong:

      ‘Location Penang, Malaysia
      The subsidiary in Penang was established in May 1984.
      Today, the facility has 383 employees. They produce electric power steering ZF-Servolectric (column type)rack and pinion power steering for passenger cars housing and valve assembly steering components
      Those products are made for the markets of the ASEAN-states as well as for the markets in Japan, the USA and Europe. ‘

      http://www.zf-lenksysteme.com/en/company/locations/asia/penang.html

      ‘Bosch and Toyota Sign EDR Retrieval Tool License Agreement ‘
      http://www.boschdiagnostics.com/support/pressreleases/Pages/BoschandToyotaSignEDRRetrievalToolLicenseAgreement.aspx

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
    • mak melah on Dec 14, 2013 at 5:21 pm

      i tot proton car used an esc made by bosch?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 3
    • Preve and Suprima (and all upcoming Protons) uses Bosch-sourced ABS, EBD, BA, TCS, ESC, sensors, wiper blades and headlamps. Do some research before you talk cock.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 22 Thumb down 0
    • erm…. preve uses borsch esc and tc

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
    • proton has use Bosch for their iafm on their campro

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
    • For now when this technology is still new, of course it will be expensive. But how about let’s say 10 or 15 years later? Do you think it will still be as expensive as it is now? Just look at mobile phones for example. When it is first released to the public, I’m sure many people are condemning it for it’s expensive price and large size but look at today, will you still think and say the same like what people during those days have said before?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • walauweh on Dec 14, 2013 at 3:07 pm

    blur sotong,not only conti car used bosch component. so other makes. proton also used a bundle of bosch products,n its including hightech bosch.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 1
  • Anonymous on Dec 14, 2013 at 3:26 pm

    My Savvy AMT still has it going. Still working flawlessly. Only 1 breakdown in 5 years of usage with relates to the gearbox. :)

    I know some dudes with 7 years+ still going strong 200kKM lol

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 3
  • proton accord on Dec 14, 2013 at 4:12 pm

    will i live to the day when proton can come out with this kind of inovation?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 5
    • Why not? Proton has long bunsiness relations with Bosch:

      ‘Bosch, Malaysian Supplier to Boost Proton’s Campro Mills’
      http://wardsauto.com/news-amp-analysis/bosch-malaysian-supplier-boost-proton-s-campro-mills

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 3
      • No need to wait for Proton.
        So many better choice out there.

        Go for Quality instead of Quantity.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 5
  • I’m sure many who love to drive manual car would have thought about this idea. But the team who materialize it deserve motoring noble prize, if such thing ever exist.

    Just hope there will be a switch to enable/disable it. Downshift to 2nd sometimes required during spirited driving. No fun if the computer doing the clutchwork for you

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 1
    • ‘Just hope there will be a switch to enable/disable it’

      Yes, auto for my wife and manual for me! ;)

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • Denaihati on Dec 14, 2013 at 5:13 pm

    great technology, something that local car manufacturer have to considered for new manual car. it is very interesting and usefull.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • The advantage of this eClutch is, that it can be mounted in cars that were not designed for a manual clutch. Some cars simply don’t have any space for the mechanical links and levers of a mechanical clutch, as they were never designed for that.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 3
  • superbird #43 on Dec 14, 2013 at 7:08 pm

    it will be very useful for commercial vehicles (lorry,buses,trailer) since they are on the road most of their time. it reduces the need to shift up/down to the flow of traffic.
    imagine shifting a 10-gear trailer or lorry throughout the day… its tedious…
    for passenger car? not quite useful actually…. in the future, it’ll be equipped in the higher-end cars as planned by the manufacturers. moreover, it brings more convenience/luxury rather than a necessity.
    conventional clutch is here to stay, and it will be required to apply for a driving licence. :D

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
    • I guess you don’t have a lorry license?

      In a lorry you won’t shift 1-2-3-etc, but 2-4-6-8-10.

      The ‘half-gears’ are only used if you have to shift back at gradients.

      But anyway: Modern lories are shifted with a ‘joystick’ already since decades and without a clutch (MAN, SCANIA, VOLVO, MERCEDES).

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 0
  • kktan on Dec 15, 2013 at 11:19 pm

    better hope no problem,

    many smart forfour ,alfa romeo and savvy amt has problems with amt ,

    lucky i drive savvy manual .

    some people on top comment say his amt work flawless ly. but do you know how many amt savvy users face problems and how much cost when got problem? many have change to starlet turbo ep81 92 engine + gearbox

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • I hope it is as good in real world as it is on paper. (No reliability issues, lost of manual ‘feel’, too much jerking, etc.)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • For manual gear the clutch is too heavy to use even for hydraulic fluid type. What is required is more like the brake booster where it can boost the clutch without having to push so hard. The brake booster is very reliable. Can this eClutch be as reliable remember AMT failures? There is a chinese saying too many offerings/worships means too many devils. This eClutch is complicated with all the electronic and linkages. Maintenance and servicing may be a problem for countries in SEA.
    What is needed is a simple design with minimum parts and components.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Albakry Salehuddin on Dec 16, 2013 at 2:42 pm

    if a purist wants a manual transmission, he would also want a manual clutch.
    Why the clutch is too heavy in traffic jams? go drive a toaster…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • kktan on Dec 16, 2013 at 10:10 pm

    aiyo in traffic jam the clutch heavy , then ask them sit motor la , sit motor no jam , didnt see they ride motor ???

    cakap banyaak , they have many time or have a weak left leg , or cacat ma aiyo

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
 

Add a comment

required

required