[Mediapen=Kim Tae-woo] Hyundai Motor Group announced the development of world’s first Active Shift Control(ASC) transmission technology on July 19th. This innovation optimizes transmission efficiency by monitoring gear shifts 500 times per second.

The new technology will premiere in the upcoming Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and eventually benefit other upcoming Hyundai and Kia hybrids.

ASC applies new control logic software to the Hybrid Control Unit(HCU), which then controls the electric motor to align the rotational speeds of the engine and transmission to reduce gear shift time by 30%. The technology also delivers smoother gear changes despite quicker shift times.

“The development of world’s first ASC technology is a remarkable innovation which incorporates precise motor control to automatic transmission,” said Kyoung-joon Chang, vice president and head of powertrain control system group. He added “It will not only save fuel but also provide a more fun driving experience for our customers.”