Volkswagen reinvents the manual
New VW tranny claimed to slash internal friction, cut fuel use and to cope better with big wheelsVolkswagen has announced it will introduce a new highly efficient manual gearbox that's claimed to boost efficiency and save up to 5g/km of CO2.
The new MQ281 transmission, that will be introduced into the new facelifted Passat sedan and wagon first, is claimed to have been developed to cope with heavy SUVs with large diameter alloy wheels that places big forces on manual gearboxes.
Created to replace both the current MQ250 (used in the Golf/Passat) and the MQ350 that's used in SUVs like the Tiguan, the new more efficient gearbox can cope with a torque peak ranging from 200Nm to 340Nm.
That should be enough to cover cars powered by engines like the 110kW 2.0-litre TDI turbo-diesel but means the older MQ350 is expected to live on a little longer for more powerful applications.
With the new transmission engineers are particularly proud of the MQ281's low levels of internal friction.
Reducing wasted energy, they've added new bearings that are coated with a low-friction surface.
An optimised lubrication system, meanwhile, has been introduced that now only needs just 1.5 litres of lifetime oil, reducing churning losses.
Finally, the MQ281 boasts a stronger casing and new transmission mounts that reduce both noise and vibration.
Production of the latest state-of-the-art manual is set to take place at both Volkswagen's Spanish and Argentinean plants.
The move to continue to invest in manual transmission will be heartening to both enthusiasts and those who simply prefer the DIY method of gear-shifting and is in stark contrast with other car-makers, like Subaru, who have stopped making manuals for most of its core models.
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