The long-standing rumor about the Hyundai Kona N getting a dual-clutch gearbox is true, the automaker now confirms. It's not a huge surprise since variants of this transmission are also available. The dual clutch transmission from ZF enables lightning-fast gear changes under load without interrupting the torque. It is thus ideally suited for vehicles with dynamic/sporty designs. In them, the ZF transmission performs a balancing act between pure sportiness and the highest driving comfort. Dual clutch transmissions, or DCTs, have become a popular transmission option for vehicle designers as they combine the gear efficiency of a manual, with the.
Many automakers are moving towards dual clutch automatic transmissions. What you need to know.
For the past two decades, premium European brands have been offering dual clutch automatic transmissions (DCTs) in pricey sports models. Lately, volume automakers like Ford, Volkswagen, and Hyundai have started offering DCTs in models that are not particularly sporty, but rather, downright affordable and mainstream. These transmissions have both strengths and weaknesses based on our testing and the reports of many owners. Here’s why you should know before you consider a DCT-equipped vehicle, and what to expect if you purchase one.
The first thing to know is that DCTs are automatic transmissions, but they work like a manual transmission. Actually, they work like two manual transmissions. Inside every Dual Clutch Transmission are two separate gearsets with two individual clutches. The benefit of two clutches is that gears 1-3-5-7 are on one carrier, and gears 2-4-6 are on another. When you’re cruising along in 5th gear, 6th is pre-selected, making gear shifts lightning quick.
DCTs have a “Drive” and “Reverse” position along with “Park” and “Neutral,” just like any other automatic transmission. There is no real learning curve to using one. You simply hop in, uses the gear selector to engage drive or reverse, and you’re off. In this way, DCTs act for the most part like all other automatic transmissions we have all become accustomed to.
But, it’s helpful to think of a DCT as a manual transmission without a clutch pedal on the floor. Traditional automatic transmissions have a fluid-filled torque converter that acts as a buffer between the engine’s constantly turning crankshaft, and the gears in the transmission, which have to stop from time to time when you roll into the garage, or up to a stop sign. When you leave from a standstill, the dual clutches in a DCT transmission engage, just as if you had pushed your foot to the floor on the clutch pedal in a manual transmission.
That results in some subtle grabbiness, for example, at a red light or stop sign. It’s not a defect. Rather, it is part of how the machine works. Watch the video to get a better idea of what’s working inside a DCT:
VW was a trailblazer in this type of transmission in affordable models and it uses the nickname DSG, an acronym for Dual Synchronous Gears. VW has worked the early bugs out of these transmissions for the most part. Still, there is a bit of hesitation when starting off after selecting Drive or Reverse. In the Volkswagen Golf Alltrack we tested this month, these odd feelings were greatly minimized compared to older VW/Audi models we have driven. However, we could still sense the difference between the DCT and a conventional automatic.
Hyundai is moving towards DCTs for its most efficient drivetrains. We tested the Tuscon Eco last year and the DCT was for sure still exhibiting some funny feelings. Hyundai created a video to try to help owners understand the difference between a DCT and a traditional automatic. Apple watch oxygen level.
DCTs originally came about when automakers attempted to find a way to satisfy performance car owners’ desire for a manual transmission with an automatic they would actually buy. The DCT shifts faster than older automatics and the paddle shifters offer driver involvement.
These transmissions filtered down into non-performance cars because fluid-filled torque converters sap a lot of efficiency from the engine. They’re designed to slip and as a result, they eat up a lot of the crankshaft’s power. DCTs can be more efficient than torque converter automatics because they minimize the slippage as they deliver power from the crankshaft to the transmission.
Some automakers have struggled to make DCTs work. However, VW, Audi, and others have refined them to the point that there are no real downsides and many upsides. In the right car, and for the right reasons, a DCT is an excellent choice. We suggest shoppers take an extended test drive before make their own decision on if a dual clutch automatic transmission is right for them.
Shopping for a new or used car? Download netgear driver. Start your search at BestRide.
(Updated on December 31, 2019)
The dual clutch transmission (DCT) is referred to by several names including double-clutch transmission and twin-clutch transmission.
A regular manual transmission vehicle would use one clutch and a clutch pedal. The dual clutch transmission uses two separate clutches with no clutch pedal.
Since there is no clutch pedal, the clutches are controlled through hydraulics and advanced computer electronics. This is the same technology that you’d find in some of today’s newer automatic transmission vehicles.
Top 5 Advantages of a Dual Clutch Transmission
Below are the top 5 advantages of using a vehicle with a dual clutch transmission.
1) Faster Acceleration
Many people who have driven double clutch transmission vehicles have said love how the car accelerates. This is due to the gears being able to change almost instantly and allowing you to accelerate in far less time than the same vehicle with a manual or automatic transmission instead.
Dual-clutch Transmission
You can upshift in just a few milliseconds, creating a dynamic and smooth acceleration experience.
2) No Shift Shock
Both manual transmission and regular automatic transmission vehicles will often generate a jolt each time a gear is changed, especially if accelerating heavily. This jolt is called shift shock and it can be quite annoying.
Picture the occupants of a tuner car as the driver accelerates quickly to get on the freeway. With each hard gear shift, each persons’ head slams forward and back.
Fortunately, double clutch vehicles do not have this shift shock when gears are changed. Firefox m1. The shift changes are hardly noticeably.
3) Fuel Economy
There is no interruption when energy flows to the transmission from the engine. Because of this, the fuel economy of the vehicle becomes greatly improved. With the enhanced fuel economy, you will also have better fuel efficiency too.
4) No Clutch Pedal
Many people who prefer manual transmissions for their fuel economy and faster acceleration will love dual clutch automatic transmissions since you don’t have to worry about operating a clutch pedal. It’s a fact that a dual clutch will shift quicker than even the best short throw manual shifter.
You’ll have more room in the foot well without the third pedal making driving for long periods more comfortable. Of course, purists will still prefer a clutch pedal and there’s nothing wrong with that.
5) Driver Options
Drivers can even select whether they want the central computer to control the shifting or if they want to use manual paddle shifters or another semi-manual mode for a more involved driving experience.
Most dual clutch vehicles also offer different driving modes at the push of a button which affect the vehicle’s shift points. Set it to sport mode to hold gears longer resulting in better acceleration, economy mode to prioritize taller gears for better fuel economy, or other modes in between. The decision is yours.
Top 5 Disadvantages of a Dual Clutch Transmission
Dual clutch transmissions are definitely not perfect though. Below are the top 5 disadvantages of this technology
1) Higher Vehicle Cost
You can’t expect to find a dual clutch vehicle to be priced the same as an economy car. It costs manufacturers a lot more money to produce these vehicles on the assembly line. This makes the final vehicle a lot more expensive to consumers.
So, if you’re counting your dollars closely, then you might be turned off by this vehicle’s price. Many vehicle models offer more than one type of available transmission so you can easily see the price difference and whether it’s worth it.
Dual Clutch Cars
2) Maintenance and Repair Cost
Follow the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule is important for any car but it’s critical for those with a DCT. For instance, Audi recommends changing the gear oil in their DCT vehicles every 40,000 miles. This is not a cheap service and not something you’ll often with regular transmissions at that interval.
If something does go wrong with a dual clutch transmission, the repair or replacement cost can be ridiculously high and not all auto repair shops may be able to do the work. This is why proper maintenance is so important.
3) Low Selection
Due to the expense of integrating a dual clutch transmission system into a vehicle, many car manufacturers are electing not to use them. That is why most twin clutch transmission systems are found in high-performance cars and luxury cars.
Since most people are not in the market for a high-performance car, so their options are going to be limited here.
4) Not the Same Driving Experience as a Manual
While DCT transmissions have surpassed the fuel efficiency and shifting speed of manual transmissions, they simply don’t provide the same fun driving experience as stick shifts. For some this doesn’t matter, but nothing beats the connectivity a driver has to the road by shifting their own gears.
Sure you may have some type of manual shift mode override (usually in the form of paddle shifters), but ask any driving purist and they’ll tell you it’s just not the same.
5) Slow to Motion
What Is A Wet Dual Clutch Transmission
While some dual clutch transmissions are better than others, you may experience a slight lag when going from a static position to a moving position. Once you get moving though, the instantaneous shifting of a DCT takes over.
Conclusion
Dual Clutching
The dual clutch transmission takes the best features of an automatic and manual and places them into one vehicle. If you don’t mind the higher cost, it is worth considering purchasing your next vehicle with one.