What is a characteristic of an automatic transmission?

An automatic transmission is designed to automatically change the gear ratios as the vehicle moves, which allows for smoother acceleration and easier driving without the need for manual shifting. One of the key characteristics of an automatic transmission is its ability to automatically vary the amount of torque supplied to the wheels based on driving conditions and the engine's performance. This characteristic optimizes the vehicle's power output and efficiency by ensuring that the appropriate gear ratio is selected based on factors like speed and load.

While an automatic transmission can adjust the torque output to handle different driving conditions such as acceleration, cruising, or climbing a hill, it does so without any input from the driver, which contributes to a more user-friendly driving experience. This brings clear advantages in terms of convenience and performance compared to systems that do not automatically adjust torque based on driving conditions or terrain.