In the past 20 years, with the rapid development of the automobile industry, not only many new technologies have been applied, but the power of engines has also been adjusted to higher and higher levels. Today, a 2.0T engine can squeeze out more than 300 horsepower, and the peak torque can reach 400N-m, which is very powerful. As for the improvement of engine power, the transmission system must also keep pace. AT gearboxes have gradually developed from the earliest 4AT to 6AT, 8AT, and even to the current 9AT and 10AT. Of course, the higher the gear, the more torque it can handle. However, more gears can indeed save fuel for the vehicle. At the same time, due to the high gear density, the gear shifting process is smoother and the vehicle is more comfortable to drive.
Corresponding to this is the use of dual-clutch gearboxes, from the 6-speed wet dual-clutch automatic gearbox that was officially launched in mass production in 2002 to the first 7-speed dry dual-clutch gearbox in 2008. Gearbox, in the past nearly 20 years, Volkswagen models have always adhered to the dual-clutch gearbox camp, especially the 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox, which is widely used in Volkswagen's hot sales. So, what is the reason that Volkswagen has been "struggling" on the dual-clutch gearbox? Is it just because the technical barriers cannot be broken?
In fact, Volkswagen has no choice but to use dual-clutch gearboxes because it is not a controlled gearbox supplier, and the patented technology of AT gearboxes is owned by Mr. Fu and Jaguar Walcott. Transmission giants such as Bosch have a monopoly. If Volkswagen wants to develop AT transmissions, it must pay high "protection fees." In fact, before dual-clutch technology matured, AT gearboxes were also used on models under the Volkswagen Group, and are still used on some imported high-end models, such as Touareg, A8L, etc. ZF's 8AT gearbox has been in use.
In addition, compared with AT gearboxes, dual-clutch gearboxes have lower thresholds and lower production costs. Therefore, compared with the technical difficulty and higher cost of AT gearbox, why not use dual-clutch gearbox. However, for the Volkswagen Group, AT gearboxes have not been completely abandoned. Naturally aspirated engines equipped with AT gearboxes and turbocharged engines equipped with dual-clutch gearboxes have always been standard configurations of Volkswagen models.