MINI hatch gets faster dual-clutch auto
Seven-speed dual-clutch box to be fitted to three-door, five-door and convertible; said to be faster and more efficient than current autoMINI has announced it will replace its six-speed Steptronic Sport automatic transmission with a new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Set to be available on the 2018MY MINI three-door, five-door and Convertible models, the new transmission is claimed to deliver "extremely fast gear changes" with greater comfort and efficiency.
Available alongside the six-speed manual transmission that lives on in the standard MINI range, the new dual-clutch Steptronic 'box is claimed to be a better match for the MINI and allows the German-owned British car-maker to incorporate a gear shift strategy based on navigation data for greater efficiency.
The same sat-nav assist tech also judges when the new dual-clutch box should downchange, for example, when approaching a junction or sharp bend.
In its most efficient mode, the new transmission also comes with a 'coasting' mode that sees the dual-clutch shift into neutral down hills to save fuel.
MINI has not said how much more efficient its dual-clutch-equipped hatchbacks are, and nor has it released any new performance figures.
Production in the UK is reported to begin in March 2018, but it's not yet known when MINIs with the new transmission will go on sale Down Under.
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