Transmission specialists are reporting that sales of CVT transmissions will increase in the U.S. and Japan while
dual-clutch transmissions, also called direct shift gearbox (DSG) transmissions, are taking over Europe. CVT trannies
offer better fuel economy gains but have trouble handling the torque of larger engines. DSG transmissions, the
development of which has spearheaded by Volkswagen, are cheaper to produce and offer the driver a choice between an
automatic mode or a more engaging clutchless shifting mode. DSGs are also lighter and fit easily into spaces engineered
for a common manual transmission.
Read on for my personal rant about this debate.
I?ve driven a Honda Civic Hybrid with a CVT and an Audi TT with a DSG. The fact that these two cars are so different
illustrates the point that these two transmissions are suited for two completely different categories of cars. A CVT
transmission makes sense for a hybrid or small economy car because of its ability to keep engine speed at its most
efficient point. DSG transmissions, however, are suited for larger cars that were designed without compromises. A DSG
offers automatic shifting that?s smoother than any normal automatic could hope to achieve and a manual mode that allows
the driver to perform clutchless shifts faster than a human hand. I see both of these technologies carving out their
niches in opposite ends of the market, with CVT transmissions appearing in fuel efficient vehicles and DSG
transmissions showing up in luxury and high-end sports cars.