Volkswagen DSG transmission

DSG

Ease of an automatic with the responsiveness of a manual

Increasing your driving pleasure

Our acclaimed DSG dual-clutch gearbox has two clutches with electronically controlled gear selection. DSG gives you:

·        Fast, smooth gear changes

·        Lively handling with unbroken acceleration

·        Safer driving with the power to get you out of tricky situations

·        Improved fuel economy, even compared to a manual gearbox, for many of our new 7-speed DSG dual-clutch gear boxes

How does it work?

DSG is a groundbreaking 'two-in-one' concept. Available in 6-speed and 7-speed versions, it's totally unlike a conventional automatic transmission. Twin electronically controlled shafts manage gear selection, always anticipating your next shift.

Split-second changes

When you turn the engine on and select Drive mode, one shaft selects first gear while the second shaft puts the next gear on 'standby'. As the gearbox changes to second, the second shaft is engaged and the original shaft reaches third. As you shift upwards the sequence continues in a series of seamless moves. Because power is simply switched from one shaft to another, not only are gearshifts silky smooth, but they are also very fast: each change takes less than four-hundredths of a second.

The DSG dual-clutch gearbox gives you a choice of two driving programmes: normal and sport. In sport mode, the DSG leaves it longer to shift up the gears.

And if you want to take over, you can control the DSG manually. Nudge the Tiptronic gearlever forwards or backwards to change gear, or use the paddle shifts mounted on the steering wheel*: left for down, right for up.

Both DSG dual-clutch gearboxes are application-specific. The 6-speed is paired with high torque engines (up to 350 Nm) while the 7-speed variant is more effective in combination with smaller engines and torque outputs of up to 250 Nm.

* paddle shift not standard with all DSGs

The technology

Two independent gearbox units make up the DSG. With dual-clutch technology - two clutches in a common housing - both gearboxes are connected under load to the engine in turn, depending on the current gear, via two drive shafts. Clutch 1 serves the first gearbox unit with 1st, 3rd, 5th 7th and reverse gear and clutch 2 the second gearbox unit with 2nd, 4th and 6th gear. An output shaft that applies the torque to the driven wheels via the differential gear is assigned to each gearbox unit.

Thanks to the dual-clutch design the DSG is more efficient than conventional automatic transmission. This efficiency, together with its low weight and intelligent control, means that DSG can achieve the same, and in some instances better, fuel consumption, than a manual gearbox or even lower, depending on the style of driving.

Mechatronics - electronics and mechanics in one unit

Clutches and gearbox units are operated hydraulically by the gearbox mechatronics (a combination of mechanics and electronics) housed in the DSG. The electronic transmission control unit, sensors and hydraulic control unit form one compact unit.

The control unit does the thinking for you, using information such as engine speed, road speed, accelerator position and driving mode to select the optimum gear and to determine the ideal shift point. The hydraulic control unit then implements the shift commands in a sequence of precisely co-ordinated actions.

Split-second gear changes

When one gear is engaged, another gear is always preselected. Within four hundredths of a second after the system detects a gear change it opens one clutch and closes the other. The mechatronics unit ensures that this takes place fast and to a level of accuracy that would not be possible in a manual transmission. The change of gear is imperceptible to the driver who is merely conscious of the uninterrupted power.

DSG 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox

Our 7-speed DSG dual-clutch gearbox was a world first. What makes it so innovative is its pair of dry clutches which have dispensed with the need for the oil bath of conventional 'wet' clutches. They have been designed to improve fuel efficiency and driving agility further. The clutches' dry, organic-bonded friction linings need no cooling. The gearbox is also very compact and requires less power for the gear selection and clutch servo system.

Ideal for motorway driving

Adopting 7 speeds meant our engineers could lower 1st gear to improve acceleration from standstill and raise 7th gear to act as an overdrive function, ideal for motorway driving. This can save fuel, cut emissions, and means the car runs even more quietly.

Oil volume cut by 75 per cent

The volume of oil in the gearbox has been cut by 75 per cent. Oil circuits are split into two in an effort to protect purity. As with a conventional manual gearbox, one circuit is used for cooling and lubrication of the gear teeth, the second feeds oil to the gear actuators. Since the clutch does not need cooling the quantity of oil has reduced from 7 litres in the 6-speed DSG 'box to just 1.7-litres in the 7-speed system. The result: improved efficiency rating for the gearbox and lower fuel consumption.