Scania supergear coming
Page 17
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SCANIA's computer-aided gearshifting system (CAG), first described in CM January 29, 1983, has now gone into limited production in Sweden and is likely to be available on Scania coaches in this country later this year.
One UK coach operator, Heyfordian of Oxfordshire, is about to begin a trial of the system.
Scania Bussar's Katrineholm factory is reported to be manufacturing two CAG-equipped coaches a week for the Scandinavian markets.
The system uses a microprocessor to advise the driver by means of a dashboard-mounted digital display, which gear he should select for optimum economy. The conventional Scania synchromesh gearbox is fitted with pneumatic cylinders which make the gearshifts. These cylinde rs are controlled by the microprocessor if "automatic" mode is selected, or by a toggle switch if "manual" is selected.
Even when in automatic mode the microprocessor may be overriden by the driver. No gearchange will take place until the clutch pedal is depressed.
Since CM last described the revolutionary gearchanging system, Scania has refined it somewhat, for example by replacing two rows of gear display lights with one.
We have now had the opportunity to gain some driving impressions of CAG equipped Scania coaches and lorries and a full report will follow in a later issue.