VOLVO

I-SHIFT
Transmission

I-Shift, AT2412C, is a 12-speed manual gearbox with an automatic gearchanging system. IShift is designed for tourist, intercity, regional and route operations, where it provides high driving and ride comfort and excellent fuel economy.
I-Shift is a fast-responding gearchanging system with mini-

and a performance mode with a kickdown function that utilises

mum interruption in torque delivery during changes and a wide

the engines capacity to the maximum.

ratio span, a combination that offers impressive resources for

The transmission is a compact, lightweight unit. It is divided

high average speeds. The system consists of a non-synchro-

into a base unit and a range-change unit. The base unit, range

mesh manual gearbox with an electronically regulated pneu-

section and clutch housing are made of aluminium, which con-

matic gearchanging system and an automatic clutch.

tributes to the low weight. The transmission is factory-prepared

The gear selector is integrated with the drivers seat and

for installation with or without a compact retarder (VR3250).

gearchanges are fully automated. Starting ratio is selected

Long oil-change intervals mean low operating costs and less

automatically in response to road gradient and gross vehicle

environmental effect. When special oils are used, oil and filter

weight. I-Shift is available with a choice of program packages

changes take place after a maximum of 400,000 km or every

and various functions. Among them is a facility for choosing

third year.

between fully automatic gearchanges and manual selection,

The gear lever can be folded forward when the vehicle is at a

standstill, placed alongside the seat cushion so it is not in the
way when the driver wants to move around.

All the shafts, bearings and gears are sturdily dimensioned for high operating
reliability and long service life.

Product benefits
Fully automated gearchanging system that selects the appropriate gear in response to current operating conditions.
Different program packages that optimise the bus for its application area.
Performance program and kickdown exploit the engines resources.
The option of selecting gears manually and locking a gear makes for added flexibility.
Low weight and low frictional losses make for a compact installation and good fuel economy.

BED 00345 2007-09-27 EN

volvo buses. when productivity counts

Electronic control for high operating reliability
The gear selector and lever are conveniently integrated with the
drivers seat. There are two variants, with or without the option of manual changes. The gear lever has no mechanical contact with the gearbox; instead, the levers movements act on a number of sensors in
the gear selector.
The gear control system is integrated into the base unit and contains an electronic control unit, solenoid valves, gearchanging cylinders, shift forks and sensors.
Flexible gearchanging system gives good
driveability
I-Shift is a flexible gearchanging system supported by extremely powerful software. Since the clutch function is regulated by the gearchanging system, there is no clutch pedal. The graphic display shows
the driving program selected, the available ratios up and down, the
levers position and the selected gear.
In the A setting, gearchanges take place entirely automatically, even
when the cruise control is activated. The M setting locks the current
gear or permits manual changes.
In Automatic mode, the driver can choose between the Economy
and Performance programmes. The Limp-Home function makes it
possible to continue driving the vehicle even if there is a fault with the
transmissions or the clutchs position sensor.
The various program packages have different functions that optimise the bus for its particular application area. EcoRoll with Smart Cruise
Control for tourist coaches, for instance, is a function that gives additional fuel savings, while Launch Control helps the driver both when
starting on an uphill gradient and when manoeuvring at low speeds.

Specifications
Type designation
Max incoming torque
Weight without oil
Weight without oil incl. retarder
Type

Number of forward gears
Number of reverse gears
Gear selector positions:
R
N
A
M
Driving programs:
E
P
L
Oil-change volume

Sturdily dimensioned components

The base unit contains three base ratios, an integrated splitter gear
and reverse gears. The range-change section contains a range gear
of planetary type. The splitter and range gears are synchronised, while the base unit has no mechanical synchromesh. Revs are instead
synchronised with the help of the engines and the transmissions control units before the next gear is engaged.
All the shafts, bearings and gears are sturdily dimensioned for high
operating reliability and long service life. All the gears are made of
special steel that has been case-hardened to provide considerable
strength. The gears in the base unit are helical, so more teeth are in
mesh with each other at any one time. This results in quiet operation
and high operating reliability.
Integrated splitter gear and range-change gear of
planetary type
The splitter gear, which is a compact and sturdily journalled unit, is
fitted on the input shaft in the base units forward section. The splitter
gear halves the ratio between two base gears. The range-change gear
consists of a sturdily dimensioned planetary unit with helical gears and
a new synchromesh system, fitted after the base unit.
Factory-prepared for retarder
The transmission is factory-prepared for installation of hydraulic retarder VR3250, which offers high braking power of 400 to 600 kW.
Certain program packages have a function called Enhanced Shift
Strategy. It momentarily applies the wheel brakes as the transmission
changes down during engine braking. This function is combined with
the Electronic Brake System (EBS) to provide powerful and gentle
engine braking.

AT2412C
2400 Nm
269 kg
369 kg
Automatic splitter/
range-change transmission
12
4
Reverse
Neutral
Automatic
Manual/Hold
Economy program
Performance program
Limp Home function
approx. 13 l

A flange-mounted clutch valve unit and integrated

clutch cylinder including a position sensor replace
the system with the externally fitted clutch cylinder.

Equipment that is shown or mentioned in this factsheet may be available as options or accessories and may vary from one country to another. We retain the right to alter product specifications without prior notification.