Mini Has a New Dual-Clutch Automatic Transmission

The Mini plans to provide Hardtop and Convertible cars with a new 7-speed DCT transmission equipped with the electronically controllable shifting mechanism. Due to faster gear-shifting, this transmission will add a sport-like driving experience in comparison with regular type automatic transmissions.

Contrary to standard automatic transmissions, which have torque converters, DCT uses two separate clutches for odd and even gear sets. The electronic control unit (ECU) of this transmission analyzes driver’s style and optimizes gear-shifting and as a result should improve the driving dynamics. Other key characteristics include the ability to use navigational information to adjust shifting correspondingly, for example, shift from fast to slow early before reaching a sharp turn or crossroads.

This dual-clutch transmission also includes a crawl feature which helps drivers to start moving in a smooth manner without using the gas pedal, which is considered to be more preferable in stop-and-go traffic. As for stop/start, the new gearbox operates coupled with the car’s idle stop/start mechanism to cut fuel consumption. The coasting function also decreases the rate of fuel consumption by decoupling the power train at operating speeds (in ‘MID’ and ‘GREEN’ modes) and enabling the car to roll at idling speed.