INVECS

INVECS (Intelligent & Innovative Vehicle Electronic Control System)<ref name="invecs3">"Latest MMC technologies and near-future goals: INVECS-III CVT", Mitsubishi Motors website</ref> is the brand name used by Mitsubishi Motors for its electronic automatic transmission technology.

INVECS

The first generation of INVECS debuted in the seventh generation of the Mitsubishi Galant, which was introduced in 1992.<ref name="facts">Fact & Figures 2000, p.45, Mitsubishi Motors website</ref><ref name="controltech">"Control Technology", Mitsubishi Motors South Africa website</ref> An array of sensors continuously monitored six parameters and, using "fuzzy logic", adapted the shift patterns in the automatic gearbox "on the fly" according to the driver's style. The four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, traction control system and suspension were all similarly adapted based on the same sensor data.<ref name="controltech"/> INVECS would, for example, downshift to increase engine braking while travelling downhill, or similarly automate transmission processes which were previously only controlled manually by the driver.<ref name="fuzzy">"Fuzzy-Mitsubishi", Peter G. Neumann, April 9, 1992</ref>

INVECS-II

Despite sharing its name with the previous system, the second version of INVECS was a radical development, based on Porsche's Tiptronic semi-automatic transmission technology.<ref name="autozine">"Automatic with manual override", Mark Wan, AutoZine Technical School</ref> As with Porsche's version it allowed for either a fully automatic mode, or a clutchless semi-automatic mode if the driver wished to control the up- and down-shift points. It also offered the same Adaptive Shift Control software which monitored and "learned" the driver's habits over time and adjusted the smoothness or aggression of the gearshifts to suit his or her driving style.<ref name="techfeatures">"Technical Features: INVECS-II", Mitsubishi Motors UK website</ref> It was first implemented in the new Mitsubishi FTO in 1994.<ref name="facts"/>

INVECS-III

The third version of INVECS was further advanced, and now offered a continuously variable transmission when in fully automatic mode, or a six-speed clutchless manual if the driver wished to control the up- and down-shift points. A further innovation for Mitsubishi was the introduction of paddle shifters allowing the driver to make manual gearchanges while their hands remain on the steering wheel.<ref name="39th_tms">"Mitsubishi Motors Exhibits at 39th Tokyo Motor Show", Mitsubishi Motors press release, September 28, 2005</ref>

INVECS-III was introduced in 2000, in the eighth generation of the Mitsubishi Lancer.<ref name="cvt">"Line-off ceremony marks start of CVT mass production", Mitsubishi Motors press release, April 19, 2000</ref><ref name="lancercedia">"Lancer Cedia; New-generation compact sedan", Mitsubishi Motors press release, May 9, 2000</ref> The paddle shift option was first seen on the second generation Mitsubishi Outlander which debuted in 2005.<ref name="outlander">"Mitsubishi Motors launches all-new Outlander", Mitsubishi Motors press release, October 17, 2005</ref>