Direct-Shift Gearbox
From WOI Encyclopedia Italia
| Transmission types |
|---|
| Manual |
| Continuously variable |
| Bicycle gearing |
The Direct-Shift Gearbox (Direktschaltgetriebe) is a dual-clutch gearbox invented by BorgWarner and initially licenced to Volkswagen (which also owns the Audi, SEAT, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Jaguar and Škoda brands). By using two clutches, fast shifts can be achieved, and the torque converter of a regular automatic transmission is eliminated.
Essentially, the engine drives both clutch packs. The outer clutch pack drives gears 1, 3, and 5 (and reverse). The inner clutch pack drives gears 2, 4, and 6. Instead of a standard large dry clutch, each clutch pack is a collection of four small wet interleaved clutch plates, due to space constraints, one clutch assembly is concentric to the other. Because the alternate clutch pack's gearing can be pre-selected, 'shifts' are eliminated and the gearshifts become gear transitions. The quoted time for upshifts is only the time the engine is completed non-powered.
VW group vehicles available in Europe with the DSG gearbox include:
- Audi Audi TT and Audi A3. Audi have named the DSG "S-Tronic" in newer models.
- Bugatti Veyron 16.4 (* not a Borg Warner DSG, but marketed as one due to parent company)
- SEAT Altea, Toledo, and León
- Škoda Octavia
- Volkswagen Passat, Golf/GTI, Touran, Eos, and Jetta/Bora
