The allure of the dual-clutch transmission has pretty much dulled, a far cry from when it first arrived on the scene, when it was lauded as the path ahead and a replacement for the ubiquitous torque converter automatic. Issues that have abounded, primarily with dry dual-clutch units, have given the ‘box a bad rep, and quite a number of automakers have gone back to conventional automatics with their latest offerings.
Is that trend signalling the eventual demise of the transmission? Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer seems to think so. In an interview with Car and Driver, Palmer stated that the dual-clutch is set to lose ground progressively to the torque converter auto and may be living on borrowed time, no matter the configuration, wet or dry.
“It’s an imperfect beast, and somehow or other we’ve managed to surround it with this idea that it’s super quick and that shift shock is good, and it’s mythical,” he told the publication.
The former Nissan chief planning officer hasn’t been a great fan, saying that the transmission has essentially been a compromise, one that is being surpassed by the very thing it set out to replace. “Ten years ago, it still looked like the transmission of the future. Now it is starting to look like the transmission of the past.” he said.
“A good conventional automatic gearbox like the ZF is cheaper, which is absurd when you think that the manual gearbox has survived because it is meant to be the less expensive option, but there’s so much technology loaded onto a (DCT) to make it work,” Palmer stated.
“It’s heavier as well, which is another disadvantage, but the real issue is the gearchange itself. It’s actually now faster in a (planetary) automatic, because you can control the torque. That means ultimately your 0-100 km/h times are quicker with an auto, which takes away all of the marketing puff for the dual-clutch,” he added.
The game isn’t quite up yet, of course. High-end automakers like Ferrari and McLaren are utilising DCTs exclusively, and Volkswagen continues to offer the transmission on a large scale in its offerings, but the tide may be slowly turning.
Others look to be moving away from it. Ford, which pushed PowerShift on its previous-gen Focus Mk3 and last-gen Fiesta, shifted to a six-speed torque converter unit which it co-developed with GM (the 6F35) on the Focus Mk3 facelift for the ASEAN region, and the recently introduced Focus Mk 4 now utilises an eight-speed automatic (in two torque-rated variations, the 8F24 and 8F35). It does continue to offer Getrag-based DCTs in its model line-up, but these are primarily wet clutch units.
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Tolak DCT..
This is a personal opinion of one Brit guy whose car company isnt actually doing well. So ill take it with a pinch of salt.
Mass producing manufacturers just too afraid to risk. So they sacrifice the driving pleasure of drivers.
Finally shows, Japanese cars that took the traditional approach was the wisest….oh wai!
Says who? Honda and Toyota joined the bandwagon and introduced dual clutch also. Only thing is those are in their high end models. You dont get it in Malaysia, because we get the junks from Thailand and Indonesia only.
better use basic 4 gear autobox…..oooooh wai
“The fashion is gone…” You meant to say “… is out of fashion”. Engrish please.
Haha, you’re right. That was atrocious. Think the edit works a bit better, thanks for the much-needed steer.
So the ancient auto slushbox is now a better solution to the high tech DCT? Sounds exactly like what is going on with Malaysian PM post, which was a good thing actually.
auto slushbox… 9G-Tronic. period
More like they tried something new, something Ubah, but in the end, go back to the traditional and known. Even if they din like it, the alternative was worse. So MY shud take this hint.
Old is gold then???
Time to re-look at our own structure. We became delusional, the sense of denial.
Heck they even brought back the old geezer back….
but in the end, Humpty tried to run away..Ooh wai
Bring back the tradition and known, John? Enough la. All your team members are going to be arrested soon. You might be next …
Hope this site can be clean from now on without the trolls. Now they are not being paid anymore
Dah kalah teruk teruk dan malu maximum, masih lagi nak tipu kami
“traditional and known”, meaning our 90 year old ex-PM, now current PM.
Well.. I’m calling it now. High Torque Single Gear CVT will be the future!
You mean single planetary gear+CVT like Toyota?
Technology advancement is good but come with a price tag.
Regardless how advance the technology, one day, a proven technology is always needed for critical item.
E.g. engine and transmission.
Deswai Cvt most reliable. Punch Cvt
Barang turun.
Minyak turun.
Tesla is probably laughing. They don’t even need one. Anyways, even BMW M ditched the DCT for a conventional auto in the new M5.
Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer said DCT transmission is “an imperfect beast” bcos he hasn’t been a great fan of DCT.
Will he sing a different tune “if” transmission Engineers of DCT make it better & more reliable later say 5/10 years later.
Surely anything including DCT transmission can be better built when given time Right !!! The conventional auto gearbox has been around much much longer hence it is cheaper bcos of economic of scale ma.
Until & unless someone can make a conventional auto faster than a DCT, most racing car will still use a DCT as it is still the fastest transmission available.
So where does this leave Porsche? they’re totally reliant on DSG’s in their sportscar line
It’s ONLY Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer personal opinion. It does not mean he is right/wrong.
My mother’s car is a VW Polo with Diesel and the DCT is really very messy in slow traffic. The «old-fashioned» auto from my Mazda cars is far more smoother.
Manual transmission > All
Except in traffic jam.
These days manuals arent tht bad. Not only automatic gearboxes have improved, manuals have improved drastically too. No longer you have a heavy clutch to operate. These days all manuals run on hydraulic operated clutch pumps, no more clutch cable. What so difficult to drive a manual?
Am sure you are singing a different tune when you are in a traffic jam bro.
Problem with dual clutch transmission is the RELIABILITY. Breaks down quite often despite the fantastic performance.
If the reliability, cost and maintenance of dual clutch is high, it will be the burden for consumer especially when car become older. Like VW DSG and Getrag dual clutch dry tyre, it has given horrible experience to consumers with it poor reliability and high maintenance cost such as clutch pack or mechatronic.
Tradition torque converter automatic is much lesser hassle than dual clutch where it is very rare the automatic gearbox break down and the need of change of clutch pack. Like the ZF AT and Mazda Skyactiv AT, the gear shifting is very fast and much reliable.
Good to know and reinforces my suspicions.. my 4-speed auto is still super smooth approaching 200,000 km mileage, and with the incessant problems with newer cars, i really can’t see a reason to switch. i have keyless entry push start auto headlights, cruise control, usb aux inputs, ABS ESC, but not much assisted driving.. the only thing i want is power adjusting seats!
If DCT is terrible why even Hondas are equipping them ON THEIR MOTORCYCLES? Lets see what’s the next Mustang Shelby GT500 gearbox of choice going to be.
because marketing sells based on acceleration times and shift speeds. what more important in daily driving, is the smoothness in low speed traffic and reliability after 10 years.
Actually, how many that are commenting actually use a DSG? I have a 2015 Jetta, DSG dry clutch. If you drive it sensibly, its as smooth as a conventional auto. Granted it is a little jerky in slow traffic, but you get used to it fast. However, if you punch the accelerator it definitely delivers the fast and seamless gears you demand. Seems to be a Goldilocks gearbox to me. Have not had any problems thus far. Like everything on a car, you take care of it, it takes care of you. IMHO of course.
Bought Ford Fiesta in 2011 which uses dry DCT. Initially it was really great and pick up is truly amazing but after less than 30k km., the inertia is jerky and I got a free( under warranty) clutch replacement and another replacement before touching 75k km.(again free because Ford increases the clutch warranty to 150k km.)….Haha, after the second replacement, I traded in for a secondhand Camry. Another problem I had with Fiesta is, if battery ampere is insufficiently good, car will start but gear will NOT engage. This is my personal experience. Lost over RM40K when traded in.