Sure, you know the differences between your basic automatic and manual transmissions—but could you rattle off a comparison between all the different kinds of gearboxes car manufacturers have developed over the years? If not, then let this be your guide.
There has been a little of confusion of late over what really is a manual. Is it simply a system that lets you select the gears yourself? Does it need a clutch? If it has more than one clutch, is it still a manual? And what if there’s a big lever that you use to go up one gear and go down to another? What if that lever only lets you go up or down gears, well, in sequence?
, an online parts shop, made this video to explain the differences between a dual clutch automated manual and a sequential transmission in an easily-digestible way. FCP Euro also has a race team, and last season, they were competing against sequential transmission teams in their Volkswagen GTI TCR, which was equipped with a dual clutch gearbox. Inspired by the clear distinction that rose between the DSG and sequential machines, they made this video:
To put it simply, a sequential transmission is a kind of manual transmission that doesn’t use the traditional H-shaped pattern on the shifter. It’s the kind of manual you’ll find on race cars and motorcycles, but not necessarily on your daily driver.
The DSG—also known as the dual-clutch or twin-clutch transmission—system is a hell of a lot different. It can either be fully automatic or semi-automatic, depending on the manufacturer. A DSG has two clutches as opposed to one, and it doesn’t use a pedal. That second clutch anticipates your next gear, so that changing gears is a smooth, quick process.
If you’re looking at diving into more nitty-gritty details or are wondering what the big differences in performance are, the video does a great job illustrating it. If you’re still not familiar with these different kinds of tech, this is the best place to start learning.