BorgWarner doubles up dual clutch transmission capacity
BorgWarner has just opened up a second plant at their facility in Amstadt, Germany to produce dual clutch transmission modules. BorgWarner and other suppliers like Getrag have been experiencing huge growth in demand for dual clutch transmissions as demand for increased fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions drives adoption. BorgWarner is the supplier of dual clutch systems to Volkswagen Group for their DSG transmissions. VW recently sold their one millionth DSG-equipped vehicle. By the time all of BorgWarner's currently announced programs reach full production they expect to be producing 2.3 million units a year. The dual clutch transmissions can provide a 10-15 percent improvement in efficiency compared to a conventional automatic.[Source: BorgWarner]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
rgseidl 4:44PM (3/12/2008)
Great, now all they've got to do is interpret the accelerator position as power rather than torque demand. Then the drive train controller can decide which gear ratio can satisfy the demand most efficiently, given current vehicle speed and the engine's SFC map.
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MikeW 11:46PM (3/12/2008)
and don't forget without lugging.
Yes, yes those are torsional spring/dampers. Thank you for noticing.
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BettyP 7:08PM (3/13/2008)
Mike, stay away from stuff with clutches because they all "lug" to some extent. Here is an idea, maybe you should go buy a CVT if you don't want to have fixed gears and want to save fuel... Just don't forget to bring your earplugs.
And remember boys that i'll leave you in the dust, with your slow-poke automatic, slipping CVT, and clumsy standard shifting/clutch ability... dual-clutches are gr8 and i'm loving mine!
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MikeW 9:11AM (3/14/2008)
What? That was a little humor.
The dual mass flywheel reduces [more/less isolates] the torsional oscillations.
I am all for double clutch transmissions. My brother loves it in his Jetta. The shifting is inconsistent, so I think the replaceable filter needs an early change at 25K miles. 1 filter + 1 quart of transmission oil should do the job.
I was just thinking how cool an 8 speed transmission would have been in the Ferrari 360 Modena. [The bark was bigger than the bite, so adding more gear would definitely increase the bite force.]
Yes I am looking for a CVT. Audi's Multitronic, which uses a wet multiplate clutch as the starting element (with a dual mass flywheel). I would like an A4 V6 '04-'05 (not '05.5, red turn signals, yuck!) Multitronic. Audi put the Sport mode detent in the selector, that they forgot when it was installed for '02 on regular automatic A4s, but the '02 had the nice three spoke steering wheel. For '03 Audi upsized the rear brakes (because the Avant & Cabrio were lauched) but with front drives less weight, and more forward distribution, I can do without.
Top gear is about 50% taller than the 6 speed Quattro. It gets way better highway mileage.
Oh and it is plenty fast too. 30-130mph is real quick. 217hp isn't bad
http://www.audiworld.com/news/00/newa4/pics/A4000040.jpg
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IanL 6:29AM (5/15/2008)
You should check out info for a radical new transmission. It does everything the DSG & CVT does... and more.
Compact design, as fuel efficient as you can get. Integrated Hybrid capability... It's basically a gearbox for "All Seasons". Pity the industry won't fund it.
The real 'whizz' is stated in the second to last paragraph about perfect, seamless gear transfer... there is NO slippage or need to adjust engine revs at all. Even the DSG needs to have some slippage/wear.
Go to www.eurekamagazine.co.uk and search for
"gear system is radical" or follow the link below:-
http://www.eurekamagazine.co.uk/article/3414/Gear-system-is-radical-but-workable-.aspx
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