Volkswagen puts 10-speed DSG development on ice

Volkswagen officials have confirmed that development of its much-anticipated 10-speed DSG transmission has been put on hold.

Autocar understands the rising costs of developing the advanced transmission have lead to it being put on ice.

Volkswagen first revealed the 10-speed DSG transmission at the Vienna Symposium in 2013. The event is traditionally a stomping ground for VW Group members to unveil their latest technology.

It was initially thought that the DSG transmission would be used by a wide variety of diesel engines in an effort to drive down CO2 emissions across VW’s fleet. EU targets specify that 95% of new cars must emit no more than 95g/km of CO2 by 2020.

The unit was planned as a successor to the six-speed DSG transmission which features in most of today’s Volkswagen Group range. It was expected to feature as part of the eighth-generation Passat line-up, which was unveiled last year.

The announcement leaves Volkswagen trailing behind Mercedes-Benz in the race to lower CO2 emissions by adopting advanced transmission technology. Mercedes introduced its own nine-speed automatic transmission in 2013, initially on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The unit has since been offered on a variety of models including the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Get the latest car news, reviews and galleries from Autocar direct to your inbox every week. Enter your email address below: