RNS Number:7103S
Antonov PLC
02 December 2003



ANTONOV plc (the "Company" or "Antonov")


Launch of Antonov's new six-speed transmission


Antonov, the developer of the Antonov Automatic Drive (AAD), announces that it
will publicly launch its latest design of an automatic 6-speed transmission at
the 2nd International IIR Symposium being held at Mainz in Germany today.
Antonov has applied for a patent to protect certain fundamental aspects of the
technology behind the new AAD. The Company's patent attorneys have advised that
the wide-ranging patent applied for is unlikely to be challenged, as there is no
similar published intellectual property.


Martin Schinzig, Antonov's CEO said, "the new fifth generation AAD 6-speed
transmission is a commercially viable automatic alternative to mass-produced
small-car manual transmissions. The Company, together with a Tier 1 industrial
partner, expects with a commission from an OEM to launch the fifth generation
AAD 6-speed transmission in the course of 2004".


Antonov's fifth generation AAD 6-speed transmission was completed following the
undertaking of a thorough technical evaluation of its fourth-generation AAD
six-speed gearbox together with both OEMs and Tier 1 gearbox manufacturers. The
new design encompasses all of the modifications and improvements indicated as
most desirable by car manufacturers.


For the first time an automatic transmission has been created which employs
planetary gears in a kinematics scheme that utilises parallel transfers of
power. The engine's output goes to two parallel three-speed modules, which can
be likened to two independent 3-speed gearboxes. Each of these can independently
accept power from the engine and transfer it to the differential.


In each module two simple planetary gears, two brakes and one clutch produce
three speeds. When the friction elements in one module are not engaged there is
no transmission of power. Under these conditions the transmission can select
upshifts and downshifts in any combination using all six-friction elements. The
shift is produced in combination with only two of them, engaging one and
disengaging the other.


Based on this concept an initial layout for a 6-speed 200 Nm automatic
transmission was created. The transmission can produce any overall ratio and any
steps in any of the speeds. The initial design has an overall length of 320mm,
which will be further reduced. The packaging is very compact weighing
approximately 60kgs. This is materially smaller and lighter than conventional
automatic gearboxes. The new design can be produced using standard manual
transmission manufacturing processes.


Antonov's newly designed 6-speed AAD is designed for installation in small cars.
Its expected cost, performance and efficiency will make it a serious alternative
to manual gearboxes, giving the motoring public a realistic choice that was not
previously available to them.
_____________________________


For further information please contact:


David Bovell (Finance Director) at Antonov plc. - Tel no: 00 31 10 412 6046; or

Mark Brady or Richard Evans at Brewin Dolphin Securities Ltd. - 
Tel no: 00 44 161 214 5553






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