Dual clutch transmission - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

A dual clutch transmission, commonly abbreviated to DCT (sometimes informally referred to as a twin-clutch gearbox, double clutch transmission, or similar variations thereof), is a differing type of semi-automatic

Semi-automatic transmission

A semi-automatic transmission is an automobile transmission that does not change gears automatically, but rather facilitates manual gear changes by dispensing with the need to press...

or automated manual

Electrohydraulic manual transmission

Electrohydraulic manual transmission is a type of semi-automatic transmission system, which uses an automated clutch unlike conventional manual transmissions where the driver operates the clutch. The clutch is controlled by electronic computers and hydraulics...

automotive transmission

Transmission (mechanics)

A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a...

. It utilises two separate clutch

Clutch

A clutch is a mechanical device which provides for the transmission of power from one component to another...

es for odd and even gear sets

Gear train

A gear train is formed by mounting gears on a frame so that the teeth of the gears engage. Gear teeth are designed to ensure the pitch circles of engaging gears roll on each other without slipping, this provides a smooth transmission of rotation from one gear to the next.The transmission of...

. It can fundamentally be described as two separate manual transmission

Manual transmission

A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...

s (with their respective clutches) contained within one housing, and working as one unit. They are usually operated in a fully automatic mode, and many also have the ability to allow the driver to manually shift gears

Manumatic

Manumatic is a portmanteau of the words manual and automatic, that applies to a class of automotive transmissions.Manumatic refers to an automatic transmission that allows convenient driver control of gear selection. This type of transmission was introduced in the 1990s...

, albeit still carried out by the transmission's electro-hydraulics.

This type of transmission was invented by Frenchman Adolphe Kégresse

Adolphe Kégresse

Adolphe Kégresse was a French military engineer, inventor of the half-track and dual clutch transmission....

just prior to World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, but he never developed a working model. The first actual DCTs arrived from a joint Porsche-Audi in-house development, for Audi and Porsche racing cars in the 1980s, when computers to control the transmission became compact enough: the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (dual clutch gearbox) (PDK) used in the Porsche 956

Porsche 956

The Porsche 956 was a Group C sports-prototype racing car designed by Norbert Singer and built by Porsche in 1982 for the FIA World Sportscar Championship...

and 962 Le Mans

Le Mans

Le Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.Its inhabitants are called Manceaux...

race cars from 1983, and the Audi Sport Quattro S1 rally

Rallying

Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...

car.

A dual clutch transmission eliminates the torque converter

Torque converter

In modern usage, a torque converter is generally a type of hydrodynamic fluid coupling that is used to transfer rotating power from a prime mover, such as an internal combustion engine or electric motor, to a rotating driven load...

as used in conventional epicyclic-geared automatic transmission

Automatic transmission

An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...

s. Instead, dual clutch transmissions that are currently on the market primarily use two oil

Oil

An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....

-bathed wet multi-plate clutches, similar to the clutches used in most motorcycles, though dry clutch versions are also available.

The first series production road car

Automobile

An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...

to be fitted with a DCT was the 2003 Volkswagen Golf Mk4 R32.

, the largest number of sales of DCTs in Western Europe are by various marques of the German Volkswagen Group

Volkswagen Group

Volkswagen Group is a German multinational automobile manufacturing group. , Volkswagen was ranked as the world’s third largest motor vehicle manufacturer and Europe's largest....

, though this is anticipated to lessen as other transmission makers and vehicle manufacturers make DCTs available in series production automobiles. In 2010, on BMW Canada's website for the 3 Series Coupe, it is described both as a 7-speed double clutch transmission and as a 7-speed automatic transmission. It is actually a dual clutch semi-automatic.

Overview

In DCTs where the two clutches are arranged concentrically, the larger outer clutch drives the odd numbered gears, whilst the smaller inner clutch drives the even numbered gears. Shifts can be accomplished without interrupting torque

Torque

Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist....

distribution to the driven roadwheels, by applying the engine's torque to one clutch at the same time as it is being disconnected from the other clutch. Since alternate gear ratios can pre-select an odd gear on one gear shaft whilst the vehicle is being driven in an even gear, (and vice versa), DCTs are able to shift more quickly than other cars equipped with single-clutch automated-manual transmissions (AMTs), a.k.a. single-clutch semi-automatics. Also, with a DCT, shifts can be made more smoothly than with an AMT, making a DCT more suitable for conventional road cars.

Clutch types

There are two fundamental types of clutches utilised in dual clutch transmissions: either two wet multi-plate clutches which are bathed in oil (for cooling), or two dry single-plate clutches. The wet clutch design is generally used for higher torque engines which can generate 350 newton metres (258 ft·lbf) and more (the wet multi-plate clutch DCT in the Bugatti Veyron

Bugatti Veyron

The Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 is a mid-engined grand touring car. The Super Sport version is the fastest road-legal production car in the world, with a top speed of . The original version has a top speed of...

is designed to cope with 1250 N·m (922 ft·lbf)), whereas the dry clutch design is generally suitable for smaller vehicles with lower torque outputs up to 250 N·m (184 ft·lbf). However, whilst the dry clutch variants may be limited in torque compared to their wet clutch counterparts, the dry clutch variants offer an increase in fuel efficiency, due to the lack of pumping losses of the transmission fluid in the clutch housing.

Clutch installation

There are now three variations of clutch installation. The original design used a concentric arrangement, where both clutches shared the same plane when viewed perpendicularly from the transmission input shaft, along the same centre line as the engine crankshaft

Crankshaft

The crankshaft, sometimes casually abbreviated to crank, is the part of an engine which translates reciprocating linear piston motion into rotation...

; when viewed head-on along the length of the input shaft, this makes one clutch noticeably larger than the other.

The second implementation utilised two single-plate dry clutches which are side-by-side from the perpendicular view, but again sharing the centre line of the crankshaft.

A latest variation uses two separate but identical sized clutches; these are arranged side-by-side when viewed head-on (along the length of the input shaft and crankshaft centre line), and also share the same plane when viewed perpendicularly. This latter clutch arrangement (unlike the other two variations) is driven via a gear from the engine crankshaft.

BorgWarner

BorgWarner Inc.

BorgWarner

BorgWarner Inc. is a United States-based worldwide automotive industry components and parts supplier. It is primarily known for its powertrain products, which include manual and automatic transmissions and transmission components, , turbochargers, engine valve timing system...

is the current leading worldwide supplier of wet dual clutches and electro-hydraulic control modules (mechatronics

Mechatronics

Mechatronics is the combination of mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, computer engineering, software engineering, control engineering, and systems design engineering in order to design, and manufacture useful products. Mechatronics is a multidisciplinary field of engineering, that is...

) for these dual clutch transmissions, along with complete dual clutch transmission and transaxle

Transaxle

In the automotive field, a transaxle is a major mechanical component that combines the functionality of the transmission, the differential, and associated components of the driven axle into one integrated assembly....

assemblies. BorgWarner, who call their technology "DualTronic", entered series production (excludes Bugatti Veyron

Bugatti Veyron

) for Volkswagen Group

Volkswagen Group

Volkswagen Group is a German multinational automobile manufacturing group. , Volkswagen was ranked as the world’s third largest motor vehicle manufacturer and Europe's largest....

, who re-named Direct-Shift Gearbox

Direct-Shift Gearbox

The Direct-Shift Gearbox , commonly abbreviated to DSG, is an electronically controlled dual clutch multiple-shaft manual gearbox, in a transaxle design - without a conventional clutch pedal, and with full automatic, or semi-manual control...

(DSG) in 2003 in the Volkswagen Golf Mk4 R32. The company signed further agreements with three other (unnamed) European automotive manufacturers to incorporate their components in DCTs.

On 14 January 2009, BorgWarner announced the establishment of a joint venture with the China Automobile Development United Investment Co., Ltd. (CDUI) which is owned by twelve leading Chinese automakers. This joint venture will be known as the BorgWarner United Transmission Systems Co., Ltd., and will be located in Dalian

Dalian

Dalian is a major city and seaport in the south of Liaoning province, Northeast China. It faces Shandong to the south, the Yellow Sea to the east and the Bohai Sea to the west and south. Holding sub-provincial administrative status, Dalian is the southernmost city of Northeast China and China's...

, China. The company will produce various dual clutch transmission modules beginning in 2011.

The Nissan GT-R

Nissan GT-R

The Nissan GT-R is a sports car produced by Nissan released in Japan on December 6, 2007, the United States on July 4, 2008, and the rest of the world in March 2009.-History:...

uses BorgWarner components which include the dual-clutch module, clutch-control and shift-actuation systems and synchronizer assemblies.

Fiat Powertrain Technologies

The Fiat Powertrain Technologies is a part the Fiat Group, which includes all the activities related to powertrains and transmissions to Fiat Automobiles Iveco , Centro Ricerche Fiat and Elasis....

has developed a dual clutch transmission with Magneti Marelli and BorgWarner

BorgWarner

. Magneti Marelli delivers the control system which integrates BorgWarner's hydraulic actuation module into its own power and transmission control units. It can handle torque inputs of up to 350 newton metre, making it the highest-torque dry clutch application. Its weight of just 81 kg (179 lb), complete with oil and transmission control unit, its compact three-shaft architecture, especially axially, allowing it to be installed in a wide range of B- and C-segment vehicles. Fiat Powertrain is an independent company looking to maximize its sales to third party organizations, so the DCCT system is likely to go not just to Chrysler-Jeep, which Fiat now controls, but to outside customers, as well.

Getrag

Getrag is a leading manufacturer of automobile manual transmissions. The company was founded on 1 May 1935, in Ludwigsburg, Germany, by Hermann Hagenmeyer; as the Getriebe und Zahnradfabrik Hermann Hagenmeyer GmbH & Cie KG...

has developed a complete range of DCT transaxles, including 7DCL750, a seven-speed transaxle for mid-engine longitudinal applications, capable of taking more than 750 N·m (553 ft·lbf). Getrag will be providing its DCT in its first commercial applications, for the Dodge Journey

Dodge Journey

The Dodge Journey is a mid-size crossover SUV built by the Dodge division of Chrysler.-First generation :Unveiled first at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, and later appearing at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Journey identified internally as the JC49, has an almost identical wheelbase as the...

and Volvo S40

Volvo S40

The Volvo S40 is a small family car produced by Volvo. It introduced the first generation S40 and V40 cars in 1995...

and V50, from mid-2008. Getrag has the 6DCT250 dry DCT under development, for use in front wheel drive transverse applications, and uses electro-mechanical actuation, rather than electro-hydraulic.

In the 2nd quarter of 2008, Getrag had signed an agreement with Chrysler

Chrysler

Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....

to supply its PowerShift DTCs for use in American markets. However, due to the global economic downturn, this was subsequently cancelled.

Getrag is also working with Bosch

Robert Bosch GmbH

Robert Bosch GmbH is a multinational engineering and electronics company headquartered in Gerlingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. It is the world's largest supplier of automotive components...

to develop a DCT for use in hybrid vehicle

Hybrid vehicle

A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that uses two or more distinct power sources to move the vehicle. The term most commonly refers to hybrid electric vehicles , which combine an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors.-Power:...

s.

Getrag dual clutch transmissions are used in the BMW M3

BMW M3

The BMW M3 is a high-performance version of the BMW 3 Series, developed by BMW's in-house motorsport division, BMW M. M3 models have been derived from the E30, E36, E46 and E90/E92/E93 3-series, and sold with coupé, sedan and convertible body styles...

, BMW Z4

BMW Z4

The BMW Z4 is a rear-wheel drive sports car by the German car maker BMW. It follows a line of past BMW roadsters such as the BMW Z1, BMW 507, BMW Z8, and the BMW Z3. The Z4 replaces the Z3. First generation production started in 2002 at BMW USA's Greer, South Carolina plant, with production of both...

Sdrive35i, Ferrari California

Ferrari California

The Ferrari California is a grand touring sports car that was launched by Ferrari at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. It is a two door "2+2" hard top convertible. The California is powered by front-mid mounted gasoline direct injection V8 with...

, Ferrari 458 Italia, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, Ford and Renault

Renault

Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...

vehicles.

Graziano

Italian specialist Graziano Transmissions

Graziano Trasmissioni

Graziano Trasmissioni is an Italian company manufacturing gearboxes, drivelines and their components.It makes the seven-speed, dual-clutch gearbox used in the McLaren MP4-12C-History:...

is in the process of developing a wet clutch DCT for original equipment manufacturer

Original Equipment Manufacturer

An original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, manufactures products or components that are purchased by a company and retailed under that purchasing company's brand name. OEM refers to the company that originally manufactured the product. When referring to automotive parts, OEM designates a...

(OEM) fitment into supercars. It aims to be in production by 2010, and will be targeting automakers such as Ferrari

Ferrari

Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...

, Maserati

Maserati

Maserati is an Italian luxury car manufacturer established on December 1, 1914, in Bologna. The company's headquarters is now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. It has been owned by the Italian car giant Fiat S.p.A. since 1993...

and Aston Martin

Aston Martin

Aston Martin Lagonda Limited is a British manufacturer of luxury sports cars, based in Gaydon, Warwickshire. The company name is derived from the name of one of the company's founders, Lionel Martin, and from the Aston Hill speed hillclimb near Aston Clinton in Buckinghamshire...

. Their DCT is aiming to have a torque handling capacity of 750 N·m (553 ft·lbf), and they are also aiming to improve shift quality over their current automated manual transmissions

Electrohydraulic manual transmission

(AMTs). They currently supply the 7-speed DCT for McLaren

McLaren

McLaren Racing Limited, trading as Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, is a British Formula One team based in Woking, Surrey, United Kingdom. McLaren is best known as a Formula One constructor but has also competed and won in the Indianapolis 500 and Canadian-American Challenge Cup...

's MP4-12C

McLaren MP4-12C

The McLaren MP4-12C is a sports car designed and manufactured by McLaren Automotive. It is the first production car wholly designed and built by McLaren since the McLaren F1. The car's final design was unveiled on 8 September 2009, and it is set to be launched in 2011...

supercar.

LuK

LuK Clutch Systems, LLC. designed and manufacture the dual dry single plate clutch system for the Volkswagen Group

Volkswagen Group

Volkswagen Group is a German multinational automobile manufacturing group. , Volkswagen was ranked as the world’s third largest motor vehicle manufacturer and Europe's largest....

seven-speed DQ200 Direct-Shift Gearbox

Direct-Shift Gearbox

(DSG) introduced in 2008. This DSG variant is used in smaller cars, with smaller displacement engines with relatively low torque outputs. LuK are naming their technology "XSG" for their overview of automated shift gearbox systems, and "Parallel Shift Gearbox" (PSG) for its own proprietary DCT.

Ricardo

English specialist consulting engineering company Ricardo plc

Ricardo plc

Ricardo plc is a British publicly listed company named after its founder, Sir Harry Ricardo and founded on 30 June 1927 in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex. The company is a leading global multi-industry engineering provider of technology, product innovation and strategic consulting...

designed and built the Bugatti Veyron

Bugatti Veyron

's seven-speed dual wet multi-plate dual clutch transmission, specifically to cope with the 1250 N·m (922 ft·lbf) of torque generated by the cars' W16 engine

W16 engine

A W16 engine is a sixteen cylinder piston internal combustion engine in a four-bank W configuration. All W16 engines consist of two 'offset double-row' banks of eight cylinders, coupled to a single crankshaft....

ZF

ZF Friedrichshafen AG

ZF Friedrichshafen

ZF Friedrichshafen AG, also known as ZF Group, and commonly abbreviated to ZF, is a German public company headquartered in Friedrichshafen, in the south-west German region of Baden-Württemberg....

designed and build with Porsche the two different variants of the Porsche

Porsche

Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....

Doppel-Kupplunggetriebe (PDK) seven-speed '7DT' dual wet multi-plate clutch transmission.

AUDI

Need to include Audi, who both co-invented the production-worthy technology with Porsche, but also introduced the first volume-production units in 2003 in the VR6 TT, along with the similarly powered VW Golf mentioned.

BMW

In January 2008, BMW

BMW

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...

introduced a dual clutch transmission for their M3

BMW M3

model, manufactured by GETRAG

Getrag

, embedding a DualTronic dual clutch module from BorgWarner

BorgWarner

, and dubbed M Dual Clutch Transmission (M DCT). The same transmission is used in the second generation Z4

BMW E89

BMW E89 is the chassis code of the second generation of BMW Z4. It now has a retractable hardtop like the Mercedes SLK replacing the previous roadster and coupé versions for the 2009 model year. There are exclusively six-cylinder engines on this generation...

(the Sdrive35i version), and is an available option on the 335is and later 135i builds.

Chrysler

Chrysler is scheduled to receive Fiat Powertrain Technologies

Fiat Powertrain Technologies

The Fiat Powertrain Technologies is a part the Fiat Group, which includes all the activities related to powertrains and transmissions to Fiat Automobiles Iveco , Centro Ricerche Fiat and Elasis....

C635 dual dry-clutch transmission for use on Chrysler's inline-4 and V6 Pentastar in a C-plus and D-segment car in 2013.

Fiat Group

Ferrari

incorporated a Getrag

Getrag

designed and manufactured seven-speed dual wet clutch transmission in their California

Ferrari California

and 458 Italia sportscars.

Fiat Powertrain Technologies

Fiat Powertrain Technologies

The Fiat Powertrain Technologies is a part the Fiat Group, which includes all the activities related to powertrains and transmissions to Fiat Automobiles Iveco , Centro Ricerche Fiat and Elasis....

(FPT) started production of "TCT" Dual Dry Clutch Transmission (DDCT) in early 2010 at the Verrone

Verrone

Verrone is a comune in the Province of Biella in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 60 km northeast of Turin and about 8 km southeast of Biella....

plant. The C635 DDCT gearbox is used for B (supermini), C (compact car), and D segment (large family car) cars, and can handle torque up to 350 N·m (258 ft·lbf). Fiat's C635 DDCT gearbox was introduced in Alfa Romeo MiTo

Alfa Romeo MiTo

The Alfa Romeo MiTo is a three door sporty supermini officially introduced on June 19, 2008, at Castello Sforzesco in Milan, with an international introduction at the British Motor Show in 2008. The car was available in all Alfa's major markets in stages from July...

in 2011.

Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...

has released a wet clutch "PowerShift" transmission on the 2008 Ford Focus (international) and Ford C-MAX. This wet clutch DCT was designed with gearbox specialist Getrag

Getrag

under the GETRAG FORD Transmissions joint venture

Joint venture

A joint venture is a business agreement in which parties agree to develop, for a finite time, a new entity and new assets by contributing equity. They exercise control over the enterprise and consequently share revenues, expenses and assets...

, founded in 2001, and is expected to feature in other Ford and Volvo models. Ford has announced the US-market version of the Mark VI Ford Fiesta

Ford Fiesta

The Ford Fiesta is a front wheel drive supermini/subcompact manufactured and marketed by Ford Motor Company and built in Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, China, India, Thailand and South Africa...

coming in 2011 will feature a dry clutch PowerShift transmission. Ford also announced the introduction of PowerShift transmission to North American market by 2010.

The Volvo version will be built in Koping, Sweden at Volvo's transmission plant. The PowerShift gearbox will be introduced on the second generation Volvo S60, and then on to the V50 and C30 models. The XC60 is expected to get this Ford PowerShift gearbox along with other new models to make more sporty cars.

General Motors

In the company's restructuring plan, it revealed that dry dual clutch transmission would be available in 2012 calendar year. The GM's dual-clutch gearbox will be introduced on the GMC Granite

GMC Granite

The GMC Granite is a compact MPV concept, developed by General Motors. It was introduced at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. If produced, the Granite would be GMC's smallest offering....

. The new front-wheel drive

Front-wheel drive

Front-wheel drive is a form of engine/transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitudinal engine arrangement generally found in rear-wheel drive and...

transmission will incorporate the latest innovations for improving fuel economy and performance. The transmission alone will provide upward of 10 percent improvement in fuel economy over today’s conventional six-speed automatic transmissions. The co-developed transmission between GM

General Motors

General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...

and SAIC will feature dry, dual-clutch technology. It will provide shift comfort equal to a conventional fully automatic transmission, with superior quality, while reducing CO₂ emissions.

Honda

In October 2009, Honda

Honda

is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...

launched the VFR1200F

Honda VFR1200F

The VFR1200F is a sport touring motorcycle from Honda, which has a V4 engine. It has the first dual clutch transmission offered on a motorcycle.-History:Honda announced the VFR1200F in 2009 and unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show...

, a motorcycle

Motorcycle

A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...

with a 1,200 cc V4 engine

V4 engine

A V4 engine is a V form engine with four cylinders and three main bearings.-Automobile use:Lancia produced several narrow-angle V4 engines from the 1920s through 1960s for cars like the Lambda, Augusta, Artena, Aprilia, Ardea, Appia, and Fulvia....

and optional DCT dubbed the Next Generation Transmission. In May 2009, Honda CEO Takeo Fukui

Takeo Fukui

is the former president and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.. He is from Tokyo, Japan, though his mother gave birth to him in Hiroshima to escape intensifying air raids during World War II. He graduated from Waseda University with a Bachelor's degree in Applied Chemistry...

mentioned that Honda was working on a new dual clutch transmission system that could be matched with future hybrids.

Hyundai

At the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, Hyundai

Hyundai

Hyundai ) is a global conglomerate company, part of the Korean chaebol, that was founded in South Korea by one of the most famous businessmen in Korean history: Chung Ju-yung...

unveiled ix-onic concept car, which was said to feature a six-speed dual clutch transmission.

On 22 December 2010, Hyundai

Hyundai

Hyundai ) is a global conglomerate company, part of the Korean chaebol, that was founded in South Korea by one of the most famous businessmen in Korean history: Chung Ju-yung...

teased the reveal of its entry-level sports car, the Veloster

Hyundai Veloster

The Hyundai Veloster is a compact sports car which began sales in South Korea since March 10, 2011 and in the United States at the summer of 2011. It is the first of Hyundai's new Premium Youth Lab sub-brand, which is targeted for the young generation of drivers. It became available for retail...

, a vehicle with a dual-clutch transmission and an estimated fuel consumption of 40 miles per US gallon. The teaser notes the date of reveal to be 10 January 2011, when it will be shown at the North American International Auto show.

Lotus

Lotus Cars

Lotus Cars is a British manufacturer of sports and racing cars based at the former site of RAF Hethel, a World War II airfield in Norfolk. The company designs and builds race and production automobiles of light weight and fine handling characteristics...

has submitted a patent application for a lighter, simpler and more compact dual-clutch transmission system. The gearbox shown in the application is an eight-speed unit, with seven forward gears and reverse.

McLaren Automotive

McLaren Automotive, commonly referred to as McLaren, is a British automotive manufacturer of high-performance vehicles. The company was established as McLaren Cars in 1989 as a producer of road cars based on Formula One technology...

introduced a seven speed dual clutch on MP4-12C

McLaren MP4-12C

made in Italy

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

by Graziano

Graziano Trasmissioni

Graziano Trasmissioni is an Italian company manufacturing gearboxes, drivelines and their components.It makes the seven-speed, dual-clutch gearbox used in the McLaren MP4-12C-History:...

. The design comes with a feature called "Pre-Cog" which allows the driver to preselect the next highest or lowest gear decreasing shift times.

Mercedes-Benz

The Mercedes SLS AMG use a Getrag AMG 'SpeedShift' seven-speed dual clutch gearbox, mounted at the rear in a transaxle

Transaxle

configuration, and connected to the engine via a carbon fibre

Carbon fiber

Carbon fiber, alternatively graphite fiber, carbon graphite or CF, is a material consisting of fibers about 5–10 μm in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are bonded together in crystals that are more or less aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber...

driveshaft

Driveshaft

A drive shaft, driveshaft, driving shaft, propeller shaft, or Cardan shaft is a mechanical component for transmitting torque and rotation, usually used to connect other components of a drive train that cannot be connected directly because of distance or the need to allow for relative movement...

enclosed in an aluminium torque tube. According to Mercedes-Benz, it is capable of gear changes in as little as 100 ms. The SLS and the Ferrari California share the same DCT unit.

Mitsubishi

The Mitsubishi Motors

Mitsubishi Motors

is a multinational automaker headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. In 2009 it was the fifth-largest Japan-based automaker and the 17th-largest in the world measured by production...

Lancer Evolution X and Lancer Ralliart are supplied with Mitsubishi's Twin Clutch SST

Twin Clutch SST

Twin Clutch SST is the brand name of a six-speed dual clutch transmission developed by Getrag for Mitsubishi Motors...

(abbreviated TC-SST, for "Twin Clutch Sport Shift Transmission" or "Twin Clutch Sportronic Shift Transmission") dual clutch transmission, controllable by steering wheel mounted magnesium paddle shifters. It is the Getrag

Getrag

-built, PowerShift 6DCT470 transmission in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation

The Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation

The Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation is a German-owned, Japan-based manufacturer of trucks and buses. It is headquartered in Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa, Japan. This company is one of the World's largest truck manufacturers...

presented a world first with a double-clutch transmission for commercial vehicles. The new six-speed M038S6 "Duonic transmission" features wet clutches and incorporates the ability to creep in traffic for smoother operation. Although Duonic-equipped trucks will probably be driven mostly in fully automatic mode, the transmission can also be manually shifted.

Nissan

The Nissan GT-R's

Nissan GT-R

The Nissan GT-R is a sports car produced by Nissan released in Japan on December 6, 2007, the United States on July 4, 2008, and the rest of the world in March 2009.-History:...

rear transaxle

Transaxle

six-speed dual clutch transmission also contains the differential

Differential (mechanics)

A differential is a device, usually, but not necessarily, employing gears, capable of transmitting torque and rotation through three shafts, almost always used in one of two ways: in one way, it receives one input and provides two outputs—this is found in most automobiles—and in the other way, it...

for the car's all-wheel drive (AWD) system. The dual clutch system was built by BorgWarner, partnered with Nissan's gearbox supplier Aichi Machine Industry, and weighs a total installed mass of 117 kg (258 lb). Code named the GR6, the transmission is quite durable being able to hold in excess of 600 ft-lbs of torque. Nissan reports shift times of 200 milliseconds.

PSA Peugeot Citroën

PSA has dual clutch transmission in Peugeot 4007

Peugeot 4007

The Peugeot 4007 is a compact crossover SUV produced by the French automobile manufacturer Peugeot since July 2007.The equivalent Citroën badge-engineered version is the C-Crosser, both of which will be produced by Mitsubishi in its Nedcar plant, in Netherlands on the basis of the new Outlander...

and Citroen C-Crosser CUVs, produced by Mitsubishi motors

Mitsubishi Motors

is a multinational automaker headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. In 2009 it was the fifth-largest Japan-based automaker and the 17th-largest in the world measured by production...

Porsche

Porsche AG

Porsche

Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....

offers a series production of two new longitudinally installed, ZF Friedrichshafen AG

ZF Friedrichshafen

ZF Friedrichshafen AG, also known as ZF Group, and commonly abbreviated to ZF, is a German public company headquartered in Friedrichshafen, in the south-west German region of Baden-Württemberg....

designed and built with Porsche '7DT' wet-clutch versions of its previously race

Auto racing

Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...

-only Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) transmission.

The first variant, the 7DT-45, is used on its 2009 997 Carrera and Carrera S models. This version is also offered on the 2009 Cayman, Boxster It uses a ZF Sachs

ZF Sachs

ZF Sachs AG is a German manufacturer of automotive parts, producing powertrain and suspension components. It was formerly known as Fichtel & Sachs, Mannesmann Sachs and Sachs...

ND2015 clutch pack, and has a torque handling capacity of 500 N·m (369 ft·lbf). A higher torque version of the same transmission, the 7DT-70, is also available for the 2010 911 Turbo. This is rated at 780 N·m (575 ft·lbf), and uses a different ZF Sachs clutch - the ND2216.

The second PDK variant, the 7DT-75, is available on the 2009 Panamera. This is constructed fundamentally different to the 7DT-45/7DT-70 versions; in that the internal shafts are mounted above the input shaft, so as to achieve a lower centre of gravity for the Panamera. It also uses just one oil circuit, whereas the 7DT-45/7DT-70 use two separate circuits; with very different specifications of fluids needed.

Both fundamental variants use seven forward speeds, and Porsche claim the Doppelkupplung PDK transmission will replace the outgoing conventional Tiptronic automatic transmissions. However, other reliable industry sources state that Porsche still intends to use conventional automatics; with the eight-speed ZF 8HP

ZF 8HP transmission

The ZF 8HP is an eight-speed automatic transmission, designed and built by ZF Friedrichshafen AG subsidiary ZF Getriebe GmbH in Saarbrücken. It is to debut in a rear-wheel drive application in the new BMW 7 Series 760Li saloon fitted with the V12 engine....

being cited. Like all DCTs, the Porsche PDK transmission is fundamentally two separate manual transmissions in one. With the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th gears and reverse available on one shaft, and 2nd, 4th, and 6th gears available on the other shaft.

Porsche claim noteworthy improvements in CO2 emissions of around 15% when comparing DCT installations against its former automatic transmission, of which a half can be directly attributed to the DCT. And when compared directly with a manual transmission; 16% improvement can be directly attributed to the DCT.

Renault

will be introducing a new six-speed dual dry clutch DCT in the early part of 2010. This will initially be made available on the New Mégane

Renault Mégane

The Renault Mégane is a small family car produced by the French automaker Renault since 1995. It is offered in 3- and 5-door hatchback, saloon, coupé, convertible and estate bodystyles...

with the dCi 110 DPF engine. The DCT system was built by Getrag. This will enable these DCT-equipped Meganes to be the marque's first automatic cars to qualify for the Renault eco² signature.

Volkswagen Group

Volkswagen Group is a German multinational automobile manufacturing group. , Volkswagen was ranked as the world’s third largest motor vehicle manufacturer and Europe's largest....

produces DCTs under the Direct-Shift Gearbox

Direct-Shift Gearbox

(DSG) name, from the . It is used in all of their mainstream marques, including Volkswagen Passenger Cars

Volkswagen

Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...

, Audi

Audi

Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....

, SEAT

SEAT

SEAT, S.A. is a Spanish automobile manufacturer founded on May 9, 1950 by the Instituto Nacional de Industria , a state-owned industrial holding company....

, Škoda

Škoda Auto

Škoda Auto , more commonly known as Škoda, is an automobile manufacturer based in the Czech Republic. Škoda became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group in 2000, positioned as the entry brand to the group...

, and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles , , is a German manufacturer of commercial vehicles. Originally part of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars company, it is now a separate brand and marque of the Volkswagen Group....

, and also its top-tier marque Bugatti

Bugatti

Automobiles E. Bugatti was a French car manufacturer founded in 1909 in Molsheim, Alsace, as a manufacturer of high-performance automobiles by Italian-born Ettore Bugatti....

. Audi originally used the Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG) name, it now uses the name "S tronic" for its DCTs.

The first ever worldwide series production DCT was the Volkswagen Group DQ250 six-speed dual clutch transmission, with dual concentric wet multi-plate clutches. It was produced at the Group's Kassel

Kassel

Kassel is a town located on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Kassel Regierungsbezirk and the Kreis of the same name and has approximately 195,000 inhabitants.- History :...

plant under exclusive license from Borg-Warner for use in transverse powertrain

Powertrain

In a motor vehicle, the term powertrain or powerplant refers to the group of components that generate power and deliver it to the road surface, water, or air. This includes the engine, transmission, drive shafts, differentials, and the final drive...

installations, of either front-wheel drive

Front-wheel drive

or four-wheel drive

Four-wheel drive

Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...

(4WD) layouts. The 4WD versions are fundamentally identical to the 2WD versions, but the 4WD versions use an additional bolt-on power take-off

Power take-off

A power take-off or power takeoff is a splined driveshaft, usually on a tractor or truck, that can be used to provide power to an attachment or separate machine. It is designed to be easily connected and disconnected...

unit to direct engine torque to the Haldex Traction rear axle. This DQ250 variant is used in a wide range of models: Volkswagen Passenger Cars (Polo

Volkswagen Polo

The Volkswagen Polo is a supermini car manufactured by Volkswagen. It is sold in Europe and other markets worldwide in hatchback, saloon, coupé and estate variants....

, Golf/Rabbit/Golf Plus

Volkswagen Golf

The Volkswagen Golf is a small family car manufactured by Volkswagen since 1974 and marketed worldwide across six generations, in various body configurations and under various nameplates – as the Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada , and as the Volkswagen Caribe in Mexico .The...

, Jetta

Volkswagen Jetta

Although the Golf had reached considerable success, in the North American markets, Volkswagen observed that the hatchback body style lacked some of the appeal to those who preferred the traditional three-box configuration...

, Eos

Volkswagen Eos

The Volkswagen Eos is a four-seat retractable hardtop coupe convertible, introduced in 2006 as the successor to the Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet. The Eos is Volkswagen's first production coupe since the last Corrado in 1995....

, Passat

Volkswagen Passat

The Volkswagen Passat is a large family car marketed by Volkswagen Passenger Cars through six design generations since 1973. Between the Volkswagen Golf / Volkswagen Jetta and the Volkswagen Phaeton in the current Volkswagen line-up, the Passat and its derivatives have been badged variously as...

and Touran

Volkswagen Touran

The Volkswagen Touran is a compact MPV based on a vertically-stretched fifth generation Volkswagen Golf Mk5, and sold in Europe and other select markets. It was launched in 2003 to fill a gap in Volkswagen's model lineup, below the Sharan large MPV...

); Audi cars (A3

Audi A3

The Audi A3 is a small family car produced by the German automaker Audi since 1996. Two generations of A3 exist, both based on the Volkswagen Group A platform, which they share with several other models such as the Audi TT, Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Caddy and Volkswagen Touran as well as SEAT...

, and TT

Audi TT

The Audi TT is a two-door sports car manufactured by the German automaker and Volkswagen Group subsidiary Audi since 1998.The Audi TT has been produced in two generations. Both generations have been available in two car body styles; as a 2+2 Coupé, or two-seater Roadster...

); SEAT cars (Ibiza

SEAT Ibiza

The SEAT Ibiza is a car in the European supermini class, constructed by the Spanish car maker SEAT S.A., is SEAT's best-selling car and perhaps the most popular model in the Spanish firm's range....

, León

SEAT León

The SEAT León is a small family car built by the Spanish car manufacturer, and Volkswagen Group subsidiary SEAT, S.A. since October 1998.The two León generations are, or have been built upon two differing variants of the Volkswagen Group A platform, and they also share many other components with...

, Altea

SEAT Altea

The SEAT Altea is a compact MPV produced by Spanish automaker SEAT, S.A. and named after Altea, Spain. The vehicle was designed by the Italian Walter de'Silva and launched in 2004 as the first example of SEAT's new corporate look...

and Toledo

SEAT Toledo

The second generation Toledo was introduced in 1998 and made its debut at the 1998 Paris Motor Show as a four-door notchback sedan. It was more rounded than the previous first generation shape and had a much more fluid design, although both were products of Giorgetto Giugiaro's Italdesign studio...

); Škoda cars (Octavia

Škoda Octavia

The Škoda Octavia is a small family car produced by Czech automaker Škoda Auto since 1996, its name revived from a model originally produced between 1959 and 1971. The current Octavia is available in five-door liftback and station wagon....

and Superb

Škoda Superb

The Škoda Superb is a large family car primarily built by the Czech car manufacturer Škoda Auto as its flagship car. The versions produced from 2001 to 2008 are based on the platform of the Volkswagen Passat, but are elongated by , and shares its major mechanicals and powertrain with the Passat,...

); and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (Caddy

Volkswagen Caddy

Released in 1980, the first Volkswagen Caddy is a coupe utility, and van based on the Volkswagen Group A1 platform, shared with the small family car Volkswagen Golf Mk1.Volkswagen Typ is:*147 = LHD*148 = RHD-Caddy debuts internationally as a Rabbit:...

and T5 Transporter

Volkswagen Transporter (T5)

The Volkswagen Transporter T5 range is the fifth generation of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles medium-sized light commercial vehicle and people mover Caravelle/Multivan range...

).

A second variant of the Direct-Shift Gearbox went into series production in 2008 – the DQ200. This consists of seven forward ratios, but the notable difference over the original DQ250 is the change from wet- to dry-clutches. This variant uses two single-plate dry clutches, arranged in a tandem design (instead of concentrically) and are therefore similar in size. The DQ200 is again for use in transverse applications, but is intended for use in smaller cars, with smaller displacement engines that generate relatively low torque outputs. When used in the latest Golf with the 90 kW engine, this new 7-speed DSG uses roughly 6% (5.9l/100 km for the 7-speed DSG compared to 6.3l/100 km with the manual) less fuel than the same engine with a manual transmission and up to 20% less than a conventional automatic transmission. The original DQ250 also remains available.

Volkswagen Group subsidiary Audi AG have also developed an all-new DCT - the DL501, for use in longitudinal powertrains. Like the original transverse DQ250, this DL501 utilises dual wet multi-plate clutches, but unlike the DQ250, this variant uses seven forward ratios. This DL501 variant made its debut in the Q5

Audi Q5

The Audi Q5 is a compact crossover SUV which was released by German automaker Audi for the 2009 model year. It is built using the new Audi MLP platform which debuted in the 2007 Audi A5 coupé. The Q5 is the second Audi model in the "Q" range, after the full-size Q7...

, and also is used in the latest versions of the A4 (B8) and S4 (B8). It is also be considered for use in an all new A6

Audi A6

The Audi A6 is an executive car marketed by the German automaker Audi AG, now in its fourth generation. As the successor to the Audi 100, the A6 is manufactured in Neckarsulm, Germany – and is available in saloon, and wagon configurations, the latter marketed by Audi as the Avant.All generations...

.

Lamborghini

Lamborghini

Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., commonly referred to as Lamborghini , is an Italian car manufacturer. The company was founded by manufacturing magnate Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963, with the objective of producing a refined grand touring car to compete with established offerings from marques like...

, although owned by Volkswagen Group subsidiary Audi AG, does not use a dual clutch transmission; it has a robotised single clutch electrohydraulic manual transmission

Electrohydraulic manual transmission

called "E gear", which is identical to the Audi R8 "R tronic" transmission.

English specialist consulting engineering company Ricardo plc

Ricardo plc

produces the seven-speed DCT for the 736 kW 2005 Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4

Bugatti Veyron

Railcar use

A different type of dual-clutch transmission has been used in some railcar

Railcar

A railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...

s. The two clutches are placed one on the gearbox input shaft and the other on the gearbox output shaft. When a gearchange is to be made, both clutches are disengaged simultaneously and a brake is applied inside the gearbox. The gearchange is made with all gears stationary, so no synchronizing mechanism is needed. After the gearchange, both clutches are re-engaged. There would be a significant break in transmission so this system would be unsuitable for shunting locomotives

Switcher

A switcher or shunter is a small railroad locomotive intended not for moving trains over long distances but rather for assembling trains ready for a road locomotive to take over, disassembling a train that has been...

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