And the future of Sporty Transmissions
 

Don't confuse this with the M3 or Ferrari "paddle shift" transmission. This is another animal. Expect this to become a common tranny in the future, especially for sporty cars.

http://mysite.verizon.net/romano.michael/DCT.pdf

Yup, I read extensively about Audi's DSG a few months back. Much better system than Ferrari, BMW, etc.'s regular gearbox with servos on the clutch and shifters. I read last week that VW expected the DSG to replace conventional auto trans in their entire lineup within 2 years!!!

Between this and CVTs, with any luck the conventional slushbox will be dead in a few years.

Regards,
Gordon

I am highly considing getting the Audi TT 3.2 this November. I really like that DSG transmission, I been looking into it since mid-January when I first heard about it. The MRSP is pretty pricey compared to the RX-8, $40K for the 3.2 Audi TT w/ no options and about $44-$44.5K fully equiped with every option. About a full 10K more than a fully optioned RX-8, but at least I'll have 4 transmission modes to play with, AWD, 24.2 cu ft cargo space, 250 hp, with loads and loads of options.

I just hope they are the death of the conventional slushbox, and not the conventional manual transmission with a clutch.

A few years ago Brock Yates wrote an article stating that tiptronic-type automanuals would eventually replace transmissions with clutches because the manufacturers eventually would not want to mass-produce more than one kind of transmission.

I shudder at the thought, even if if it is a Ferrari F1. Give me a clutch!

The traditional manual day's are numbered.
The future is double clutches and IVTs 2010+
But right now, 6 speed autos and MB's 7 speed auto will hold until 2010
CVT's never made it big, and probably won't
The ATMs (automated manual transmissions) BMW SMG, Ferrari F1, etc. will improve by gaining more gears, How about a Ferrari 360 Modena with 8 forward, and 2 reverse gears, BMW M3 with 7 speeds, but in the end double clutches will surplant these-see Bugatti Veyron 7 speed double clutch

To me the whole benifit of automatics is:

1. Always have both hands on the wheel. People who say they steer with one hand just as good as two are exagerating.

2. left foot braking. The extra quarter second it takes to move your foot off the gas and on to the brake can be completely avoided and might mean the difference between a fender bender and a near miss.

-Mr. Wigggles

How can you come to that conclusion? Aside from Subaru Justy CVTs etc, CVTs have never been offered in mainstream cars, especially in sizes of interest to most North Americans. In 2002, Audi just started to offer a CVT in the A4, and has expanded that availability for 2003. In 2003, Nissan has begun selling CVTs in the new Murano.

CVTs are just starting to make it big! What's the downside? They're lighter, more efficient, cheaper, and faster than a regular slushbox, and now they can handle higher power outputs.

Regards,
Gordon

DCT (dual-clutch), CVT and torque converters (slush box) all have a future as each has unique advantages and drawbacks.

The CVT is still the champ on fuel efficiency. It's very compact and light. It won't dominate or be used in a future Viper. But, it has strong advantages in packaging, fuel efficiency and cost. It's especially suited to cars with transaxles.

The slush box will not die, it's capable of handling lots of torque with great reliability so it will stay in pickups, large SUVs and hi-power luxury cars. It's also capable of having great levels of refinement.

The DCT however I think will become the dominate transmission since it suits the majority of types.

There was a time when I thought the stick and clutch was an endangered species, but lately it has become a badge of honor. The G35, Caddy CTS, Lincoln LS, BMW, even M-B have used the clutch and stick as a centerpiece of their ads.

CVT's have been out for at least 5 years in the Honda Civic HX, and from 2000 in the A6 with 2.8 V6 in germany. Audi's mulitronic is good, but its gear ratio coverage is equalled by the latest 6 speed automatics from ZF, and the CVT can not be coupled with quattro.
Nissan's toroidal CVT's have limited gear ratio coverage and cold operation issues, the gear ratio issue has be addressed by adding a planetary to the CVT, but by having a low and high range in the CVT kind of defeats the purpose, but works fine for the japanese market- deadlock city traffic (low) and high speed cruising (high)

Infinitely variable transmission are the evolution of CVT's
http://www.torotrak.com/
http://cvt.com.sapo.pt/ivt/ivt.htm
http://www.swri.edu/atts/whpapers/vartrans.htm