How Does A DSG Auto Box Work

Tuesday, 26. January 2010

I have been asked on many occasions what a DSG gearbox is. As the question came up in the latest edition of What Car I thought I’d cover it. The simple explanation is that unlike a fully automatic box which has no clutch, just a torque converter, a DSG or Direct Shift Gearbox is an automated manual box with two clutches. Whilst in one gear the next gear is effectively pre-selected which allows for much faster gear changes and greater fuel saving than a normal auto as it wastes less energy. The gear change is carried out automatically as would happen in a normal automatic and you also have the option to change gear manually, it’s just more fuel efficient but can be a little more erratic and maybe not quite as smooth as a normal auto. You do not need a manual driving licence to drive a DSG fitted car. By Graham Hill