When Honda's upcoming VFR1200 hits the American and European markets in 2010, the new sports tourer will be equipped with the first dual clutch transmission designed for the two-wheeled market. Like the highly-regarded DSG transmissions from Volkswagen and Audi, two separate clutches inside the gearbox act on the even gears (two, four and six) and the odd gears (one, three and five).
Honda promises both improved performance and efficiency from the dual clutch design. Three operating modes can be selected from the gearbox: D-Mode when regular automatic operation is desired, S-Mode for sportier performance and a fully manual mode that works just like a traditional six-speed sequential manual gearbox.
Though the transmission will debut on the new VFR, Honda says the technology can be applied to existing engines and platforms already in Honda sportbike lineup. We can't say for sure what "traditional markets" Honda is referring to, but we're thinking there's a decent chance a dual clutch box could soon make an appearance in the CBR line. As for Honda's automobile offerings?
Anybody who bought a Volkswagen in North America in the past year with a DSG gearbox will want to keep an eye on their mailbox in the coming weeks for a note from the home office in Herndon, Virginia. It seems there is an issue with a temperature sensor in the dual clutch transmission. Problematic sensors can give erroneous readings that cause warning lamps in the cluster to turn on or send the transmission into neutral.
The quick-shifting DSG is a popular option in the Jetta sedan, Sportwagen, GTI and Eos convertible. A total of 13,500 cars built between September 2008 and August 2009 are being brought in for inspection and possible repair.
In the fierce competition between luxury automakers, every detail is a potential battlefield, including the number of forward ratios in an automatic transmission. Mercedes-Benz struck first with its seven-speed automatic, which prompted eight-speed responses from Lexus, along with BMW, Audi and even Hyundai. These slushboxes are packed with technology and can either rifle off extremely fast up- and downshifts or coddle their occupants with velvety smooth transitions. The newest front, though, replaces the traditional torque converter with a set of clutches that hand off gearchanges from one to the next in a fraction of a second. While these new dual-clutch gearboxes are a performance home run, they are still more costly and complex than their more traditional automatic brethren, so it's not surprising to hear that the famous Bavarian automaker is sticking with the tried-and-true autobox in its volume sellers, for now at least.
The 2008 BMW M3 won't be the only 3-series to get Bavaria's newest dual-clutch gearbox. According to documents leaked out of BMW's Australian arm, the 2009 335i coupe will be available with a revised version of the DCT gearbox, at least Down Under... for now. The dual-clutch transmission is the same unit fitted on the V8-powered M3, but some changes to the software are planned to better suit the turbocharged, 3.0-liter inline-six powerplant. There's no word on when the DCT gearbox will be available on U.S. shores and we don't know what kind of premium the seven-speed tranny will carry, but a DCT-equipped M3 commands an additional $2,700 over the six-speed manual, so expect a similar price when the revised 335i goes on sale, likely later this year.
Big product changes are apparently afoot at Ford, with a series of comprehensive goals that will get more people in showrooms while simultaneously trimming costs within the automaker. FoMoCo's group veep of global product development, Derrick Kuzak, spoke at the Automotive News World Congress recently and hit on a number of points that will shape Ford's future.
To begin with, product development, styling changes and technical improvements will be on a three-year cycle, keeping it inline with many of the top tier automakers with which Ford aims to better compete. Recognizing that design is at the forefront of most consumers' minds, Kuzak said that many of the enhancements to Ford's lineup will be design-driven, noting that, "You don't design for the masses; each vehicle has a target audience."
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Honestly, we couldn't care less about BMW's recent introduction of the M3 convertible. What did get our attention is the long-awaited addition of a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox on every vehicle donning an M3 badge.
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Volvo is joining the ranks of other automakers by beginning to offer a dual-clutch gearbox to the masses. The new transmission, developed in cooperation with Getrag, features six-forward gears and reverse, and opts for a wet-clutch system like the first generation VW/Audi setup. Aside from the obvious performance advantages gained by quick shifts, Volvo estimates that fuel consumption will be reduced by around eight-percent.
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