Volkswagen's bestseller sets to shift up a gear. Following record sales of around 1 million units, the Volkswagen developed intelligent DSG automatic gearbox previously available with six gears, is now set for release with seven gears. The first 7-speed DSG gearbox is available now for the Golf and Golf Plus models with the 1.4 TSI and 1.9 TDI engines. This represents a milestone in the gearbox strategy of the Volkswagen Group.

It is the values of efficiency, temperament and sportiness that make the DSG such a lasting success. Even today, the installation rate of the intelligent automatic is 25 percent in the Touran. Volkswagen will initially be offering the 7-speed DSG in the Golf and Golf Plus, with prices starting at 1,750 euro (expect to pay around £1200 in the UK).

The new 7-speed automatic gearbox is based on two premieres: Firstly, it is the first DSG for front-traverse installation. Secondly, it is the first with clutches that are not immersed in oil, but which run "dry". This allows the latest Volkswagen DSG to achieve an even greater level of efficiency. The maximum torque that can be transmitted is up to 250 newton-meters, which equates roughly to around 190 ft lbs of tourque.

The new unit will initially start series production in the Golf and Golf Plus, and is available for the 1.4 TSI engine (90 kW), previously only available with a manual gearbox, and for the 1.9 TDI engine (77 kW). A hill-start assist system is included in the price with both of these engines. This holds the vehicle still by temporarily "freezing" the brake pressure when the footbrake is released. And the efficient fuel consumption of a diesel engine means that the new 7-speed DSG can save you real money. The fuel consumption figures for the Golf / Golf Plus 1.9 TDI are 0.7 litres per 100 km lower than they are with the 6-speed DSG.