Chrysler expands use of Dual Clutch technology
October 1, 2008 by Matt Brogan
Chrysler has today announced plans it will extend the use of its Dual Clutch six speed automatic transmission (as featured in the all new Dodge Journey) to other vehicles across the family in the interests of improving fuel economy and CO2 output.
Replacing the outdated four-speed unit, the smooth shifting six-speed not only betters the environmental credentials for Chrysler vehicles but also offers consumers a far more rewarding driving experience.
By doing away with the torque converter and using two submersed multi-plate clutches (launch and shift) the lay shafts are allowed to operate simultaneously which translates to faster, smoother shifts. Simply put the gears are pre-selected and by opening one clutch and closing the other, there’s no interruption in torque delivery.
The Avenger will be the next in line to receive the dual clutch treatment and is available from $26,990 to $37,990 for the range topping SXT turbo diesel.
Print it: 
The torque converter auto is being relegated to history.
As I said elsewhere, I believe these transmissions are far too complicated, will be costly to maintain, heavy and will cause a lot of future high mileage anguish among users. I’m not afraid nor misunderstand this technology as I have been 20+ years in the repair game. This technology is really only trickle down from racing just to sell cars. They shave lap times not grams of CO2 so therefore think their use is questionable.
I have a car with gears and a dry plate clutch. It is very simple to use. It gives feed back and relies on me knowing what I’m doing.
Performance road cars don’t need high tech, just strength, enjoyment and a return feeling of being in command.
In terms of family vehicles like these, transmission technology needs simplicity, cost effectiveness and lightweight. A CVT.
btw, a Chrysler Avenger? LOL, The Hillman Hunter is back!!
WVB – the use of dual clutch has been shown to lower fuel consumption and emissions. Look at the current 911 carrera, with the dual clutch is uses less fuel and produces less emissions then a new toyota camry, and we are talking bout a sports car here!
WVB, do you also still drive a VW beetle with cable brakes – that was pretty simple. In those days they were averse to watercooling, due to its massive complexity, weight, and potential for a lot of future high mileage anguish and repair costs.
Plenty of production cars are using a CVT at the moment, they are not the answer.
Dual clutch is the flavour of the next 10 years or more until something better comes along. It’s the easiest way to get the 6,7, or even 8 ratios required for fuel efficiency.
^Richo – Porsche, merc, vw, nissan etc use the type to reduce gear shift times providing smoother transition of ratios and therefore through subsequent reduction of throttle manipulation and engine etc, emissions are reduced yes, yes. But as a result less driver involvement is required, less skill required, less enjoyment had, less achievement realised and dumber people use .
it’s a bit like stability control, yaw sensing etc, there all added to keep gamers alive and commuters safe in the real world.
Unless it’s the really sharp end of FI or indy I’m with Clarkson and Hammond on this………..
I know the conventional manual is dead sad though that is.
Yes the Duel Clutch systems do have their good points but also have some bad also. Because of preselecting gears and having 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th on one shaft and the alternate on the other they cannot skip shift gears from 5th to 3rd like conventional auto trans and is much needed in everyday driving such as overtaking. So it is much of a muchness with fuel efficiency, OK they can shift up and down very quickly but when it comes down to picking the right gear for the job they have the lag. Personally I don’t think these trans will be the be all and end all, they will just end up being a yo-yo fad that go in and out of fashion.
I think keep the manual manual!! Everyone is just getting to lazy to drive sports cars!!
Steer On Guys!!!
WVB have you ever heard of the expression work smarter not harder to achieve the same result? Probably not based on your stupid response. Hard seasoned race veterans rave on highly about these new transmissions. These are street cars NOT RACE cars. If you want to feel connected to the road steer a go cart fewl!!!
Fan Forced, actually they can. The new EXO X dual clutch transmission can actually do this and is one of the first dual clutch systems to implement this. It’s all in the software and you will see more performance cars implementing this in their dual clutch transmissions.
DSG doesn’t need to skip from 3rd to 5th – it can change from 3rd to 4th to 5th faster than a manual transmission ever could.
It is possible to “confuse” the DSG if you try, by changing the throttle to on-off quickly, so it can’t predict what you are doing. But the same problem occurs with a manual box.
The DSG, however, can be put in manual mode, and it will hold gears when you aren’t likely to be travelling in “normal linear” style. You can then upshift with the paddles or the lever, and let the box downshift, which it will do even when in manual mode.
Aren’t these more likely to replace automatic transmissions rather than manuals in mass market cars. VW have already said that there will no longer be any automatics in their Golf – it will be manuals or these.
^dynamic, That’s right these are not race cars so why fit largely derived race technology to save 5 more grams/km of CO from the already paltry 200grams the car likely produces. Thinking smarter as you say would result in a simpler solution not a complicated one. This would make things easy and not harder by definition.
…………..based on your irascible response to my thoughts I’d say your sponsor lazyskillessf*cksdotcom wants a word in their office, tewl!!!
So Dynamic, what you are saying is the EVO X can change directly from 5th to 3rd on the same shaft as quickly as a conventional auto in 0,25sec? Did you read that in a review somewhere or are you taking a guess like in your other comments noob? I’m only relaying what I have been told from a major transmission manufacturer? I could be wrong. If there is any proof of this, I am more than happy to eat my words.
Reckless: We are also talking about a automatic trans not a manual, even the latest Falcon AUTO trans predicts what gear you need according to speed and throttle position and can change to what ever gear it chooses within half a second???
Don’t get me wrong, i’m not saying i don’t like the new duel clutch systems, all i am doing is pointing out some disadvantages of this system.
Fan forced, I don’t agree that we are talking about an Auto trans – this article is about Chryslers dual clutch manual with automated shifts.
I repeat my first statement – the torque converter auto is being relegated to history.
Any auto, whether it’s the Falcon one or VW’s DSG can have its decision on which gear to select confused by rapid throttle on-off. Even if the Falcon box can change in .5 second, that’s a hell of a lot slower than the 8ms of VW’s DSG – the DSG can change gears 62.5 times in the time it takes the Falcon to change once.
The DSG box is now appearing everywhere as manufacturers have to meet ever more stringent emissions guidelines, and the torque converter auto can no longer compete.
Fuel injection has replaced carburettors, pretty soon every engine will be direct injected to replace the now primitive throttle body and manifold injection systems.
Meanwhile I’m loving my car with DSG, and direct injected Turbo 2.0l engine. Corolla drivers don’t know what they are missing :)
Reckless. In what way do you think this is a manual trans?
The duel clutch still works as the torque converter and is submerged in auto fluid, all gear shifting are controlled hydraulically, in the first sentence car advice even refer to the trans as a Dual Clutch six speed automatic transmission? Being a different configuration in shafts and power distribution to the trans does not make it a manual transmission. I’m sorry, having paddles to shift does not mean you are driving a manual princess.
Fan Forced, the clutch in no way works as a torque converter, if you believe that you might buy a bridge I can get cheap. It doesn’t matter that the clutches run in oil. The latest DSG from VW, the market leader in these transmissions, runs dry clutches.
It doesn’t matter what Caradvice calls this transmission, it’s a manual with automatic shifting, with no characteristics of a torque converter slushbox.
It has the ability to masquerade as a fully auto transmission, or the driver can involve himself by using the paddles or lever, just doesn’t have a clutch pedal.
You Don’t have to justify driving a VW to me Reckless.
We are talking about the Chrysler trans which they even call an auto if you you would have looked. Get ya facts strait buddy!
Keep reading those reviews!
The DSG gear box was designed and is built by the US Borg-Warner company not VW as many think.
Corolla drivers don`t know what there missing yeer right like high service fee`s $120 pegged for three years on the Corolla and iffy electric`s on most euro-snob cars.
kris