The S tronic combines the sporty characteristics of a manual gearbox with the advantages of an automatic.
Gear-changes with the dual-clutch gearbox are performed easily and with no appreciable delay. Depending on the driver’s preference, the gears may be shifted in fully automatic mode or in manual mode using the gearshift paddles on the steering wheel.
The dual clutch forms the technical basis of the S tronic. One of the two clutches engages the odd-numbered gears and reverse, the other engages the even-numbered gears. The benefit: a gearbox that shifts from one gear to the next in less than 0.2 seconds and with no interruption in power flow.
When in operation, one gear is always engaged and another is pre-selected: while the first clutch is transmitting power in one gear, the second clutch has the next gear selected and ready to engage. When the gearshift point is reached, one clutch segment opens in a flash while the other closes.
The driver therefore hardly notices the gearshift process. The consistently efficient power transmission ideally supports a sporty driving style – both in automatic mode and with manual shifting: Other advantages of S tronic: the gearbox’s high efficiency leads to low fuel consumption and reduced emissions.
Article source: www.beta.audi.co.uk