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Automotive

Volkswagen reportedly working on new 10-speed gearbox

By Angus MacKenzie
May 20, 2014
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Volkswagen has been working on a new 10 speed dual-clutch autobox (DSG)
A 10 speed gearbox would bring about better mileage and help extend the life of the engine and reduce maintenance requirements and costs
Volkswagen is set to secure the coveted multi-gear podium with news they’ve been working on a new 10 speed dual-clutch autobox (DSG) for use in 2015 models
A 10 speed gearbox would bring about better mileage and help extend the life of the engine and reduce maintenance requirements and costs
The other advantage to having 10 gears available, would ideally be a tighter shifting transmission with closer ratios between the gears
The 10-speed gearbox will see use in both transverse mounted and longitudinal engine configurations, which means it end up in FWD Golfs, AWD Tiguans or camper vans
A 10 speed gearbox would bring about better mileage and help extend the life of the engine and reduce maintenance requirements and costs
Volkswagen has been working on a new 10 speed dual-clutch autobox (DSG)
The other advantage to having 10 gears available, would ideally be a tighter shifting transmission with closer ratios between the gears
The 10-speed gearbox will see use in both transverse mounted and longitudinal engine configurations, which means it end up in FWD Golfs, AWD Tiguans or camper vans
View gallery - 9 images

How many gears are too many for the average commuter vehicle? If you’re pulling a load of cattle across Saskatchewan, then a semi-tractor unit with nine gears should suffice. But if you’re Volkswagen, then the magic number for your upcoming models is in fact 10.

Until recently, nine gears appeared to be the holy grail of transmission options for manufacturers like Chrysler and Land Rover. Up until last year, both Ford and GM were talking about a joint 10 speed gearbox, but as of today, nothing to show.

But now according to Autocar, Volkswagen is set to secure the coveted multi-gear podium with news that the company has been working on a new 10 speed dual-clutch autobox (DSG).

No specifics were given on when the new DSG will go into production or in which vehicles, but the new many-geared transmission will see use in both transverse mounted and longitudinal engine configurations. This indicates the gearbox could make its way into everything from the Golf to Tiguans to other VW sub-brands, like Bentley, Lamborghini or even Bugatti.

Advantages to having 10 available gears could include improved mileage, lower maintenance and (ideally) a tighter shifting transmission with closer ratios between the gears. A tighter gearbox results in reduced RPM loss between shifts, which in turn keeps the engine in the optimal rev range. This gearbox upgrade could provide for a very interesting performance enhancement with the right ratio configuration.

According to Autocar, the new gearbox will help VW meet its 2020 reduction goals with a 15 percent increase in fuel efficiency. The 10 speed gearbox could find its way into 2015 models, but we’ll have to wait and see how things like cost and weight gains affect the finished product.

View gallery - 9 images

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AutomotiveVolkswagenDSGMaintenanceDual-clutchLand RoverTransmissionFuel efficiencygearbox
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Angus MacKenzie
Born on the cold, barren Canadian plains of Calgary, Alberta, Angus MacKenzie couldn’t decide between marketing, automotives or an entrepreneurial path - so he chose all three. With an education in automotives and marketing, Angus has rebuilt the carburetor on his 1963 Rambler Ambassador twice, gotten a speeding ticket in an F430 once, and driven & photographed everything from Lamborghinis to Maseratis to various German and Asian designs. When not writing, Angus has for the past six years been Editor-in-Chief for elemente, an internationally recognized architecture/design magazine.
10 comments
DLK811
I'm assuming that a 10 speed gearbox is 9 forward and reverse. My first thought was maybe it was a triple clutch gearbox allowing three shafts with 1,4 on the first shaft, 2,5 on the second and 3 and 6 on the last shaft. Thereby allowing the transmission to always be in the next higher and lower gear at all times reducing the need for software to predict what gear your going to use next and giving the driver much faster response times...
Sounds like its just a dual clutch gearbox with 5 gears on each shaft.
Caimbeul
The Koreans ran a study for a few years and Hyundai said 11-speeds would be max - and they're offering a 10. tranny.
Slowburn
Keeping the engine closer to the optimal RPM will improve efficiency.
The Skud
Should make for interesting challenges for the engineers - as engines get smaller, the gearboxes get longer or wider! RWD might make more of a comeback as the engine bay gets tighter, the 'box could run under the centre console, with virtually no propshaft. They might end up sounding like a "auto" CCV box with 2 cylinder turbo motor spinning at its 'sweet' speed of 7,000 rpm and a 10-12 speed box, shift, shift, shift etc, etc.
Mel Tisdale
Give it a year or two and the increased maintenance and repair costs of these 9/10 speed items will result in a return to 5, possibly 6 speed gearboxes while some other fashion item will be causing the marketing guys to be wetting their knickers in excitement.
Rocky Stefano
@Skud, sounds good but I need AWD here in Canada with the snow :)
rik.warren
When does the stepped strategy become a CVT which everyone seems to dislike?
f8lee
Yeah, what @rik.warren said
Slowburn
@ Mel Tisdale Why would a ten gear transmission require more maintenance than a five gear transmission?
@ rik.warren CVT slip under high torque loads. Spinning the transmission real fast and putting a reduction gear in front of the load solves the problem but is heavy. Most CVTs have a component that wears out like a tire granted in a well designed vehicle will be removed from service for other reasons first but it is a happily ticking time bomb.
pmshah
From my ancient knowledge of auto engineering 5 forwards speed gear boxes had 1 which was overdrive which was useful and fuel efficient over long AND unimpeded distances. There is no indication of these being auto or stick shift. If the first good luck getting the thing working properly without making it really heavy. If the latter good luck finding drivers who can manage them well.
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