Volkswagen's much-discussed 10-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is dead, said VW powertrain chief Friedrich Eichler on the sidelines of the International Vienna Motor Symposium last month.
"Two months ago, I had the prototype crushed," Eichler said.
The ambitious concept was announced at the 2013 Vienna symposium by then-VW CEO Martin Winterkorn.
At the time, Winterkorn praised "the extremely wide gear-ratio spread, the reduced rpm range and other improvements with regards to the gear-tooth system and friction."
The transmission was intended to be designed for a torque range beyond 369 pounds-feet.
Eichler says the 10-speed gearbox represented VW's "more" and "bigger is better" engineering approach of the past. But while the big tranny has been taken off the drawing board, Eichler won't rule out its return someday.
"Of course, I saved all the data," he said with a wink.
