Audi announced today the introduction of an all-new, seven-speed, dual-clutch gearbox that will replace the outgoing 6-speed S Tronic. With the 7-speed S Tronic, the German luxury carmaker is launching a new phase in its drive strategy as the new transmission was developed entirely by Audi. It is intended for the mid-range model lines and it will be fitted for the first time on Audi’s upcoming compact SUV, the Q5. According to Audi, the new twin-clutch transmission is designed to work with longitudinally installed engines and the quattro all-wheel drive system, with its 550 Nm torque capacity making it suitable for a wide range of sporty models. As with the outgoing S tronic gearbox, Audi drivers can use the new seven-speed S tronic in various modes. The fully automatic mode, in which the computer selects the gear, keeps the D (Drive) and S (Sport) programs available. The gears can also be manually switched with the shift selector lever or with the optional rocker switch on the steering wheel.
