Hey guys, Jake here. Back with another episode of Slingshot Under the Hood, and today we're diving into transmissions, both the manual and AutoDrive, and the latest updates.
All right, we're talking transmissions. We give you two choices, the sporty five-speed manual or the awesome intuitive AutoDrive. Two different personalities, one platform, and each transforms how a Slingshot feels on the road. When we launched Slingshot in 2015, we launched it with a manual transmission, an engaging five-speed manual. And today, it's one of the few side-by-side vehicles on the road that you get that option. And I get the question, what kind of transmission is it? Well, it's a typical H gate shift pattern. So first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and reverse. And then you have a typical gas, brake, clutch pedal pattern. So why do people pick the manual transmission? It's the purest form of driver engagement. It's got nice short throws right at hand, and you're in direct control of your transmission. It's perfect for riders that enjoy working the gearbox. It delivers all the punch, connection, and feedback that Slingshot is known for.
We launched with manual, and in 2020, we brought the AutoDrive transmission to open up Slingshot to a broader audience. What is it? We literally take our five-speed manual transmission and automate it. So we got a system that controls the shifting and the clutching, so you don't have to. But we keep it engaging to make sure you have fun out on the road. And we've been improving this transmission ever since, bringing shift paddles in '21, completely redoing calibration from model year '25. The shifts are faster, they're smoother, and the whole system is more intuitive, reading you and when you want to shift. If you've driven an earlier version, you'll feel the difference. It's updated in every way, being faster and smoother and more intuitive.
And as I mentioned, in '21, we brought shift paddles to make this transmission even more engaging. It's two awesome shift paddles on the right and left side of the steering wheel. Right side for up shift, left side for down shifts. And what this does is it gives you more control when you want it. You can put it in drive mode and just cruise, or you can engage manual mode and choose when you want to shift right now. When you're coming out of a corner or you're slowing down for a corner, you want that lower gear for some engine braking, you hit that shift paddle, and it'll shift right now. This is a great way to have even more control over the AutoDrive, but have the option to put it in drive mode and sit back and relax. And for those interested in shift paddles, it comes standard on R and LE models.
And so there's your full breakdown of transmissions.
For the manual transmission, it's all about the engagement and the sporty feel. For the AutoDrive, it's about that balance, the engagement, especially with shift paddles, versus having the option to sit back and let it do the shifting and clutching for you.
Let me know which one you would pick or which one you have in the comments below. I'm Jake, we'll see you next time.
