Mazda developing 7-speed dual-clutch gear box

We now have some of the official specs of the Taiki Concept including details about a Mazda developed dual-clutch gearbox. Engineers considered two separate gearbox designs for the Taiki, a seven-speed dual-clutch unit or a more conventional sequential manual transmission. We’ll have to wait until the Tokyo show to find out which one they went with but there’s a good chance it’s the dual-clutch.
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Spectator - 10/12/2007 1:44:06 PM

+1 Boost

Uh...Why?

Soon we are going to spend more time shifting than we do driving. Not every car needs tons of gears. If you top out at 100 (jeep) Wrangler, 5 gears is fine. If you can make it to around 140 go ahead and put in six gears. If you go all the way to 180 seven is fine.

I don't see any mazda anytime soon reaching 180mph. So the idea of developing a 7 speed gear box for a car that reachs around 140, is starting to get a little rediculous. Seriously, how short are you going to make the gears. For most modern roads (discounting that one road in Der Fatherland), six gears is more than fine.

07mcs - 10/12/2007 3:39:01 PM

+1 Boost

you talking kilometers per hour or miles

07mcs - 10/12/2007 4:13:34 PM

+1 Boost

I guess 7 speeds would be OK. I see the MB cars with 7 speeds, and they top out at 155mph. I guess the extra gear is for fuel efficiency.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/13/2007 12:25:26 PM

+1 Boost

"I see the MB cars with 7 speeds, and they top out at 155mph."

No, they don't. That's what they're LIMITED to. If you take out the limiter--which you can on AMG models--they go far beyond 155.

r_driver04 - 10/12/2007 2:45:00 PM

+2 Boost

That Extreme Mazdaspeed3 could use it.....couldn't it? And probably a new set of front tires too.

Spectator - 10/12/2007 3:25:47 PM

+1 Boost

HA

Probably a couple sets. Can't wait to see the first impression of Richard Hammond someone does in that car.

Could you imagine if they actually combined the two things. A Extreme MS 3 and a 7 gear DSG. It would be about as smoke filled as driving a Viper in first gear.

holmstar - 5/13/2008 10:14:11 AM

+1 Boost

ever drive a mazdaspeed 6? It has a closely spaced six-speed that provides lots of torque, but could really use a 7th gear for cruising on the interstate.