[94bird]

I drove an Audi TT with a DCT (dual clutch transmission). Basically, it's a paddle wheel shifter on the steering wheel, but this thing was amazing. We've been working on a DCT for future applications and driving this car was a revelation about how good things can be with such a system.

A friend and I drove the car for a few minutes before it had to be returned to Borg Warner.

2 paddles. Left one downshifts and right one upshifts. An automatic type shift lever was on the center console. If you put the lever in the S (sport) position, the paddles controlled the shifting. Downshifting entering a corner was SMOOTH and quick. Upshifting was also very quick, but a little more line pressure would have made them a bit firmer. There was obviously an electronic throttle since when it downshifted and blipped the engine rpm you didn't feel a thing in the accelerator pedal. The shifts were not clunky or obtrusive like they are in Ferraris with paddlewheel shifters. Audi's system is MUCH more refined.

No clutch pedal was present in the car and I didn't miss it at all.

I can't say enough about how fun this car was. Heck, I was downshifting and upshifting just for the fun of it to see the engine rpm rise and fall with just the flip of a switch. In S mode the engine would stay in a gear for a period of time (at least 10 seconds) even when you had light throttle application, such as a steady state corner where you wanted to hold a lower gear to be ready for corner exit.

No more missed gears or overrevs, faster shifts, left foot braking, think what that would mean over a few laps on a road course. How about over a 12 hour race? This whole weekend when I thought about my drive in the car all I could do was smile.

Now, what would this be like with a RWD car and about 800 HP? Hmm, we shall see . . .

[231go]

Keep in mind Shaun I didn't love the car. I just loved the DCT. They will be in other cars very soon now, and as soon as any enthusiast drives one he or she can't help but love it.

Gotcha, but how much did you get to drive it? Was it at a track session or just around the block? Im currious how well it can rev match a downshift while keeping the car stable. That was one of the main downsides to the lexus and the porsche systems is that is was more of a "almost-sport" mode. Where as the car would be fun to take down the backroads and push buttons while running at a moderate speed, but if you were to really push the car hard and deep into a turn it would not do so hot. The BMW system was pretty good w/ it and the ferrari system was almost perfect(from what I have read). Has this system matched the ferrari setup or is it like the BMW setup and hopefully a little more reliable?