Volkswagen Literally Crushes Its 10-speed Dual-Clutch Dreams
Three years ago, Volkswagen Group teased attendees at the Vienna Motor Symposium with juicy details of a transmission designed to take fuel efficiency to new heights among the automaker’s higher-torque models. A 10-speed dual-clutch transmission was in the works, it announced, promising mondo improvements in efficiency.
Between then and now, VW changed its mind. As it pursues a strategy of electric vehicles, wide-ranging productivity gains and, ironically, utility vehicles that could make use of it, the 10-speed has vanished from VW’s development portfolio.
The sole example of the multi-cog DCT? Destroyed, according to VW’s powertrain chief.
“Two months ago, I had the prototype crushed,” Friedrich Eichler told Automotive News at this year’s Vienna Motor Symposium.
At the time of its announcement, VW’s 10-speed was poised to become the world’s first automatic with a two-digit gear tally. Former development chief Hans-Jakob Neusser, who was later indicted by U.S. authorities for his alleged role in the diesel emissions scandal, claimed the new tranny would find a home in premium VW and Audi models. As a replacement for the company’s six-speed DCT, the new unit was said to be capable of handling up to 369 lb-ft of torque.
Ford and General Motors ultimately took the 10-speed crown for their jointly developed automatic transmission.
Why the change of heart? VW has moved beyond the “bigger is better” approach it took in the past, Eichler said. While he didn’t go into details, VW’s post-diesel scandal streamlining has seen the automaker’s focus on global sales replaced by an urgent need for profitability. Part of the cost-cutting includes reducing complexity in vehicle development and paring back on material costs — hardly a nurturing environment for the development of a big-ticket transmission.
Despite the sea-change at VW, the company’s powertrain boss isn’t ruling out the transmission’s return. “Of course, I saved all the data,” Eichler said.
[Image: Volkswagen]
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"the new unit was said to be capable of handling up to 369 lb-ft of torque" That's it?! The old 5AT from Chrysler LX cars can handle 427.
It seems that VW/Audi have a strange propensity for destroying unique things, things that might actually be interesting for future generations. Another thing they crushed that I can name off the top of my head were Racing Touaregs (save for a museum piece or two) after the program was shut.