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New five-speed automatic transmission

The new five-speed automatic transmission, a standard feature of the S 600 coupé since March 1995, works fully electronically. It is controlled by a miniature high-performance computer which adapts the gear shifts to the driving situation at any given point in time as well as to the driver's individual requirements. During cornering and on uphill and downhill stretches, the electronic control unit alters the shift points and thus prevents sudden gear shifts which might unfavourably influence the car's handling. The automatic transmission is adapted to the conditions at any given point in time in split seconds, on the basis of the constant comparison of various sensor signals with stored target values. Another new feature is the torque converter lockup clutch which is applied at low road speeds in third gear, thus reducing fuel consumption. The lockup clutch operates with computer-controlled permanent slip, which means that engine and transmission are decoupled to the extent that vibrations are eliminated.