Following the recent introduction of the A3 2.0 FSI with a direct injection petrol engine, Audi of South Africa now presents the A3 2.0 TDI with DSG® transmission technology.
DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) has recently been introduced in the TT 3.2 V6, the first time this advanced gearbox has been made available to local buyers.
With the A3 TDI DSG®, a wider segment of the market will now have access to this smooth shifting gearbox which has been configured to offer even greater ease of use and driver comfort.
Priced at R250 500, the A3 2.0 TDI DSG comes standard with a five-year or 100 000 km Audi Freeway maintenance plan. This model will only be available in Ambition trim which offers a high level of standard specification and comfort items.
Standard features include electrically operated front windows with one-touch facility, dual zone climate control air-conditioning, remote central locking, a Concert CD front loading sound system, Driver Information System (DIS) and more.
As with the rest of the A3 range, a comprehensive list of optional extras are available including satellite navigation.
Direct Shift Gearbox Technology
This innovative transmission, inspired by motor racing technology, has twin automated clutches that permit exceptionally rapid gear changes with no break in the flow of power from the engine.
The driver can choose to change gears either sequentially with the gear lever or with steering wheel paddles.
An additional bonus is that the DSG® offers the convenience of a fully automatic mode if preferred. However, since it operates without the power losses associated with a torque converter, cars equipped with DSG® have the dynamism and lower fuel consumption associated with a conventional manual gearbox.
At 0.2 of a second, the shift times are at a level that will satisfy even the extremely enthusiastic driver and guarantee excellent throttle response. The DSG® direct shift gearbox is largely based on a unit of the conventional type, but thanks to its intelligent electro-hydraulic control system is also capable of operating as a fully-automatic unit.
The special feature of this two-shaft gearbox is that it is equipped with two separate clutches, installed radically one inside the other. The first clutch is used for driving off after first gear has been selected.
At the same time, the second clutch is released, and second gear engaged. The electronic control system makes the shift from first to second gear by releasing the first clutch and engaging the second extremely rapidly. As soon as clutch 1 has been released and clutch number two has taken up the drive, the next-higher gear can be preselected. The same procedure is followed for all the remaining gear shifts as well.
In the manual-mode selector lever plane or by using the switches on the steer ing wheel, the driver can enjoy the full sports-style driving effect of the DSG® direct shift gearbox by making sequential gear shifts manually as necessary.
This advanced new transmission in the Audi A3 is thus a perfect blend of sports-style manual gear shifting and the relaxed refinement of automatic transmission. This principle means that power from the engine reaches the road with scarcely any interruption. Nor is there any noticeable jerking as the gears are engaged.
By introducing the DSG® direct shift gearbox, Audi has combined the technical features of the manual-shift gearbox, namely high efficiency and therefore good fuel-saving potential.
