Autoblog

Audi's five-door S3 and its Sportback sibling will now be able to benefit from the S tronic dual-clutch transmission. Mated to the 2.0-liter TSFI, you'll seamlessly shift from first all the way to sixth, with 265 hp on tap and 258 lb-ft. available from just 2,500 rpm. You'll also get even better gas mileage, with both cars registering 28 mpg, not to mention hitting sixty two-tenths of a second faster than would with a manual: 5.5 or 5.6 seconds depending on whether you're piloting the three- or five-door. The DCT is available now, and for better gas mileage, quicker shifts, and a quicker car... why wouldn't you?

The 2008 BMW M3 won't be the only 3-series to get Bavaria's newest dual-clutch gearbox. According to documents leaked out of BMW's Australian arm, the 2009 335i coupe will be available with a revised version of the DCT gearbox, at least Down Under... for now. The dual-clutch transmission is the same unit fitted on the V8-powered M3, but some changes to the software are planned to better suit the turbocharged, 3.0-liter inline-six powerplant. There's no word on when the DCT gearbox will be available on U.S. shores and we don't know what kind of premium the seven-speed tranny will carry, but a DCT-equipped M3 commands an additional $2,700 over the six-speed manual, so expect a similar price when the revised 335i goes on sale, likely later this year.

[Source: BimmerFile]

Big product changes are apparently afoot at Ford, with a series of comprehensive goals that will get more people in showrooms while simultaneously trimming costs within the automaker. FoMoCo's group veep of global product development, Derrick Kuzak, spoke at the Automotive News World Congress recently and hit on a number of points that will shape Ford's future.

To begin with, product development, styling changes and technical improvements will be on a three-year cycle, keeping it inline with many of the top tier automakers with which Ford aims to better compete. Recognizing that design is at the forefront of most consumers' minds, Kuzak said that many of the enhancements to Ford's lineup will be design-driven, noting that, "You don't design for the masses; each vehicle has a target audience."

Ford CEO Alan Mulally has talked about the reduction and proliferation of global platforms at length and Kuzak reiterated that utilizing both global architectures and engines is a cornerstone to Ford's resurgence. Kuzak says that by 2012 around 70-percent of Ford vehicles offered worldwide will be built on eight platforms.

Kuzak went on to reconfirm that the Verve is on its way to North America, but don't expect to see it until 2010 at the earliest. He also said that Ford's EcoBoost engine system will be in 43 vehicles in North America in the next four years, making up 500,000 units in NA and almost 750,000 units worldwide. Finally, he also noted that mating the EcoBoost mills with an "electronically shifted manual gearbox" could increase fuel economy by 20-percent and pay for itself in about two-and-a-half years. If that means more dual-clutch gearboxes like the one about to debut on Volvos, then more good things are underway.

[Source: Autoweek]

click above for more high-res images of the BMW M3 Convertible

Honestly, we couldn't care less about BMW's recent introduction of the M3 convertible. What did get our attention is the long-awaited addition of a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox on every vehicle donning an M3 badge.

The M DKG setup uses two clutches with 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th (plus reverse) on one shaft and 2nd, 4th and 6th on the other. Both clutches are oil-cooled and, like the systems offered by other manufacturers, the dual-clutch setup offers both quicker shifts and better fuel economy.

In typical BMW fashion, you'll have the option to select several different drive settings both in automatic and manual mode. Five shift programs can be selected when running around in the standard work-a-day auto setting, while six shifting selections can be made in manual, including the always entertaining launch control setting.

There's no doubt that all of this will be an improvement over BMW's SMG transmission, but we'll have to wait until next month to see how the DKG setup handles the rigors of track duty, the daily grind and performance tests.

BMW's full press release is posted after the jump.

Volkswagen's dual-clutch gearbox (DSG) has proven that a balance can be struck between driver involvement and running the daily slog without a cramped left leg, with a bump in fuel economy to boot. As reported earlier this year, VW has plans to introduce another cog onto its six-speed DSG unit, while at the same time dropping the wet clutch arrangement for a dry-clutch setup. Now it's official: the new seven-speed DSG not only boasts another gear and dry clutches, but it's the first time the DSG transmission is able to be mounted for a front-traverse setup.

The seven-speed 'box will originally be available on the Golf and Golf Plus models abroad, equipped with the 1.4-liter TSI engine and 1.9-liter TDI mill, and the 1,750 euro premium over the base model also includes a hill-start assist system. The next generation, Borg-Warner-developed DSG has the capacity to channel 184 lb.-ft. of torque to the wheels, which should suit both models well, but it will need some beefing up before it becomes standard on more performance-oriented models.