Volkswagen is planning to replace all its automatic transmissions in cars with transverse engine configurations with DSG transmissions, according to a published report. Product chief Wolfgang Bernhard said DSG will be used on transverse-engine cars from Audi, Skoda, Seat, and Volkswagen, reports The Car Connection. The company is also developing a way to implement DSG on longitudinal engine configurations. DSG is a dual-clutch gearbox that uses two computer-controlled clutches to achieve very fast and smooth shifts. Bernhard said VW has no plans to license the technology to any other companies. Instead, the automaker hopes it will be a “unique selling proposition” for VW Group vehicles. The Leftlane Perspective: VW might not sell DSG to any rivals, but we suspect shareholder and affiliate Porsche might get a piece of the action once DSG is ready for high-performance applications.
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06/13, 9:25 AM
posted by:
Renton
This is a very cool transmission. All of you should rush out to a VW or Audi dealer and sample this piece of technology. The new GTI with DSG is a blast to drive. The A3 3.2 S-Line is the only way to sample what an R32 feels like on this continent. It’s very sharp. I don’t know if its worth $13K more, but its a lot of fun with a great interior.
06/13, 10:18 AM
posted by:
JuanKK
VW has seen the future and are blasting towards it. Car makers should have replaced conventional automatics long time ago.
06/13, 10:42 AM
posted by:
Cartman
From a driver’s standpoint I’ll stick with a proper manual, but from a business standpoint I think VW is brilliant. And people wonder why the U.S. automakers are getting killed….
06/13, 10:48 AM
posted by:
Jon
“Porsche might get a piece of the action once DSG is ready for high-performance applications.� WTF? You mean like the world’s fastest car the Bugatti Veyron which uses a 7-speed DSG, or isn’t that ‘high-performance’ enough?
Jon.
06/13, 11:32 AM
posted by:
Will
#4 very true, but that is and “exotic” DSG transmission and probably costs as much as 5 golfs… having said that they know how to make them that strong so they could design a V6/V8 box for their cars
06/13, 11:35 AM
posted by:
Zerome
I went to VW and test drove the DSG and Manual GTI back to back.
I do agree that the DSG is a great transmission but when I drove the manual, it was the sheer driving experience and the interaction with the engine that made me love it over the DSG.
I don’t want this to be a DSG vs. Manual thing, just responding to the first posts comment. However, I would love to see ALL Automatics from VW, AUDI etc swapped with the DSG Tranny.
Also, I know the M3 and Z4 both have the SMG option but the SMG of the Z4 is crap compared to the M3’s. Is this the same thing when it comes to the ones used my Audi vs. VW in terms of one shiffing quicker than the orther or are they identical?
06/13, 11:53 AM
posted by:
joeb
Come on LLN - how about providing some basic info?
DSG = Direct Selection Gearbox
“The DSG transmission operates with two automatic clutches - while one clutch is engaged, the second is poised, ready to accept the drive for the next gear. This unique twin-clutch design means gear-changes are completed in under four hundredths of a second - in the blink of an eye. The driver can leave the transmission in ‘drive’ mode (similar to most automatic transmissions) or can elect to change gear manually, via the gear lever, pushing forwards to change up and pulling back to change down.
The clutches are wet clutches running in oil and using friction material similar to those found in a standard automatic transmission. Automated operation means they cannot be abused by the driver and are designed to last the life of the vehicle.”
http://www.carpages.co.uk/volkswagen/volkswagen-caddy-24-10-05.asp
06/13, 2:59 PM
posted by:
Chris
I’d be the last one to defend US auto manufacturers, and I currently own an Audi, but let’s not heap too much praise VW here - the DSG was developed by BorgWarner, a US company. VW is merely the first licensee…
06/13, 3:02 PM
posted by:
sc
LLN does this for free… I don’t know if we should be calling them out because they don’t give extra info on stuff.
06/13, 3:47 PM
posted by:
mike
there’s an explanation up there now, and even if there wasn’t, most of the people who read this seem to know something about cars. And if you don’t know, GOOGLE! What is so hard about finding information for yourself?
06/13, 4:19 PM
posted by:
Jon
Actually, BorgWarner worked in tandem with VW to develop and test the first DSG with the production of the Veyron, thus VW has a special relationship with the DSG and has some legal intellectual properties regarding its use / construction.
Jon.
06/13, 4:35 PM
posted by:
Zan
#6
Audi and VW share many parts, the transmissions should work very much the same. Audi is higher end in some areas, but drivetrain parts that are shared tend to be identical.
06/13, 5:12 PM
posted by:
Madcapp
The DSG is designed and built by Borg-Warner and they call it a “dualtronic”, its NOT an Audi or Volkswagen innovation, the VW group just happens to use it. Isn’t it amazing how an American manufacturer can come up with the best automatic transmission design ever, and stupid American auto companies pass it by. Unbelievable how stupid Detriot automakers are. Here’s the inadequate wikipedia link.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin-clutch_Gearbox
06/13, 5:16 PM
posted by:
avixe
I agree with #6. I drove the GTI with DSG and found it to be excellent, but I bought the manual anyway — it was simply more involving.
Automated manuals are an improvement over torque converters, but they’re still combining the inconvenience of a manual with the uncertainty of an automatic.
06/13, 11:50 PM
posted by:
XPsionic
Agree with #14. I would still drive a manual over the DSG, but for the majority of the public and people who gets stuck in traffic jams often, I think the DSG is the better chioce. Its certainly a step up from a torque converter based automatic. That DSG actually provides better performance than a manual is just icing on the cake.