Volkswagen 7-Speed DSG: Direct Shift Gearbox Version 2.0

Motoring Channel Staff - 28/May/2007

Wolfsburg, Germany — Volkswagen has seen a huge uptake in the DSG (direct shift gearbox) technology since it was introduced in 2003, with the public and media critics alike praising its 8ms quick gear-shifts and all-round usability.

Volkswagen has experienced great success with the DSG, and in an effort to maintain this momentum it has just recently announced the DQ200, which is a 7-speed DSG.

Lighter and more efficient than the current 6-speed DSG, the new 7-speed direct shift gearbox introduces a number of new features to the DSG family, many of which Volkswagen hopes will make it a trend-setter in the exciting world gearboxes.

One of the major improvements of adding a 7th gear is fuel efficiency. While Volkswagen says that the first gear now has a lower ratio for improved standing start acceleration, 7th gear is now treated as an 'overdrive' feature and has taller gearing to ensure that the motor can tick over at relatively low engine speeds when driving on highways and motorways.

As well as adding a 7th ratio, the new DQ200 ditched the wet clutches of the first generation and adds a pair of dry clutches, which Volkswagen says increases performance and efficiency. 

"The 6-speed DSG gearbox, which was introduced in 2003, uses a pair of clutches submerged in oil," reads the statement from Volkswagen. "The new 7-speed gearbox adopts a pair of dry, organic bonded friction linings that do not require cooling, making the drivetrain more efficient through the extra ratio and the fact that less power is required for the gear selection and clutch servo system."

The new 7-cog (eight if you include the reverse gear) DSG is considerably lighter than its precursor and uses about 75 per cent less transmission oil because the clutches are now dry, and don't need the oil to cool them down: the current 6-speed DSG uses seven litres of oil, while the new 7-speed version uses just 1.7-litres.

Volkswagen has also confirmed that the next generation DSG will be mounted transversely and because it's smaller it can now be used in the Polo models. However, because of its complexity it can only tolerate low power outputs at this stage. 

Volkswagen says the new gearbox will be applied to models from the Polo, all the way up to the Passat. It is believed that VW Golf variants will be the first models to use the new gearbox when it ships later in 2007, but that at present it can only withstand up to "170PS and 184 lbs ft of torque". This translates to about 125kW and 250Nm, which is just enough to handle the 1.4-litre TSI engine that's just been debuted in Australia. To find out more about the twin charger technology, see this article.

Volkswagen says that production of the gearbox is set to start at the end of the year with its first application (in the UK) being planned for the Golf and mated to the 1.4-litre TSI petrol and 1.9-litre TDI diesel engines.

Related articles:
- Volkswagen Golf GTI W12 (Concept)
- Volkswagen Tiguan Compact AWD
- Volkswagen Passat R36
- Volkswagen Golf R32 (Road Test)
- Volkswagen Touareg V10 (Road Test)
- Volkswagen Golf GTI (Road Test)
- Volkswagen Polo GTI (Road Test)
- Volkswagen Polo TDI (Road Test)
- Volkswagen Passat V6 (Road Test)
- Volkswagen Golf R GTI (Concept)