What is a transmission?

Transmission is another word for a car's gearbox. It features a set of gears and a coupling device like a clutch or torque converter to enable the engine's power to drive the wheels. A manual transmission requires a gearlever and a clutch pedal in the footwell, while the various types of automatic transmission don't have a clutch pedal and let you select from Park, Neutral, Drive (forwards) or Reverse. Some automatic transmissions let you change gears yourself, either by nudging the gearlever or via paddles mounted on the steering wheel.