One of the biggest seismic shifts across the automotive world over the last decade or so is the steady abolition of the trusty manual gearbox. Once the preferred transmission option for most road-going vehicles, the continual development of the automatic has reached the point where most new car buyers would rather have one of those instead. Autos used to be slow and sloppy, but modern units offer rapid and smooth shifting that makes them a breeze to use.The trouble is, gearheads who love driving are finding it ever more difficult to find their manual shifting fix, with only driver-focused models hanging onto them for now. Koenigesgg has tackled the reducing need for manuals head-on, by developing a transmission that can swap between both methods. Nope, we're not joking. Koenigsegg Wanted To Appeal To As Many Customers As Possible With Its New Gearbox Máté Petrány/CarBuzz/Valnet The automatic transmission has proven a handy slice of technology for manufacturers across the board, from those who produce affordable machines for the masses, to those who develop rabid supercars for the richest gearheads around the globe. They work well in high-end performance cars as they can be neatly connected to the various engine electrical systems to make the most of the unit's power when it matters. Autos also make driving such powerful vehicles more approachable, with less experienced drivers able to wipe another task off their list, as well as keep their hands on the wheel at all times.This enhances the controllability of the car in question, with this element further improved by the fact that the shifts occur so quickly. This reduces the chance of the wheels locking due to a poor shift, as well as the weight of the car being thrown where you don't need it to be as you approach a tricky corner. With two different audiences at play here, Koenigsegg wanted to find a way to appeal to both, but without offering a separate manual and automatic gearbox option. Having one combined unit means cars can be developed purely to use one type of transmission, saving money and development time. The Special Gearbox Made Its Debut For The Brand's 20th Anniversary Koenigsegg In 2022, Koenigsegg showed off this unique component. Developed to feature in its CC850 supercar, the Engage Shift System boasted the capability of being a full six-speed manual unit, complete with a clutch, and a nine-speed auto. The transmission offered excellent versatility compared to a normal gearbox of either type, as its user could benefit from the advantages of both, whenever they wanted. The manual could be used to enjoy an engaging, old-school performance driving experience when the mood came, while the auto was useful if you wanted a less visceral and easy-going drive. Of course, this revolutionary gearbox wasn't exactly simple. Koenigsegg's Dual-Action Gearbox Is An Engineering Marvel Koenigsegg In essence, the Engage Shift System is a nine-speed gearbox that comes loaded with a total of seven clutches. It uses the same kind of setup as Koenigsegg's traditional nine-speed auto unit, which has three shafts that allow three gears each to remain engaged constantly, affording rapid shifting with barely any hang time. Plus, this setup allows for gears to be skipped, whereas normal auto units have to move through every gear to reach the desired speed. This acted as the basis for the dual-action unit, as being able to skip gears meant adding a proper manual mode became a realistic target.The genius part of the gearbox is how any of the nine gears can be utilized for forward motion. The gearbox is able to select from any of the nine speeds, which all feature different ratios, to best suit a particular situation. The CC850 comes with three different driving modes: Normal, Comfort and Track. For example, in Normal, the longer second gear of the auto mode becomes first, fourth gear is used as second, while sixth ends up becoming third. The final three gears go through seventh, eighth and ninth, which matches the rhythm of the auto mode.Switch to Track mode though, and the car then uses the auto's third gear as first, so that the car can reach a pit limiter speed without having to change gears. The rest are then closer together to afford the unit a more aggressive character. Choose Comfort mode, and the transmission favors the longer-ratio gears to take some of the harshness out of the vehicle's acceleration. This means that the CC850 effectively has three different manual gearboxes in one, as well as a standard nine-speed auto configuration. The Manual Mode Is Simulated Koenigsegg The transmission effectively works as a nine-speed auto gearbox the whole time, but when in manual mode, the various shafts and clutches simulate how a normal manual gearbox works. The clutch pedal and gear shifter are tuned to offer the same feedback that you'd get from a manual unit, while the system also makes it possible to stall the car. Unlike a normal auto unit, the car is programmed to stall if you get too aggressive as you pull away. A small sensor fitted to the clutch tells the gearbox how much it's depressed, allowing the gearbox to act accordingly. Of note, this sensor also means you can't simply pull the shifter out of the current gear, as the transmission will recognize this and refuse to come out, like a real manual. The clutch pedal is also programmed to offer the same weight as a normal manual, allowing it to feel more authentic.The transmission can even tell if you come off the clutch too early, which will then lead the car to jolt to simulate how a proper manual-equipped car would behave in the situation. The clutch is also needed to engage reverse when in manual mode, while in auto the gearbox will work like a standard unit and move up and down the gears without any extra work from the driver. The different modes can be switched on the move, allowing for easy access depending on where you are. Thanks to the multiple shafts within the unit, each gear is ready to go as soon as it gets the go-ahead to engage, making the whole thing seamless, no matter what mode you select.The result is a unit that is truly a traditional six-speed manual and modern nine-speed gearbox combined in one neat and easy-to-use package. Very Few Cars Are Graced With This Special Transmission Koenigsegg So far, only Koenigsegg's CC850 offering has been equipped with the Engage Shift System, though it's likely the unit will return in more of the marque's future creations. Only 70 examples of the Jesko-based supercar were produced, with each featuring the same 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine as its sibling. A slight change was that the CC850's unit was equipped with smaller turbochargers, which increased the engine's reaction times but reduced peak power. Still, 1,185 horsepower on normal fuel and 1,385 hp on more potent E85 isn't exactly gutless.Indeed, with the revolutionary Engage Shift System channeling this grunt to the rear wheels, the light 3,000-pound weapon could blast past the 60 mph barrier in just 2.5 seconds. Aside from sharing the same chassis and most of the powerplant, the CC850 also used the same multilink front and rear suspension setup as the Jesko, including Koenigsegg's Triplex rear damper setup. From a design standpoint, the underpinnings were afforded a new body designed to pay tribute to the original CC8S supercar that put the company on the map 20 years prior. Koenigsegg Has Been Known To Develop Some Awesome Automotive Tech Koenigsegg While the Engage Shift System is arguably the best innovation Koenigsegg has come up with yet, there are plenty to choose from. Take its Aircore Hollow carbon fiber wheels as a good example, which were built purely from carbon to reduce the unsprung weight of whatever car they were fitted with by a full 44 pounds. The same can be said about the third Triplex damper, which works in conjunction with the two standard rear dampers to prevent the rear from squatting down under acceleration, which keeps the front wheels firmly planted on the ground and affords extra grip under heavy load.Another awesome advancement is HydraCoup, which was developed to ensure the huge power from the firm's Regera hybrid supercar powertrain could be transmitted to the rear wheels without compromising traction. The electric motors were used to provide the initial power needed to launch the car, before the HydraCoup system would systematically introduce grunt from the V8 into the mix, and would only unleash the full might until the car was settled enough to take it. Koenigsegg may have the reputation for building some of the craziest and scary road cars on the planet, but it's also one of the most innovative carmakers out there at the moment. We can't wait to see what it can magic up next.Sources: Koenigsegg.