Whether sporty vehicles have to be fitted with manual gearboxes or not has been the topic of endless discussion for decades. Even more so since automated gearboxes are increasingly replacing manual gearboxes in motor racing and vehicles fitted with these gearboxes win in Trumps. In 2003 already Volkswagen integrated motor sport technology in standard produc-tion vehicles: the direct shift gearbox DSG®. A gearbox which will put an end to a lot of those discussions.

DSG®, first used by Volkswagen in the original Golf R32, does not use a torque converter and provides better levels of acceleration and fuel consumption in comparison to a manual gearbox – with improved driving comfort.

This is because the interruption in traction, the annoying drop in acceleration when changing gear, does not occur with the DSG®. The trick: one clutch is closed, a second one is open. The next gear, either above or below the current gear, is thus already constantly selected. With the interaction between the two clutches, gears can be changed either up or down in a split second with the driver noticing hardly a thing. This can be done automatically or as the driver sees fit.

This is a system which counters the arguments of automatic sceptics and increases sales: every fourth Golf GTI customer chooses the direct shift gearbox, which adds an even more impressive acoustic element to the acceleration off the starting line. Even customers of more comfort-oriented vehicles such as the Touran and Passat estate are interested, with every fifth Volkswagen customer choosing the direct shift gearbox.

A new addition to the programme is the option to have the DSG® fitted in the Jetta, the compact and sporty mid-range saloon launched in August. Two TDI engines as well as the 147 kW / 200 bhp Turbo-FSI engine are available together with the direct shift gearbox for prices starting at 23,225 Euro.