Dsg Goes 7th Heaven.......

[Komenda]

Audi already have an 8 speed box thats available in the new A4 (2.7 TDI at first) (and the A5 i think) seen as its going into the derv to start it should be able to easily deal with the torque the petrols kick out.

didn't lexus unveil a 7 or 8 speed auto the other day too?

They have, but the main aim of these is to keep respectable performance figures whilst returning good fuel efficency. With all the new emission regulations coming into effect the car companies are having to find new ways of producing more efficent cars. An easy wat to do this is to add more cogs so the car is always in its most efficient power band. Its also a bit of marketing one-up-manship.

[RedRobin]

....I think that Komenda is spot-on in both his posts - A performance car 'driver' doesn't need so many gears - It's not as if there are many places where we can legally drive at speeds where more top gears would be useful. Also it's pure marketing hype: Mine's got more gears than yours crap!

I was taught on my high performance road course to use the gears MORE and not less, so that the car is always in an optimum state for either instant acceleration or more effective engine braking, whichever is needed first being more instantly at hand.

It's like all the rubbish being publicised about the importance of maintaining correct tyre pressures - It shouldn't be about improving mpg and supposed emissions but should be about the car being safer through better grip etc!!

[Komenda]

....I think that Komenda is spot-on in both his posts - A performance car 'driver' doesn't need so many gears - It's not as if there are many places where we can legally drive at speeds where more top gears would be useful. Also it's pure marketing hype: Mine's got more gears than yours crap!

I was taught on my high performance road course to use the gears MORE and not less, so that the car is always in an optimum state for either instant acceleration or more effective engine braking, whichever is needed first being more instantly at hand.

It's like all the rubbish being publicised about the importance of maintaining correct tyre pressures - It shouldn't be about improving mpg and supposed emissions but should be about the car being safer through better grip etc!!

Thanks for the endorsement RR. I grew up driving on the track more than the road so had a very different lesson to normal road driving. All drivers could benefit from advanced/high performance courses. If the government wants safer drivers then they should include some of it in the current test instead of putting up speed cameras.

The stuff you learn is invaluable, and as you say part of it tells you how to control your car by being in the right gear for the right situation.