Powershift - Dual clutch auto (DSG)

[Spazzsfocus]

Ford joins the hi-tech dual-clutch automatic gearbox brigade with its Powershift-equipped Focus in the UK.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carrevi...owershift.html



Hopefully it wont be long before we see this sweet gearbox in Aus.. In particular I like the idea of this: a "red light on the Focus’s rev counter indicates the optimum time to change gear, and you simply pull the lever back to shift up"!

[melbzetec]

Optimum time for what? Fuel economy? Or performance?

[Spazzsfocus]

Originally Posted by melbzetec

Optimum time for what? Fuel economy? Or performance?

Thats a good point! I immediately assumed it was performance i.e. rev limiter.. but after reading the article I wasn't so sure. They (Auto Express) say that Ford didn't package the new gear box with 'steering wheel paddle shifts' and 'no Sport mode on the box, either – as Ford is keen to stress the gains in economy and emissions offered by Powershift, rather than its outright sportiness'. So now Im not so sure, but this could be because its intially being fitted to the UK spec 'Titanium TDCi' and hence push the fuel economy marketing.

I was also surprised to read that the Titanium spec model they tested is retailing for 20,000 pounds which is more than their ST retails...

[Fast Eddie]

This is welcome news and I thought I'd read somewhere previously that this new transmission was under joint development. I can't remember the other manufacturer that was involved.

Being restricted to driving Automatics only, I've thought that the Focus automatic is the best I've had so far, so it'd be interesting to see how this new one goes.