The Lada Priora on the robot is loved by many car enthusiasts, because it is affordable to purchase and maintain, unpretentious, passable and playful. In 2013, when sales of the restyled Priora began, the AMT transmission, also known as the robot, on the Priora became a real novelty for the Russian automobile industry. Although the Priora with a robot gearbox is more expensive, its price starts from 26,000 rubles. But before that, there were no such cars on the VAZ, so people took the mechanics as usual. The robot box is a well-designed, modernized German box, with good foolproof protection!
Based on reviews from owners of Priora with AMT, other buyers also made a choice - the reviews were indeed very laudatory. For a car that was not taken seriously by those who love comfort, this was a very big step. Priora with AMT (robot) makes driving more comfortable and relaxed. Read the article to the end and you will know what kind of beast Priora is on the robot!
For whom was the “robot” created in the first place?
First of all, when discussing a robotic gearbox, we should not forget that Priora is a budget car for a wide range of consumers. That’s why, taking a course towards “roboticization” of the gearbox, AvtoVAZ made sure that the price was as affordable as possible. They cost little money - the increase in the cost of the car, associated with the automation of the gear shifting process, is several times cheaper than the automatic transmission installed on the same Vesta or Grant.
ZF robotic box
In fact, the “robot” on Priora turned out to be a prototype for further implementation in more modern models. In addition, this maneuver by AvtoVAZ was intended to revive interest in the car, the production of which was decided to be extended until 2021. Let us recall that according to the original plans of the Togliatti plant, the fate of the rethought “ten” was supposed to end in 2015.
According to representatives of AvtoVAZ, the Lada Priora AMT should have turned out to be an extremely attractive offer for inexperienced motorists who do not want to start their driving journey with “mechanics”. Because of the fear of a manual transmission, many of them prefer used foreign cars, but the Lada Priora with a robotic gearbox should turn out to be an excellent alternative.
The smart brains of Priorovskaya AMT also know how to save fuel. A “robot” operating in the appropriate mode is capable of producing quite a noticeable difference in fuel consumption. The average consumption on the highway, measured by AvtoVAZ specialists, was 5.6 liters. So the hard-earned 20 thousand rubles that you have to pay extra exclusively for the Lada Priora AMT should not only provide additional comfort and make the process of driving a vehicle easier, but also result in very real fuel savings due to the early gear shift algorithm embedded in the “brains”.
What prevents you from installing an automatic rifle from Kalina?
Automatic transmission
Many car enthusiasts are perplexed why the new Priora 2014 cannot be equipped with an automatic transmission from Kalina? After all, this gearbox has proven itself quite well, and the manufacturer Jatco is also listed among Japanese automakers. The bottom line is that Priora is a fundamentally new development by VAZ. If, for example, “Kalina” and “ten” are largely unified, then here you can see a completely different layout. To install a Jatco box on a Priora, half of the car would have to be redone, and first of all the body. By modifying the body parts, you can significantly reduce the structural rigidity, and the transmission mount itself, most likely, would not be very reliable.
In addition, a design with an automatic transmission from a Kalina would be very different from a car with a manual transmission. Accordingly, it would be necessary to produce additional spare parts, rebuild production on the assembly line, and refine assembly technology. The costs would not be worth it in the end. Considering that even small modernizations of production at VAZ cost huge sums, with such an alteration the car plant would greatly reduce its profitability.
The new robotic AMT gearbox is made in almost the same housing as the manual transmission, so there are no problems with its installation in the Priora body. Only 2 additional brackets are required for installation. Thanks to this, it was possible to achieve a minimal difference in price.
Most likely, VAZ therefore extended the production of the 2014 Priora with an automatic transmission for many years, because difficulties arose in finding the optimal automatic transmission model for this body. Due to technical complexity, even tuning enthusiasts did not en masse install an automatic transmission from Kalina on the Priora. Even if you digest the body and modify the remaining components, certain operational problems will still arise. For example, several craftsmen who finally decided on such a modernization were faced with the fact that the automatic transmission was poorly cooled.
We can only hope that the AMT gearbox will not be much inferior in reliability to the Jatco.
Two in one
It was with this proud slogan that Mr. Boo himself, the head of the Tolyatti Automobile Plant, presented a domestic novelty. When driving a Lad Priora with a robotic gearbox, the driver is free to switch from mode A, where all gears are switched automatically, to manual mode M, where the lever has only two positions: + and -. Naturally, this kind of multifunctional solution also has its obvious disadvantages.
Of course, the most important thing is the reaction speed of the “robot” and the electromechanical drive of the actuators. Everyone knows that expensive and prestigious models of robotic gearboxes are equipped with a hydraulic drive, where shifting is measured in hundredths of seconds. Although, in fairness, we note that comparing Priora with Ferrari or Lamborghini is still not entirely fair. The actual performance on the Lada Priora “robot” shows the following:
- 120 ms in automatic mode;
- 70 ms in manual mode.
Box actuators (underhood)
Of these, 70 ms must be spent on the operation of the electric drive, and another 50 ms are taken over by the electronic brains, which also need time to think. Accordingly, when you need a quiet and peaceful ride with maximum fuel economy, you need to switch to automatic. Manual mode, which, by the way, will still have to get used to, will allow you to accelerate a little faster.
conclusions
Undoubtedly, the updated “robot” AMT 2.0 is a breakthrough. It is more adequate and pleasant to use than the previous version. For lovers of measured driving, this is a comfortable, reliable solution. The new gearbox is unpretentious in maintenance, allows you to reduce fuel consumption and feel confident even on slippery road surfaces. Compared to a CVT or automatic, the “robot” installed on the Lada Vesta is significantly inferior in its characteristics, but this budget option will find its admirers.
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Protection from the “fool”
The robotic gearbox of the Lada Priora is almost impossible to break intentionally. Of course, practically does not mean at all, but the gearbox is still insured against most erroneous user actions. The reason is painfully simple: the control command coming from the driver is not immediately transmitted to the gearbox, but is perceived by the electronic control unit, which already makes a decision on the appropriateness of the action.
The most striking example of how the protection works is the inability to engage reverse gear while the car is moving. In addition, the system is immune to crazy gear changes in a short period of time, maintaining the last operating mode. Also, Priora AMT will not allow the driver to suddenly switch to a very low gear in manual mode, but only after the power unit reaches a safe number of revolutions.
AMT box: pros and cons
An automatic manual transmission (AMT) handles the gear shifting itself, leaving the driver with the main task of keeping an eye on the road. Banal emergency braking using the service brake system is easier to do automatically - move your foot from the gas pedal to the brake pedal and press. On a manual, after pressing the brake pedal, you need to have time to move your left foot to the clutch pedal so that the car does not stall.
The advantage of a car with a “robot” is that when driving at high speed it is easier to drive – you don’t need to be distracted by controlling the gearshift lever. If you need to accelerate, having first downshifted, the gearshift lever is easily moved to the manual mode position in an instant, and then switched back to automatic mode.
An important point is that due to the fact that the box has become a symbiosis of a good project by AvtoVAZ and the ZF company, fuel consumption on a Priora with AMT has decreased compared to a Priora with a manual transmission.
At the cost of a small budget
The cost of the “robot” cost AvtoVAZ $20 million, which is relatively little. But even with such costs, the Tolyatti Automobile Plant will have to pay for its development for several years, provided there is adequate demand for the Lada Priora AMT. The electric actuators and brains in the new gearbox were developed by the German company ZF. Actually, most of the expenses were spent on its services, as well as on experimental tests at the Nurburgring. The good old mechanical VAZ-2180 is taken as the basis.
Lada Priora AMT
Maximum localization of production and ready-made developments have made it possible to significantly reduce the cost of the product. True, we also had to abandon some functions present in more expensive foreign “robots”. For example, there is no parking function: if you forget to put the handbrake on the car, it can simply roll far “beyond the horizon” along an incline. When the car is stationary, you must either manually hold the brake or keep the Priora on the handbrake.
But there is also an obvious advantage of our “robot” over sophisticated automatic transmissions. Due to the fact that in the disabled position on the Lada Priora the gearbox is constantly in the neutral position, it can be easily started from a pusher even with a dead battery. According to AvtoVAZ instructions, a speed of 7 km/h is enough, after which the AMT lever must be switched to mode “A” and the car should start.
Despite all the concerns associated with the fact that the clutch in the VAZ gearbox is single, the car moves quite smoothly. Of course, some jerks and dips in power when changing gears still occur, but they are obviously leveled out as much as possible. If you don’t rev the car at all or slow down sharply, the disadvantage is almost imperceptible.
CreepingMode
The previous version of the robotic box upset car owners due to the lack of a so-called “creeping” mode. This function is implemented in the new version of the box. Now, in order to move away, you don’t need to press the gas. It is enough to release the brake, and the car begins to move smoothly. This feature is available for first, second and reverse gears.
It’s difficult to call the start of movement in creeping mode smooth. When you release the brake, the car vibrates noticeably. This indicates that the clutch discs are not closing correctly. You can get used to this feature quite quickly, but the flaw will negatively affect the service life of the transmission.
When the driver's door is open and the parking brake is raised, Creeping Mode is automatically disabled. This will allow inattentive drivers to avoid unpleasant situations.
One might assume that the introduction of a “creeping” mode makes it easier to start moving on an incline, but this is not the case. Like Vesta with the previous version of the robot, the car with updated gearbox firmware rolls back. When you release the brake, the electronics select the desired gear, engage it and begin smooth movement. This happens for a relatively short time, but even a second delay is enough for the car to roll back. When starting on a hill, you need to quickly switch your foot from the brake to the gas, so the “robot” works faster.
Robot on Vesta: reviews
Drivers online are furiously discussing Lada's innovation. Both experienced drivers and beginners who have previously driven only a manual transmission become participants in the debate. Reviews from owners of a Lada Vesta with a robot indicate that not everyone has an unambiguous perception of this new product. On the one hand, there are no those who are 100% satisfied with the AMT of the domestic manufacturer. On the other hand, is it worth being so critical of the first attempts to automate machine control?
Let's take a closer look. The main thing when buying a Lada Vesta with AMT is to clearly understand who such a car is intended for. First of all, this is a car for a quiet and comfortable ride around the city, and not for racing. Vesta with a robotic gearbox is ideal for city traffic jams. If you are tired of manual gear shifting, but foreign cars with an automatic transmission are not yet available to you, then the new Lada will be an excellent option.
Reviews about the Lada Vesta 1.8 robot show that automatic transmission lovers should not buy a car with AMT. Still, these are two completely different boxes that have little in common with each other. Fast automated transmissions of such giants as BMW or Porsche cannot be compared with the Lada gearbox. They change gears quickly and smoothly, without delay. The robot on the Lada Vesta is more like the AMT of old Japanese cars. Nevertheless, this is an excellent compromise option for those who are tired of riding with mechanics.
