![]() ![]() Despite defective systems like Ford's faulty Powershift gearbox and the highly complained about DCT in Acura's 2015 TLX, brands like VW and Audi have nearly perfected the technology. While dual-clutch transmissions have had a place in pricey European sports models for decades now, automakers like Ford, Honda, Volkswagen, and Hyundai have recently begun incorporating them into mainstream consumer vehicles. ![]() In the past, DCT's were strictly found on high-performance vehicles like Nissan's GT-R due to their capability of lightning-fast shifting. Without an inefficient torque convertor, the engine doesn't burn through fuel as well as not having to disrupt to the flow of power to the engine. In addition to smoother, lightning fast upshifts due to never having to be disconnected from the powertrain, DCT's can also improve fuel economy. So are there benefits to opting for a car with a DCT? Several actually. A DCT can function like an automatic transmission, switching gears on its own, or can be manually operated through the use of paddle shifters, buttons, or the vehicle's actual shifter. The computer simply analyzes which gear you will need next and has that gear preselected for you to switch to. As a result, the transmission never has a need to detach from the engine. One clutch is connected to the even gear sets and the other to the odd numbers. Essentially it's a set of twin gearboxes, or two clutches, that are controlled by a series of computers, solenoids and hydraulics. ATF service is imperative to these gearboxes since they are highly sensitive and depend on hydraulics to operate properly, though with the help of apps, keeping up with maintenance isn't so bad.A dual-clutch transmission doesn't make use of a torque converter, but also doesn't require a clutch pedal. Since these transmissions have so much to offer, they evidently require more service than traditional automatic gearboxes. The drawbacks of sequential transmissions are few, though some exist. Because these gearboxes are highly efficient, it results in excellent performance on and off the track. Since dual-clutch transmissions are performance-oriented, what many people often overlook when shopping for such gearboxes is the great mileage that comes with it. ![]() This is crucial in performance scenarios where you need every ounce of horsepower planted onto the ground at all times. ![]() With the flawlessness of the shifts, missing a gear is never in the equation. Courtesy of the dual-clutch design, the next gear is always on deck, resulting in quicker and faster gear shifts than any manual transmission. One of the best things to come from these automated manual transmissions is the insanely fast gear shifts. Here are some of the quirks and drawbacks of a dual-clutch transmission. Like most automotive features, there are pros and cons to each added component. Since a driver takes 0.2 seconds for an upshift on average, saving every second counts in performance scenarios. Furthermore, like engine control units (ECUs), DCT transmissions can be tuned to increase their performance-by providing the driver with quicker and smoother gear changes. This is courtesy of a two-clutch system that's responsible for their odd and even gear sets. Unlike manual transmissions, DCTs have impeccable shifting ability in terms of timing and consistency. DCTs don't engage by themselves like those transmissions with torque converters, forcing the car to roll back on hills like a manual transmission. The two-clutch system in a DCT transmission is what truly differentiates itself from a traditional automatic transmission. Because of this, they are commonly known as Automated Manual Transmissions (AMTs). Traditional automatic transmissions utilize torque converters and gear sets to operate, whereas DCTs utilize two clutches instead of one. DCT stands for dual-clutch transmission, which also is representative of its construction. ![]()
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