A method to control a road vehicle for the execution of a multiple downshift in a drivetrain provided with a servo-assisted transmission; the control method comprises the steps of: detecting a condition of slowing down of the road vehicle and, simultaneously, detecting a driver's request for a multiple downshift; carrying out, in succession, a plurality of downshifts while the road vehicle is slowing down and in an autonomous manner regardless of further interventions of the driver; determining a duration of a shift time interval; and carrying out each downshift following a first downshift when said shift time interval has exactly elapsed since the previous downshift.

A method to control the execution of a shift to a lower gear with a released accelerator pedal in a drivetrain provided with a dual-clutch, servo-assisted transmission; the following steps ate provided: opening, in a first instant, an outgoing clutch; closing, in the first instant, an incoming clutch; completing the opening of the outgoing clutch by means of a first linear ramp in a second instant; synchronizing, between the second instant and a third instant, a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine with a rotation speed of the incoming clutch; closing of the incoming clutch by means of a second linear ramp starting from a fourth instant, which is prior to or coincides with the second instant; completing the closing of the incoming clutch in a fifth instant, which coincides with or is subsequent to the second instant; and activating the internal combustion engine so as to generate a torque between the fourth instant and the third instant.

A regenerative braking control system of an AWD (all-wheel-drive) hybrid vehicle including a front wheel HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) powertrain and a rear wheel EV (electric vehicle) powertrain is provided. The control system includes a manipulating instrument mounted to a steering wheel for manual shifting and regenerative braking control by a driver's manipulation, and a controller for adjusting a regenerative braking amount and controlling a shift pattern of each of a front wheel motor of the front wheel HEV powertrain and a rear wheel motor of the rear wheel EV powertrain by receiving a () or (+) manipulation signal or a hold manipulation signal of the manipulating instrument.

A shift lever device includes a shift lever that is rotated in a shift direction to change a shift position, and that is capable of moving in a direction different from the shift direction, a main shaft that rotates when the shift lever is rotated in the shift direction, and a housing that rotatably supports the main shaft. When the main shaft is moved in the direction different from the shift direction, a load is input from the shift lever to the main shaft in the opposite direction from a direction in which the main shaft is displaced from the housing.

A transmission mode control system includes a control device that controls a transmission mode of a vehicle and a first input device that accepts a switching operation of switching from an automatic transmission mode to a manual transmission mode. The control device includes a processor and a memory. The processor executes a process including: switching the transmission mode from the manual transmission mode to the automatic transmission mode when a switching time elapses after an operation of the first input device by a driver of the vehicle; and extending the switching time by a set time when the driver performs, within a post-switching determination time after the switching time elapses, a certain operation that causes a gear ratio to change in the same direction as a change of gear ratio when the gear shift is executed in response to the operation by the driver before the switching time elapses.

A steering system for a vehicle includes a steering column, a steering wheel rotatable about an axis between rotational positions, and a magnetic paddle shift system for selecting a gear of a transmission. A sensor assembly has a sensor array. First and second paddle shifters are rotatable with the steering wheel and extend from a proximal end to a distal end. First and second magnets are disposed at the proximal end of the first and second paddle shifters, respectively, in alignment with the sensor array in any of the rotational positions. Actuation of the first and second paddle shifters move, respectively, the first and second magnets relative to the sensor array between first and second positions, the magnets being closer to the sensor array in the second position. The sensor array is configured to sense the first and second magnets in the second position for any of the rotational positions.

A gearbox system for a vehicle includes an automated manual gearbox; a gearbox control device which controls the gearbox; a monostable toggle switch which is movable by a user in two deflection directions to select a plurality of driving ranges of the gearbox control device, and a visual device which displays graphically a gearshift diagram with driving ranges selectable by the monostable toggle switch. The gearbox control device has a further driving range which cannot be selected by the monostable toggle switch but can be exited by moving the monostable toggle switch. The visual device has at least one display to display a symbol indicating at least one deflection direction by which the further driving range can be exited. The gearbox control device may control the at least one display such that the symbol is only displayed when the further driving range is selected.

A steering system for a vehicle includes a steering column, a steering wheel rotatable about an axis between rotational positions, and a magnetic paddle shift system for selecting a gear of a transmission. A sensor assembly has a sensor array. First and second paddle shifters are rotatable with the steering wheel and extend from a proximal end to a distal end. First and second magnets are disposed at the proximal end of the first and second paddle shifters, respectively, in alignment with the sensor array in any of the rotational positions. Actuation of the first and second paddle shifters move, respectively, the first and second magnets relative to the sensor array between first and second positions, the magnets being closer to the sensor array in the second position. The sensor array is configured to sense the first and second magnets in the second position for any of the rotational positions.

An operating device includes a tiltable operating member, a support supporting the operating member, a first movable member and a second movable member configured to move together with the operating member, a first magnetic body provided on the first movable member, a second magnetic body provided on a second movable member, and a permanent magnet supported by the support. When the operating member is in a reference position, the permanent magnet and the first and second magnetic bodies attract each other. When the operating member is tilted in a first direction from the reference position to be positioned in multiple positions, first, the first magnetic body moves away from the permanent magnet with the tilting of the first movable member, and next, the second magnetic body moves away from the permanent magnet with the tilting of the second movable member.

An input device for use in a vehicle steering assembly. The input device includes at least one user-operable control member which is moveable between a deployed state and a retracted state. When a control member is in its deployed state it is operable to provide an input to a vehicle control system, and when retracted, it is moved to a position that avoids accidental actuation. In a particular example, the or each control member is a paddle shaped lever which is used to send gear change requests to an automatic transmission, and the lever is retracted when gear change requests do not need to be sent.