New, Cheaper Alternative to Dual-Clutch Gearboxes Unveiled

When dual clutch gearboxes first debuted, it was a select few that recognized their true potential. Saddled by balky electronics and poor clutch systems, they were bearish at best and downright dangerous at worst. Sacrificing smoothness for speed, and marketed as an alternative to automatic gearboxes, many a BMW owner was surprised to find their DSG-equipped M3 rolling backwards on hilly terrain.

But they’ve come a long way since then, and their popularity has grown by leaps and bounds. Now considered a viable alternative to the manual gearbox for sporting applications, the only downside is the prohibitive cost; they are incredibly expensive to develop. But a company called Xtrac seems to have come up with a solution.

Throwing out the two-clutch model in favour of a system of ratcheting hubs, Xtrac’s Instantaneous Gearchange System has seen service in motorsports application, and is now considered a viable alternative to the dual-clutch gearboxes currently in use for the civilian market. Substantially simpler and lighter than the existing units, the IGS gearbox could see service in a variety of surprising applications by virtue of its lower cost. Additionally, the gearbox has obvious uses in the electric vehicle market; a market that requires such gearboxes to maintain efficiency.