Ford says they'll launch a six-speed, dual-clutch transmission into North America's small-car segment next year. Their advanced new 'Power Shift' gearbox will provide enhanced efficiency and mileage compared to the conventional four-speed automatic common in this type of vehicle.
Dual-clutch transmissions are popular in Europe for their ability to save fuel and weight- though they're marketed to North Americans primarily as performance-enhancing options in high-end sports cars from Germany.
Ford's dual-clutch transmission requires no torque converter, fluids, pumps or coolers. It works with the same convenience as a conventional automatic gearbox, though the dual-clutch unit is considerably lighter and sealed for life- requiring no maintenance.
The workings of a dual-clutch transmission are too complicated to explain here, but in a nutshell, two separate manual gearboxes co-ordinate their efforts between a pair of clutches for seamless power delivery. Without the extra internal weight and hardware found in an automatic, the dual-clutch system enables reduced drivetrain power losses and ultimately lowers fuel consumption.
"PowerShift represents a true competitive advantage for Ford and is one of the many technologies that will help our global small car platforms set a new world standard for efficiency and drive quality," said Barb Samardzich, VP of Global Powertrain Engineering. "This advanced six-speed is an improvement over today's automatic transmissions in terms of fuel economy, while providing customers an even more fun-to-drive experience."
photo:Ford
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Dual-clutch transmissions are popular in Europe for their ability to save fuel and weight- though they're marketed to North Americans primarily as performance-enhancing options in high-end sports cars from Germany.
Ford's dual-clutch transmission requires no torque converter, fluids, pumps or coolers. It works with the same convenience as a conventional automatic gearbox, though the dual-clutch unit is considerably lighter and sealed for life- requiring no maintenance.
The workings of a dual-clutch transmission are too complicated to explain here, but in a nutshell, two separate manual gearboxes co-ordinate their efforts between a pair of clutches for seamless power delivery. Without the extra internal weight and hardware found in an automatic, the dual-clutch system enables reduced drivetrain power losses and ultimately lowers fuel consumption.
"PowerShift represents a true competitive advantage for Ford and is one of the many technologies that will help our global small car platforms set a new world standard for efficiency and drive quality," said Barb Samardzich, VP of Global Powertrain Engineering. "This advanced six-speed is an improvement over today's automatic transmissions in terms of fuel economy, while providing customers an even more fun-to-drive experience."
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photo:Ford