Abstract
The driver takes his seat in a new, unfamiliar coach fitted with an automatic transmission. He is used to normal drive trains and shifting 6 , 7 or even 8 gears and to operating the clutch via the clutch pedal for every gearshift.
To his surprise, however, there is no clutch pedal in the usual place - only accelerator and brake pedals. This is new. Then the driver sees a handy little lever and right next to it a rotary switch set to "N" for Neutral. He plucks up all his courage and starts the engine, sets the switch to "D" for Drive that much English he knows releases the hand brake and steps on the gas. Smoothly, the coach starts moving, speedy or slowly, depending on the position of the accelerate pedal.
The transmission shifts up and down, fast and comfortable. Of course, the automatic clutch opens and closes in the process, so we have interruption of the tractive effort as with a normal transmission.