Filed under: Sports/GTs, Etc., Euro, Supercars, Porsche
7-Speed DSG for Porsche?
That's what it sounds like, according to AutoWeek.
Porsche has filed paperwork indicating that a seven-speed DSG is on the way. The company had apparently hoped to have it ready for the launch of the 997 Turbo, but it didn't work out. Hence, Tiptronic S remains the optional transmission across the board for the coming model year. When the DSG arrives, expect to see it made available on the full line, including the planned Bugatti-hunting GT1.
[Source: Autoweek]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
J 12:42PM (7/25/2006)
This will give DSG some serious cred if it is a success on a sports car of this caliber.
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Tim 1:06PM (7/25/2006)
What is DSG?
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Wyatt Anderson 1:07PM (7/25/2006)
Interesting that the Bugatti Veyron already uses a 7-speed DSG transmission (albeit, not the BorgWarner DSG that is common to the Volkswagen AG line).
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Gary 1:13PM (7/25/2006)
Tim, look at my provided link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct-Shift_Gearbox
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Dave 1:36PM (7/25/2006)
I am having a hard time understanding this latest information. Earlier this summer wasn't mentioned that VW was increasing ownership in Porsche or vice versa? Either way, I'm sure as a result of joined ownership (thats what stocks are afterall) parts, research, etc. are shared. Since VW owns Bugatti, wouldn't they not want to share DSG. It would take away part of their competive advantage in the supercar realm.
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Bob-o 1:48PM (7/25/2006)
They don't have a choice really...Porsche does what they want. They're the majority stockholder in VW.
Funny how a specialty car maker can own such a large stake in global manufacturer...but hey, that's the price you pay for mismanagement. :)
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Clarence 1:58PM (7/25/2006)
Is there a point where a car might have too many gears? I own only manual shift cars and have to admit that every once in a while I need a gear that I don't have. But I am wondering if I even want to shift gears that much. I once had a Dodge Colt with a twin stick. It had a four speed with a high and low range. That was a pretty good solution. You could shift eight times if you wanted to. Basically it added one extra gear on the top end with nuance choices for mountain grades.
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jjd 2:13PM (7/25/2006)
It is ironic that this article calls the transmission a "DSG" (apparently a Volkswagen Group name for a Borg Warner transmission) when, in fact, Porsche are the ones who first pioneered and built a viable dual-clutch transmission in the Porsche 962 PDK.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/dual-clutch-transmission3.htm
I wonder if this transmission is built in-house at Porsche or sourced from Borg Warner.
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pedantic 2:29PM (7/25/2006)
Not DSG, PDK! Porsche Doppel Kupplung. PDK has been expected for sometime. The PDK was originally developped for the Porsche 962. That has been 20 years!
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gene 3:10PM (7/25/2006)
They should brand the 7-speed DSG "Sportomatic" for nostalgia's sake... ;-)
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New Yorker 7:48PM (7/25/2006)
You'd have to have rocks in your head to buy a Porsche with an automatic 'box...DSG or otherwise.
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PJ 9:25PM (7/25/2006)
Clarence, I thought the same thing after driving a couple of Mercedes-Benzes with the new 7-speed automatic.
I wonder when we'll cross the point where adding gears brings more subjective costs than benefits--when the increased efficiency with the engine's powerband is offset by the need to change gear every few seconds.
With manual transmissions, including the (lame, IMO) clutchless ones, I'd guess we're nearing that juncture. Even with Mercedes' 7-speed auto, the constant slurring between gears made me wish they'd just installed a CVT and been done with it.
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SN 12:40AM (7/26/2006)
The disadvantages to extra gears is almost eliminated with the ultra-fast shifting the DSG (of whatever you want to call it). It's down to milliseconds.
However, CVTs are becoming more and more popular and seem to be better in many respects than typical gear transmissions. This makes 6+ gear transmissions seem silly.
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gbh 2:02AM (7/26/2006)
If memory serves, PDK was a nightmare.
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biturbo 9:08AM (7/26/2006)
Just FYI, BorgWarner makes the clutch system for all DSG-type trannies, including the one in Veyron (which is a Ricardo tranny). BorgWarner is an American company! GM and Ford sleep?
http://borgwarner.com/staging/in_the_news/2006-02-01-Wards.pdf
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Galley 10:14AM (7/26/2006)
I operated a Ford tractor back in the early 80's that had a dual-shifter; pretty slick.
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DPC car videos 6:17AM (8/26/2006)
Wow, when the turbo model get a DSG style tranny, it will be unbeatable, I drove the Audi A3 with DSG and it puts the manual tranny to shame.
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borganswerman 3:52PM (9/19/2006)
This thread is a few months old, but for those interested in some clarification:
DSG (Direkt Shaltz Getrieb or Direct Shift Gearbox) is Volkswagen's trandmark name, and they build the model DQ250 transmission in a Volkswagen plant. The Bugatti DSG is built by Ricardo, an engineering firm in the U.K. Both are equipped with clutch and control systems supplied by BorgWarner. Neither transmission is built by BW.
It is Porsche that owns a stake in Volkswagen. Retired Volkswagen CEO, Ferdinand Piech is on the boards of both companies. He is a grandson of Ferdinand Porsche and his family still controls Porsche A.G.
Porsche can no doubt use the DSG designation if it chooses to do so. The DSG - type transmission under development for Porsche cars is functionally similar to the VW DSG, but is not a derivative. It is being developed independently.
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