Transforming the Way We Drive

Keilan McInnis

Most North Americans will tell you that the biggest difference between domestic and European vehicles is size. Europeans’ reluctance to use automatic transmissions has fueled this difference. Because vehicles have remained smaller, the desire for automatic transmissions has not been created.  There is however a growing trend among manufacturers to fuse the desire for more control (e.g. manual transmissions) and the better fuel efficiency of automatic transmissions into one comprehensive design.

Dual-clutch transmission combines the control you get from a manual with the reduction of engine and transmission wear you get from an automatic. This technology has manifested itself in vehicles from manufacturers around the world.  Some use an up/down or tiptronic system that allows the driver to shift the gear lever back and forth in order to control the gear selection without the use of a clutch pedal, while others offer the use of paddles located either on the steering wheel or steering column to shift gears.

It should not be any surprise that technology with roots in the racing world has made its way into the lives of daily drivers. Where once it was the realm of the F1 driver to focus on the path ahead with both hands on the wheel and no worries about missing a gear, now drivers of all ages and all abilities can feel the rush of gripping the wheel and shifting gears at the touch of a finger.

There is debate over which system works the best because each system works slightly differently. The premise behind these systems is that when you are on the open road, you will want to control as much of the speed or responsiveness of the engine as you can. On the flip side of this you can leave the vehicle in automatic mode when in traffic and conserve fuel while reducing the strain placed on your engine and transmission.

A further aspect of the dual-clutch transmission is its ability to shift gears faster than the driver. As fast as your reflexes can tap a paddle or move a gear selector up or down, you can change gears without the worry of catching the clutch or grinding the gears. Now even the most novice drivers can feel like they are in the pole position.