Investigation reveals that Stellantis will unify the use of the automatic gearbox, with electronic selector, which brings benefits in relation to mechanical models
The Stellantis group’s CMP platform carries, under its structures, the arrival of the new Fiat Argo in the Brazilian market, the brand’s most anticipated car for 2026. This modular base already equips models from its partners, such as Citroën C3 and Aircross, as well as the Peugeot 208 and 2008, in addition to the Jeep Avenger, which debuts in May, and future projects already confirmed, such as new Strada and Pulse. All this unification has several objectives, such as simplifying production and lowering development costs. But, in addition to the base and engines, Stellantis wants even more synergy and plans to adopt a new automatic gearbox standard, with a smaller offer of manual gearbox.
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AutoPapo sources say that the F2U project, which corresponds to the new generation of the Pulse, will no longer have a manual transmission option. The model should arrive in the sequence of launches promised by Fiat by the end of the decade — this one, in 2027. Thus, the compact SUV will only have automatic transmission, which will continue to be the current CVT-type gearbox, with seven-speed emulation.
The Fiat Pulse debuted in the domestic market in the second half of 2021, already with the proposal of being one of the cheapest SUVs in Brazil, and, with that, logically the manual variant made up the model’s line-up.
In 2025, this simpler variant even “discontinued”, even if unofficially, and the market believed that the SUV would become elitist. However, the manufacturer returned with the MT variant, with the strategy of positioning the car as the cheapest SUV in Brazil, which worked at the time.
While the 2027 variant does not arrive, Fiat launched the Pulse Abarth Stranger Thing, during the 2025 SP Motor Show (Photo: Fiat | Disclosure)
The point is that Stellantis’ new strategy gives rise to the need to “raise the bar” of the Fiat Pulse. The already confirmed new Argo reformulates the idea of Italian cars in the country and sets trends for all new models. With this, the end of the manual transmission in the model and the arrival of the rotary drive really become viable.
The gearbox of the Citroën C3 YOU, automatic version, is the same as the one caught by the Autos Segredos portal (Photo: Citroën | Disclosure)
Stellantis has gradually replaced the mechanical drive with the automatic rotary transmission. It arrived here in the large Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups. Rampage has already arrived with this type of selector, which also started to equip Compass and Commander.
The novelty characterizes a new aspect of sophistication and luxury that this type of gear selector causes, which enables this group’s desire to improve the models positioned above the new Argo.
Another motivation, and even more logical, is the increase in demand for the use of automatic transmission and the greater economy of scale with the gain in production volume.
After the Fiat Pulse, it is likely that Fastback and Strada will also undergo the technology. It is also logical that a next generation of Fiat Toro arrives with the technology; after all, the model is built in Goiana (PE) and under the same platform as the Jeeps that have just received the gear selector (Jeep Compass and Commander).
No official information has been confirmed by the Stellantis group or Italy’s Fiat. Certainly, these configurations will only be nailed at the launch of the new Pulse. At the time, the type of selector and gearbox used in the other Fastback and Strada may be revealed.
The rotary type gear selector is already used in the largest and most sophisticated cars of the Stellantis group. Ram brings the technology in all its modern models, and Jeep is already presenting the same in its models.
In its operation, technology acts directly and physically, despite being electronic behind it. It is a rotary knob with well-defined positions (P, R, N, and D), which can be selected by turning left or right. Each gear has “clicks”, that is, small fittings that give tactile feedback to the driver and avoid accidental selections.
The command is like that of other lever CVT transmissions and usually requires simple safety actions, such as keeping your foot on the brake to get out of the “P” or engaging gear, something similar to the traditional automatic transmission.
Also according to our source, the rotary selector is a European trend, since, there (whether Stellantis or the population), they like the type a lot.
Even though under many secrets, the new Fiat Pulse has already had some details revealed. The F2U will be built on the STLA Smart Car platform, an evolution of the current CMP base, already used by models such as Citroën C3 and C3 Aircross in Brazil.
Visually, the model should be closer to the SUV concept recently presented by Fiat, with straighter lines and expanded size. The brand’s global strategy also indicates that the car will have variations according to the market, despite maintaining a common base with models sold in Europe.
On the mechanical side, the new Pulse should maintain the set already known in Brazil, with the 1.0 Turbo Flex engine combined with the 12V mild hybrid system (MHEV) and CVT-type automatic transmission, as discussed in the text.
