Mercedes seeks partner to develop 8-speed dual-clutch transmission

[Leftlane News RSS]

Mercedes is looking to outsource the production of its transmissions for the next-gen A, B and C-class models, as well as the development of a dual-clutch 8-speed transmission. Mercedes is hoping its 8-speed manumatic will give it the edge over the fully-automatic 8-speed transmissions offered by Lexus and BMW (scheduled to launch in 2009).Although [...]

More... (http://www.leftlanenews.com/mercedes-seeks-partner-to-develop-8-speed-dual-clutch-transmission.html)

[FC]

I know it sounds ridiculous, but if they put this on a GL320 or 420 CDI, we will own that vehicle at some point.

[ff]

This will only force Lexus to come out with a 12-speed transmission. And the fanbois will think it's awesome... until they learn about the law of diminishing returns.

[rautox]

Shimano :dunno: Campagnolo :dunno:

[FC]

Shimano :dunno: Campagnolo :dunno:

:bustingup

[Rob]

And the fanbois will think it's awesome... until they learn about the law of diminishing returns.

Silly - Why would they learn that? They will just know they are superior b/c they have the 18 speed.

[rautox]

I just don't see your avg mb buyer doin' that much shifting, pseudo-manually or not. Wow.

[FC]

I just don't see your avg mb buyer doin' that much shifting, pseudo-manually or not. Wow.

:yaya:

:eeps:

I used to manually row the gears on my slushy 190E.

[ff]

I used to manually row the gears on my slushy 190E.

To avoid being annoyed to death, I do the same with our Lexus. That car loves to get into 5th gear as soon as it possibly can.

[FC]

Thinking about it some more, this may finally make some AMG cars worth owning. For example, the new C63 seems kick-ass (allegedly the best handling MB in ages), though almost RS4-expensive. But even if I had the money and the need, a pro-MB guy like me still would not buy it becasue of the damn slushy. With DSG, it starts to hold some appeal.

Hmmm... DSG E63 wagon.

[rautox]

:yaya:

:eeps:

I used to manually row the gears on my slushy 190E.
But there weren't 8 of them, right?

[FC]

But there weren't 8 of them, right?

No. 4. And you really couldn't access 1st gear. Basically you could downshift to 3rd or even 2nd. That was it.*

*If you were stopped with the lever at 2nd, the car would in fact start in 1st gear, but then it was an ugly and inefficient shift to 2nd, so you were better off starting with the lever on 3rd, and after a moment "downshift" to 2nd to have it hold 2nd gear until you upshift to 3rd.

[rautox]

*If you were stopped with the lever at 2nd, the car would in fact start in 1st gear, but then it was an ugly and inefficient shift to 2nd, so you were better off starting with the lever on 3rd, and after a moment "downshift" to 2nd to have it hold 2nd gear until you upshift to 3rd.

:lol:

[FC]

:lol:

:D

...but dammit, that car had character.:mad2:

[Rob]

SMG (DSG, whatever) makes them have less appeal to me, not more.

[FC]

SMG (DSG, whatever) makes them have less appeal to me, not more.

:?

[3LOU5]

:?

Hehe. rwg is from the old school.

There's a lot more skill (and satisfication, if done correctly) involved in shifting the traditional way than hitting a few paddles, imo. :mad2:

[FC]

Hehe. rwg is from the old school.

There's a lot more skill (and satisfication, if done correctly) involved in shifting the traditional way than hitting a few paddles, imo. :mad2:

Paddles actuating two clutches are still better than putting it in D and hoping for the best, IMO.

[lupinsea]

I'd still like to spend enough time behind a true sequential manual gear box w/ the paddle shifters to see what it's like under hard driving where you can left foot brake w/o worrying about needing to monkey with a clutch pedal.

I'd think it would be better for competitoin driving (producing faster times) but perhaps not as much fun.

[Rob]

I am not interested in the fastest time to whatever. Bless the auto crossers, but it's all about the drive to me - and that means what is fun to me. No clutch is no fun. I don't care if it's twice as fast to everything. It's not like I am trying to get anywhere in a hurry.

[stuka]

I am not interested in the fastest time to whatever. Bless the auto crossers, but it's all about the drive to me - and that means what is fun to me. No clutch is no fun. I don't care if it's twice as fast to everything. It's not like I am trying to get anywhere in a hurry.

If the choices were autotragic or a dry clutch wankermatic, wankermatic wins everytime for me.

I think that's what others are saying, wankermatics in this case is light years better than autotragic with them fluids and them planetary gears and no drive shaft...

[FC]

If the choices were autotragic or a dry clutch wankermatic, wankermatic wins everytime for me.

I think that's what others are saying, wankermatics in this case is light years better than autotragic with them fluids and them planetary gears and no drive shaft...

That's my point.

Stick>>>DSG>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Slushy.

[Rob]

But those aren't the choices. One manufacturer that makes slushies only is making a dsg. That still holds no interest - other manufacturers continue to make real transmissions.

[FC]

But those aren't the choices. One manufacturer that makes slushies only is making a dsg. That still holds no interest - other manufacturers continue to make real transmissions.

Well, since we must have a car that shifts on its own, I rather have DSG than a slushie on that vehicle.

[John V]

If the choices were autotragic or a dry clutch wankermatic, wankermatic wins everytime for me.

I think that's what others are saying, wankermatics in this case is light years better than autotragic with them fluids and them planetary gears and no drive shaft...

Drive shaft? Planetary gears?

WTF are you talking about? Are you trying to say "torque converter" in some kind of bassackwards stuka-speak?

[FC]

Drive shaft? Planetary gears?

WTF are you talking about? Are you trying to say "torque converter" in some kind of bassackwards stuka-speak?

Let it slide, man.;)