If there were a vote for the most misunderstood automotive component, we're willing to bet the automatic transmission would rank pretty high, and the torque converter itself possibly higher still. OK, ...

For straight line guys, spending hundreds of dollars on something that doesn't give you any extra horsepower doesn't exactly seem like a good deal. Even a federal bean counter could figure that one ...

This exploded view of a torque converter calls out the important converter components. On the far right is the impeller (A) that uses input power from the engine to impart fluid motion to the turbine ...

With the growing popularity of CVT's and sequential manual transmissions, some may say that the conventional automatic may go extinct someday. Yeah right. There are still plenty of Bow Tie enthusiasts ...