In my sights is a Stilo Abarth with the selespeed gearbox. I would very much like to know how the selespeed performs...... as I have little experience of such devices.
The scenario is; we are exiting a fast main road on the slip approaching a small roundabout on an uneven road surface. In a manual, I#d want to use engine breaking (as apposed to breaks) for which I would have to change one gear down to flick the car through the RA. This would result in a momentary entry into the red...... So what does the selespeed do? Does it refuse to change down on the command of the driver ( a la RS6 1st series and many others) Or is the driver in complete control of the FIAT gearbox via the paddles?
Similarly, changing up under hard acceleration, does the box change the moment the upward paddle is actuated, still with the throttle wide open or must the driver lift a little to assist the upward change?
My experience so far with such forward thinking developments can only be described as moderately poor.

Any insight into this would be very much appreciated. Indeed. Chisel Chest

Think of Selespeed as a normal manual gearbox with a hydraulic shifter attached.

You get engine braking as you would in a manual, but, as it’s only single clutch, you do really need to lift on upshifts.

Downshifts automatically blip and rev match.

Personally, I love Selespeed, but many with only experience of dual clutch boxes, hate them.

Chisel Chest said:

In my sights is a Stilo Abarth
The scenario is; we are exiting a fast main road on the slip approaching a small roundabout on an uneven road surface. In a manual, I#d want to use engine breaking (as apposed to breaks) for which I would have to change one gear down to flick the car through the RA. This would result in a momentary entry into the brown.

Any insight into this would be very much appreciated. Indeed. Chisel Chest

Click to expand...

Hi.
I know that roundabout

No great selespeed insights I am afraid

Afaik : 99% same as Alfa version 147/156 era
gadge may give insight.

Charlie

Nope can’t help I’m afraid mine was a manual and I’ve never even test drove a selespeed version, however shummi2001 is right it’s essentially a manual gearbox which uses hydraulics to change the gears via the paddle shifter on steering column or automatically if in auto mode. In theory yes you can down shift and use engine braking but I imagine there’s some sort of override to stop you from going into interstellar engine revs if you try

You’re right, it won’t let you downshift if it will buzz the engine.

Can’t remember if they force an up change or just bounce off the limiter like a manual would if you rev them past the redline.

Depends on the mode in auto mine shifts before 6500 and in manual you can get it to 6800 and triger over rev counter in ecu so you always will know how much times you overrevved

It does let you change to lower gear into almost rwdline but if you try to over revvit to infinity by downshifting it refuses to shift , and for upshifting you can just yank thw gas to WOT car will cut fuel for upshift moment but the throttle stays at wot all the time

You can change at WOT, but it’s smoother and kinder to lift!

My thoughts is "don't change down if the engine is going to go into the red"...

I'm not a fan of too much engine braking.

It's okay on a driving test and it helps you not to lose traction when the road surface is a bit marginal but in normal conditions (and with a Selespeed) it should be possible to slow the car using the brakes and then changing down into the correct gear for the speed just before you need to apply the gas again.

Ralf S.

Good stuff.
Thanks for your replies.